TOSSING THE COIN TO ITS TAIL

Written by: Jelie May Mañacap

Interviewed by: Angelou V. Leduna 

 “Because I love what I do.  I get “I love yous” from children that I got privileged to bond with and talk to. Lahi ra jud siya nga feeling. Children are the most honest beings para nako. Lahi ras mga “I love you” sa mga bulingit nga ex.” Miss Archele Navarro Baladya said in an online interview when asked about her motivation why she continued teaching despite being a cancer patient.

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. In this time of pandemic, it is not only the students who were constrained from going to school, but the teachers as well. One cannot deny the fact that some of the teachers are new to this mode of giving students the quality of education. On the other side of the coin, students were also clueless of their teacher’s struggles. It is not a piece of cake to handle classes in a face-to-face environment, how much more handling them virtually with an own unique battle. Teachers resemble hope in a way that they can make things extraordinary, but how can one say that teachers were always at their best?

Furthermore, a teacher from Luray 1, Toledo City named Archele Navarro Baladya, LPT who graduated from Consolatrix College of Toledo City, Inc. was diagnosed with malignant Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body's immune system. She added that her NHL’s stage was not tested because the staging will be tested through bone marrow testing and she is already in pain. According to her, it was unanticipated. It started in June 22, 2021 and the result of the CT scan is Ovarian Lymphoma and it is now on stage 3. She had her operation the next day after, June 23, 2021. “I already lost my left ovary and fallopian tube, but my OB-GYNE tried her best to save my right ovary so I could still reproduce puhon.” she promptly narrated. Her chemotherapy would cost her 98 thousand per session and she is done with the fourth session as of September 13, 2021. and there are four more sessions to go. “Makaluya kay 98k man ang per session pero wala koy choice kay kalit-kalit man.” she added. Moreover, this was her statement when asked about PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome history. “Wala. Normal lang jud akoang regla. The doctor said it’s stress and lifestyle and contribute pud ang genes. Tag dugay nako matulog niya dili nako mag breakfast ug tarong kay stress kaayo mag teacher sa public especially if makit-an nila imuhang abilidad kay daghan moabuso.” It is definitely a tough battle for her. “Bitaw sakit jud kaayo. Dako kaayo kong babaye pero mo talaw gihapon ko sa treatment.  Mura siyag tusok sa knives ang feeling because the cancer cells needs attention na kuno ana akoang oncologist. Sakit after sa session because the vomiting won’t stop.” she described how exhausting it is dealing with NHL. Miss Baladya is now on a sick leave, “Sick leave ko until November 18, 2021, but I’m still working behind the scene kay nag assist ko sa akoang sub nga teacher.”

It is undeniable that Miss Baladya is determined. Being a teacher for two years in a private institution and five years in the public institution, she unfolded the truth that before she discovered the beauty of teaching, she really wanted to be a flight attendant. However, look at her now, still fighting —for her life and in her profession. When asked about her motivation why she continued teaching despite being a cancer patient, Miss Baladya answered, “Because I love what I do.  I get “I love yous” from children that I got privileged to bond with and talk to. Lahi ra jud siya nga feeling. Children are the most honest beings para nako. Lahi ras mga “I love you” sa mga bulingit nga ex.” She really has the passion to teach and inculcate knowledge to her students. She stated that there are multiple times when she told herself that she is near to holding that “white flag” but what kept her going is her mindset —positive! “How your mindset works is how you look at things.” One of her influential line during the interview conducted online.

Try tossing up the coin to its tail. What others only perceive is the obstacles of the students or their parents and guardians, but no one has tried looking at the other perspective. Miss Baladya is a teacher-1, she has 24 units in her masters, would pay her fare every day and currently she has to pay nearly a hundred thousand per chemotherapy session. How would that be? If you are in her situation, will you survive? She is not just a teacher, but a brave soldier; a hero indeed.

Everyone has their fair share of laughter, sorrows, and challenges, most especially in this time of a global pandemic. Appreciate the people whom you considered important and even those who did the smallest things because that’s what matters most. Considering our human intuition, may we always look at the other side of the box! Will you toss up the coin to its tail?