By Cyrus A. Natividad
Centralian Joan Cataluña Sabran Castor: September 2021 LET Board Passer.
Due to some difficult circumstances, Joan Cataluña Sabran became a self-supporting student since her elementary up to college. She struggled and did her best to become successful. She eventually realized her dream and passed the September 2021 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).
The following, as told by Joan, is a true story of sacrifice, perseverance, and determination to succeed; a reality that many work students of today with the same situations and experiences may follow.
Joan came from a fragmented family and was not living with her biological parents when she was still a baby. She was adopted by her aunt and uncle that’s why her last name became Sabran. Later on, with her marriage, her family name became Castor. She grew up with her Lola (grandmother) who took care of her and helped her to study in a public elementary school.
“I worked in the farm to help Lola in harvesting rice. She recalled in Ilonggo, “Pang garab lang humay (rice stalks), amon pangitan-an ni Lola sang una, para makakaon.” (That was our only source of income so that we can eat). Joan started as a working student since grade 5. I served other people at their homes – working as a kabulig (helper) to be able to buy my needs in school projects and daily allowance.” “I graduated from the Mambiranan Elementary School in Calinog, Iloilo.”
“I pursued my secondary education, again, by being a working student at Leganes National High School. I graduated With Honors and was the Model Girl of the Year Awardee,” she recalled.
Joan is thankful to Central Philippine University for the opportunity to study in college through its Work-Study program. She was qualified and became a dedicated work student. She graduated from CPU in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Fitness and Lifestyle Management degree – under the College of Medicine. She was a recipient of the God’s Grace Program since her first year in college and was awarded as an OUTSTANDING WORK STUDENT during the college honors and awards in the same year.
During her time in college, she recalls, “I was a working student assigned to the Weston Hall Ladies Dormitory and Dining Hall under the Services Laboratory Assistance Group. I was reassigned to the Janitorial Student Assistance Office so that I can balance my work and the On-the-Job Training requirement during my 4th year.”
She added that “Since there was no financial support for me at that time, I volunteered my services to the tenants at the Weston Hall dormitory. I washed their clothes, do errands for them; I served coffee, and snacks during my vacant periods. Life was difficult or so I thought, but my optimism and belief in God encouraged me to work hard even more.”
“As a challenge, I ran for a position of a Board Member in the College of Medicine as part of the Reform Party in the CPUR elections, and I won!”, she said.
Joan was hired as a Secretary of the Office of the University President on a job order basis from July 1 to December 15, 2017, and on probation from December 16, 2017 until June 16, 2018. She later became a regular CPU employee after some time. “Thank you so much to University President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles for the job,” she said.
Joan was appointed Logistics Coordinator under the CPU Project ETC in June 2019 until this time. Joan also enrolled in the Diploma in Teaching program of the University (2018-2019).
“I was scheduled to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers in March 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, I took the exam on September 26, 2021 as scheduled.” Joan passed the LET Board Exam.
“It was a roller coaster ride before that since I stopped reviewing for the LET last year March 2020 upon knowing the postponement. I was almost losing hope for the LET exam to finally push through.” She added, “I stopped my review and did not open my notes anymore until August this year. Last June 2021, I was hospitalized, and I thought I won’t survive.” Her blood pressure was at (50/0). “This is my second life now. I had to realize the purpose of this God-given life,” Joan reflected.
“I prayed hard as I was about to take the exam. I asked God to give me wisdom so I can make it to the list of the LET board passers. God sustained me. I passed the Exam! Praise the Lord!
God is always there despite the challenges in my life. I was strengthened by those challenges.” “I would always remember our work student motto, “Labor is Honor”, Joan added. She shared a favorite verse from Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Joan was recently married to Mr. Rene Castor Jr.