the employees of the school. He taught me by example to be real, to be authentic in my dealings with employees. He taught me to be mild-mannered and polite, but not to mince words when tell- ing the employees about difficulties in the school or motivating and disciplining them. Papa had that touch, that feel for people, that made them fiercely loyal to him and to TIP. He made them feel important, calling everyone by name, using his own brand of mnemonics. As dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture, he personally gave out faculty teaching load or teaching schedule to the faculty, one on one. It was tedious, but it was a special and much-appreciated human touch. Papa was also my chief cheerleader, always complimenting me on my littlest accomplishment. I guess that is what a teacher is—a life coach building up in his disciple self-confidence and wholeness of character and good feelings about himself. I know I made him proudest when I presented to him TIP’s 10-year Strategic Plan in 2002. His eyes were moist as he drew me near and said, “ Hija , you have dreamt and done for TIP much more than I had ever dreamt I could do for TIP.” But it was actually Papa who taught me, once again by example, to take those bold strategic steps. In 1983, he took the plunge and established TIP in Quezon City. It was his answer to the dispersal call of the government at that time to decongest the Manila University Belt. He acquired TIPQC way ahead of other Manila-based schools, some of which also eventually heeded, but only in the last five years, this government call to locate outside the University Belt. TIPQC is now 29 years old and has a bigger campus and a bigger enrollment than TIP Manila. I would not have done such a bold move on my own. But once he had decided, Papa expected us, his team of managers, to make the seemingly impossible purchases happen, arrange the bank loans, and set up shop in the new location.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker