- This teacher has another job – a clown performer in parties and events.
- The experience has helped him discover his skills in teaching a class.
- He has gone a long way in two careers – from making children laugh as a clown, to teaching students, to a doctorate in Applied Cosmic Anthropology.
Gatdula, who has been doing clown gigs for 30 years, said that being around children helped
him discover his passion for education.
Herwin Gatdula’s online class set-up with his doll Cristy, who helps in looking over students. (photo from Herwin Gatdula/Facebook)
“A major factor actually ng pagiging guro ko ay dahil sa clown. Dahil nakita ko sa sarili ko na kaya kong mag handle ng grupo ng mga bata (A major factor that helped me become a teacher is my experience as a clown I saw that I could handle a group of children),” he said in a online interview with Manila Bulletin.
Gatdula, who was exposed to the skill by his mother who also worked as a clown, started assisting clown performers in two-to three-hour weekend events when he was in fifth grade. For each event, he earned P125, which he used to pay for school miscellaneous fees and for his personal allowance.
The clown-turned-educator juggled studying while entertaining on the side. And although working as a clown entails a lot of smiles and laughter, challenges and struggles which he encountered did not take away his mood to make people laugh.
Herwin Gatdula’s throwback photo as a clown that brings hints on how birthdays used to be. (photo from Herwin Gatdula/Facebook)
He remembers that not all clown gigs were fun, though. One of his many bad experiences involved rude clients. He remembers servicing a party years ago where the client asked his team to be at the site at 8 a.m. although the party was scheduled at 3 p.m. After their performance, the client insisted that they stay because she still had guests. After he explained that the contract was only for one performance, the client told them to leave without giving them a chance to wash their makeup, change costumes, and to even have a meal.
But he said there were many clients who were kind and helpful, even giving them tips on different ways to entertain. A client even booked the team to a 60th birthday party, not as clowns, but as stand-up comedians. Gatdula’s team grabbed the opportunity, and that paved the way to more successful party hosting jobs.
Gatdula, the clown, disappears when classes start, teaching in various schools, including one in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
His teaching career started at Espiritu Santo Parochial School (ESPS) after he graduated college in 2002. After four years, he taught at Elite International School, a Filipino community school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Herwin Gatdula continues to work on hosting events as a stand-up comedian host. (photo from Herwin Gatdula/Facebook)
In 2006, Gatdula returned to the Philippines. He returned to teach at ESPS and took his master’s degree in education, major in social science education.
His desire to pursue a doctorate only began when he started teaching at the Manila Science High School, where most of his colleagues had doctorate degrees.
“Karamihan ng aking kasamahan ay doktor na. So papasok dito syempre yung inggit. Yung inggit na kung saan gusto mo rin maging gano’n. Minsan hindi rin naman masamang mainggit (Most of my colleagues already had doctorate degrees. This is where envy came, the kind that encouraged me to want to be like them),” said Gatdula.
He recently graduated doctor of philosophy in applied cosmic anthropology at the Asian Social Institute with highest distinction.
With his commitment to teaching, Gatdula’s love for his students has seen many unexpected happy returns. Once, while dining in a restaurant, he was surprised to find out that a former student had paid his bill - anonymously.
The 40-year-old educator now teaches as a master teacher II at the Manila Science High School and a professor I at the Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Meanwhile, after classes and when he has a gig, Gatdula returns to center stage as a comedian host. (Thea Magueriano)