What is lifelong learning? “It is the ongoing, voluntary and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for personal or professional reasons.” Last week, Wesleyan University launched the Carolina L. Gozon Institute of Lifelong Learning, the first Lifelong Institute in the Philippines to offer micro credentials, getting the best from models in Europe and United States. The guest of honor was the European Union represented by Deputy Head of Delegation Ana Isabel Sanchez-Ruiz.
Wesleyan president Benjamin Turgano said that the Institute’s framework is to be ACCESSIBLE, promote INCLUSIVENESS, and offer educational and capacity building courses RESPONSIVE and RELEVANT to the development needs of the marginalized communities. It is envisioned that the skills acquired, and knowledge gained will benefit not only the trainees but their communities and industries.“ Like the fruits of trees that bear the seeds for propagation, the Institute envisions to bear fruits through its graduates equipped with knowledge, skills and values they shall extend to their respective communities. They shall be the seeds that will propagate the ideals and principles that the Institute stands for.”
Director of the Institute is young and talented Christian Jan (CJ) Fausto, currently completing his Masters in Communications in UP whose research interest is on Indigenous Knowledge System, Development of Functional and Environmental Literacy among Filipino children. Deputy Director is Chita Framo, former President of the DIAKONIA World Federation. Consultant of the Institute is UPLB Professor Greg Tabios Pawilen, renowned expert in curriculum design.
And Carolina, says President Benny, “is the role model, given her quest for continuous learnings as an entrepreneurial housewifewho built a strong family life and with deep faith in GOD.
Looking back, Nanay was swept off her feet by Benjamin Gozon, a promising young lawyer from Malabon. He later became Director of Mines, Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Governor of the Land Authority while she became an entrepreneur, established Dalisay Patis in her 40’s, produced sea salt at 50, managed a quarry business in her 80’s, and started a coffee nursery at 91. She had a lifelong desire for learning continuously from knitting, crocheting, hollow block making to orchid cross pollination etc.
Being the youngest, I cried so loud whenever Nanay left home to work as a pharmacist at Mary Johnston Hospital. So, she conceived of a business at home, Dalisay Patis, which tested her entrepreneurial skills. To keep overhead expenses down, she did everything from production to delivery, even driving the jeep to the markets. The raw materials for Patis are fish and salt. One time, Nanay found out she was paying for empty sacks with no salt unloaded in her bodega. She was devastated.This led her to do “backward integration”and produce the salt herself. She constructed her own salt beds from scratch in PangASINan, still productive today, a blessing in disguise.
At 91, Nanay started the coffee nursery business. She got the seeds in March, even if its summer, small mortality as she regularly monitored its watering; resulted in thousands of coffee seedlings for sale.
Every centavo counts. She said a pail with holes can’t be filled up with water; while one without holes, over time will be filled up no matter if it’s just a drip. Best to earn and not spend unnecessarily; to distinguish between wants and needs.
She is thrifty but generous. She acted in consultation with the Lord in prayer. In the 60’s, she was offered the Antipolo property, very far and she has no money to buy it. She prayed that if it is God’s will, her patis sales will be enough. Her testimony? The patis sales were exact; not a centavo more, not a centavo less what the sellers wanted.That’s in Antipolo where the Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain, Scandinavian Children’s Mission, Care Philippines, Flor’s Garden, Carolina Bamboo and Ed’s farm are now located.
She was industrious and worked tirelessly, always prayerful, perhaps the reason her four children (Ben Jr, a businessman (deceased), Kay Jimenez - the Bamboo Queen, Felipe “Henry” - GMA 7 CEO and myself) turned out all right. She taught us values.To be honest, to be fair, have integrity and give your best in everything you do.
She valued education and sent us to U.P. and abroad. Nanay received the UP-Centennial Family Award in 2008, representing three generations of UP alumni.Yet if there is the only ONE thing on how to face the uncertain future, she said it is to know that “Jesus IS THE ANSWER and ALL WE NEED!”
This weekend, Mr. Greg and Ina Claudio, a most sought-after educator from UP, Diliman, will already start the training of 20 students in the Institute. Thank you to Wesleyan University for the Carolina L. Gozon Institute of Lifelong Learning: accessible, relevant, inclusive, and responsive to marginalized sectors towards social transformation.
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Ms. Tarriela was the first Chairwoman of the Philippine National Bank. She was the first and only independent director/ chairwoman in the commercial banking industry. She is a former Undersecretary of Finance and the first Filipina vice-president of Citibank N.A. She is a trustee of FINEX and an Institute of Corporate Directors fellow.
A gardener and an environmentalist, she established Flor’s Garden in Antipolo, an ATI Accredited National Extension Service Provider and a DOT Accredited Agri Tourism Site.
(The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions.)