Fresh faces, lasting impact

| Reine Depra, Jayden Michael Tuñacao

As students anticipate the new lessons they’ll learn, a fresh group of teachers and leaders anticipate their own life lessons. They learn new names, build trust, and grow alongside the community they serve.

Ms. Danica Kiliste

A fresh face arrives at JCSGO Christian Academy (JCA) to teach Filipino. For her, some lessons aren’t in textbooks. They are learned through the values carried long after graduation.

For Ms. Danica Kiliste, the opportunity to teach at JCA was one she gladly embraced. She shared that the school’s Christian-centered environment, welcoming community, and convenient location made it the right place for her to begin this chapter of her teaching career.

Before her students master her subject, she always reminds them to stay humble. Even if they achieve a lot or reach college, she hopes they will never forget where they came from.

“Palagi ko namang tinatandaan o sinasabi sa mga bata na palagi silang magpakumbaba,” she shared.

“Paulit-ulit ko silang sinasabihan na kung ano man ang achievement na meron sila ngayon, hanggang pagdating sa college, ay huwag nilang kakalimutan na lumingon kung saan ha sila nanggaling.”

Ms. Bernadette Retirva

Meanwhile, for one first-time educator, teaching is not simply about sharing knowledge—it’s about walking alongside students in their journey of faith and character. With faith as her foundation and service as her calling, she hopes to nurture not only minds but hearts.

Ms. Bernadette Retirva, who teaches Values for Grades 5 and 8, has a purpose that reaches far beyond introducing herself on the first day.

“As a first-time teacher, I think one of the things that I look forward to is first, experience, and also to gain knowledge with my students.”

She views every lesson as an opportunity not only to teach but also to learn, believing that both teachers and students continually shape one another through shared experiences.

Beyond academic instruction, Retirva hopes to contribute to the spiritual and personal development of every learner entrusted to her.

“One thing I hope to contribute to this school is to help students [with] their growth, since subject ko is values and I think [is] very relevant. One thing is also in terms of spirituality. Since the school is more on religion, one thing na pwede kong ma-contribute is my faith and my spiritual goal.”

Sir Carlos Miguel Llaban

He’s known for his charisma and intelligence. “Ang pogi ni Sir!” “Uy, ang galing magturo ni Sir Carlos, ah!”

But other than those remarks is an educator who teaches how TLE lessons work; a career driven by inspiration. He saw that his mentor could change students’ lives.

“A number of my friends had a lot of challenges with school and family life, but my adviser at the time was able to support them in a way I hadn’t seen before and it really helped with getting them through the school year,” he said as he shared his experience that ignited the fire in his heart for teaching.

He wanted to continue that legacy. He wanted to make an impact. “The real impact that we need to make … is to be able to make them feel like we will be there for them [the students], regardless of what happens.”

Ms. Criziel Nheka Mausisa

Also known as Ms. Crizzy, she is a girl’s girl who is always there for her students. Her hobbies helped her connect with her pupils, sharing something common with them. One thing that makes students adore her is that she cosplays — seen as a role model for self-expression.

Her journey in JCA began when she saw the school’s page looking for English major teachers.

Ms. Crizzy aims to help her students grow — not just academically, but personally. Anchored in her values of equality, love, and expression, she hopes to share those with her students.

“As a teacher, I hope to produce individuals that are very competitive, … but in a way that I can contribute to the students, not only based on the subject that I teach, but also to the growth of every individual,” she expressed.

She also aspires to leave a lasting legacy, not just through the lessons she teaches, but also as a shoulder her students can cry on, and a teacher they can rely on.

“I hope to make an impact in a way that I can be remembered. Not only by the things that I teach in terms of English, but as well as being a person that my students can rely on,” she concluded.

Sir John Kenneth Lolong

Drawn not only by the school’s accommodating community but also by its Christ-centered mission, this teacher found a place where their passion for teaching and faith could grow hand in hand.

Sir John Kenneth Lolong, also known as Sir JK, found a community where he truly belonged. He saw the warmth and the kindness extended by fellow educators.

Sir JK shared that the school’s welcoming atmosphere anchored his decision to continue his journey at JCA.

“When I first came here during our application period, very welcoming ang staff, especially si Ms. Flor. And then the teachers, nung na-meet namin sila, they were also very welcoming, especially Ms. Lin. She was very accommodating to us,” he stated

Aside from the welcoming environment, JCA’s Christian mission resonated with him. As a Christian himself, he hopes to become an instrument in strengthening his students’ spiritual foundation while helping them realize that excellence should never come at the expense of peace and authenticity.

“The main reason is ‘yung advocacies ng JCA, especially on the spiritual side. Since I’m a Christian, goal ko namang tulungan ang students in building their spiritual life,” he added

Rather than pressuring learners to chase perfection, Sir JK aspires to create a classroom where students feel free to be themselves, discover their full potential, and grow with confidence.

“I want my students not to feel pressured into becoming excellent. Ayun ang goal ko, na tulungan sila na maging excellent in their studies, [and] sa mga extra-curricular activities.”

“So ‘yung impact na ibibigay ko sa kanila is something na they can be who they are in my classes, na palabas nila ang full potential nila using my help. On the spiritual side naman, gusto ko rin na ako ang maging instrument na makilala nila kung sino si Jesus sa life nila, and ma-build ‘yung christian foundation nila through my help,” he added

More than academic success, he hopes to guide them toward a deeper relationship with Christ—one they can carry beyond the four walls of the classroom.

Ms. Maureen Tamayo

Some journeys begin with a destination in mind. Others begin with a feeling that silently whispers, “This is where I belong.”

Drawn by the school’s warmth, culture, and community, one educator found more than just a workplace—she found a place where she could share both her passion and purpose.

For Ms. Maureen, choosing JCA was more than accepting a teaching position. It was an opportunity to join a community whose welcoming environment and Christian values reflected the kind of educator she aspired to be.

Surrounded by people who foster growth and genuine connection, she found a place to begin a meaningful new chapter.

“Pinili ko ang JCA dahil nakita ko na maganda ang culture at ‘yung community,” she shared.

As Ms. Maureen steps into the classroom, she hopes to inspire students to see Filipino beyond their learning. Rather than viewing it as merely another subject to pass, she wants learners to recognize it as a language that carries the nation’s history, identity, and culture.

“Nawa’y mas mahalin nila ang wikang Filipino, at ang asignaturang Filipino,” she shared, expressing her desire to cultivate not only understanding but also genuine love for the language among her students.

Through every lesson, she hopes to leave her students with more than knowledge—she hopes to leave them with a deeper appreciation for the language that unites them as Filipinos.

Ms. Saraleen Sansano

Before stepping into a new school, some educators look beyond the classroom, paying attention to the people who have stayed, the values that have endured, and the culture that keeps a community together.

For Ms. Saraleen Sansano, these became signs that JCA was more than just another place to teach.

Before applying, she took the time to learn more about the school and was drawn by the number of teachers who stayed for 15 or even 25 years. She saw it as a sign of a healthy environment and a good system.

“If may ganun na teacher na nagtatagal, may magandang system and environment,” Sansano shared, whose decision was further strengthened by JCA’s Christian foundation, services, devotions, and appreciation for its educators.

As an adviser, Sansano also found meaning in JCA’s one-on-one approach, allowing her to look beyond academics, understand the cause of her students’ behavior, and build genuine connections with them.

For her, being an adviser means more than just guiding students in their studies—it means reaching their hearts, understanding the stories, and becoming someone who can help them grow.