By: Nicola Bangsil, BA-Comm-4, OJT

On March 23, 2022, The Global Leaders & Educators Awards announced Centralian Dr. Necil C. Magno as Rank 1 for the Outstanding Global Educator in the Module Writer Category and Rank 4 as an Outstanding Proficient Educator. The awarding ceremony took place on March 27, 2022 with the presence of national and international awardees.

Apart from her recent recognitions, on December 30, 2021, Dr. Magno also received three awards from The International Internship University’s World Excellence (IIU) Award in Performing Arts as an Outstanding Dance Choreographer, Outstanding College Professor, and Outstanding Author. On February 5, 2022, she was also awarded Best Creative Author and Best Outreach Implementer by IDYM Philippines.

Dr. Magno has earned these prestigious awards due to her commitment and perseverance as a passionate educator only wanting the best of inclusivity for all students. In an interview conducted on March 29, 2022, Dr. Magno shared her journey and experiences in pursuit of quality education.

Dr. Necil C. Magno is a BPED Coordinator at Central Philippine University under the College of Education, a pure blooded Centralian who completed Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (BSED) in 2001. She earned a Mathematics major, but also doubled in Physical Education at CPU. Dr. Magno went above and beyond and also gained her Masters in Physical Education at West Visayas State University in 2012. On top of her educational attainments, she also completed her Doctor of Education in Physical Education at Filamer Christian University in June 2021.

Dr. Magno’s educational accomplishments were not easy responsibilities since she also experienced life as a working student during college due to financial limitations as her father was a taxi driver and her mother was a housewife. She worked as a part-time crew at a fast-food restaurant for three years. After some time, she was granted a scholarship through the Filipino-Australian Foundation of Queensland Inc. headed by President Cecilia J. Somodio, for who she is forever grateful to and their members. Although she was a scholarship recipient of the prestigious foundation, she still pursued to train contemporary dance and sold a handful of Filipino delicacies such as yema and polvoron on the side to sustain her school tuition, allowances and miscellaneous fees. She mentioned that it was a struggle during those times, but those experiences definitely made her the successful person that she is today.

In the career field, Dr. Magno has been CPU’s SARI-SAOT Dance Troupe choreographer and artistic director for 19 years. Currently, She went for another career program under Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education, also known as MAT-SPED, in order to cater to students with different disabilities and special needs, and to make education more inclusive for everyone.

Dr. Magno accepted the challenge of writing books due to the encouragement of College of Education’s dean, Dr. Merle L. Junsay. Dr. Junsay assigned Dr. Magno activities to write about in physical fitness and wellness and rhythmic activities. It took Dr. Magno roughly nine months to complete. What made her inspired to write modules was because of Mrs. Jayna J. Acap, who she considers as a second parent. Mrs. Acap helped her with the content and preparations and encouraged Dr. Magno that she could always be a better version of herself. Meanwhile, Dr. Maridel Ambos, her colleague, encouraged her to join for the Search. It was through Dr. Ambos’s recommendation that allowed for Dr. Magno’s nomination through the evaluation of the set of panelists and final interviews for the recognized awards. Another person who Dr. Magno is grateful for is Chairman of the Review of Instructional Materials Committee, Dr. Ananias Jun C. Sabijon, who edited and reviewed her final books for the students to be used and for publication.

Despite the challenges, Dr. Magno believed in herself that she is capable of writing such books because of her experiences throughout life, especially in dance. She has an immense knowledge in dance genres such as ballet, contemporary, folkdance, dancesports, and foreign dances, coupled with her career as CPU’s SARI-SAOT dance choreographer. She even gives honor to her Alma Mater as Champion for seven consecutive years which consist of different categories during ILOPRISAA and National PRISAA in Contemporary Dance, Dancesports and Hiphop. She has all the reasons to partake as an author. Her incorporated experiences made writing possible in order to share her knowledge and wisdom to educators and students.

Central Philippine University molded and impacted the life of Dr. Magno. Her values fall in line with the university, and because of this, she gives back to the university through community service and outreach programs by using her earnings as an author. Last January 2022, she donated sacks of rice, hygiene kits, groceries, poultry, and more to 108 respondents of SOS Village at Zarraga, Iloilo. Last October 2021, Dr. Magno, in partnership with Dr. Maridel Ambos, also donated dictionaries, Crayola boxes, and more to Peace Baptist Church of Ajuy, Iloilo. In addition, she donated sacks of rice and another set of groceries to 98 families at Sambag, Jaro, Iloilo. As BPED coordinator, she also provided financial assistance to six Centralian students in order for them to enroll in the school academic year. All of these donations were provided in kind by Dr. Magno, who truly cherishes sharing her blessings and providing for those in need.

Dr. Magno was invited by Filipino-Australian Foundation of Queensland Inc. as a resource speaker and one of the board of Judges in Ginoong and Binibining Australia in 2019. She is set to fly out to Australia this April as she was also invited as a resource person for the Cultural Exchange and for community service opportunities.

Dr. Magno is a family-oriented woman, daughter, and mother. She calls herself the breadwinner of her immediate family along with the family that she has of her own. Apart from that mentioned, she is self-less as she wants her family to experience the nicest things in life that she, herself, never had the chance to experience before. She is married and blessed with three children who are all Centralians; the eldest son Prince Nesher is in Senior High School, the second son Prince Sherwin is in Grade 10, and her youngest daughter Princess Sheane is in Grade 6. She draws inspiration from her families to keep moving forward and to strive in life.
Dr. Magno relates and sympathizes to those who are in need due to her hardships in life, and she chooses to be a self-less person and a good Samaritan not only for her family, but also for the general public. She is a believer that poverty is not a hindrance to one’s success. Her expectations for future education include the betterment of educational tools for those with special needs.

Her message to fellow educators is, “Let us continue to be an inspiration and be the best that we can be for our students, friends, colleagues, loved ones, and to those who believe in us. Let us excel in everything we do and allow God to be the center of our lives. Let us believe, trust, and soar high to God be the highest glory”.