May 05, 2025 – Choosing to serve as a tutor the second time around.

As an aspiring educator, making a choice as to how to spend his summer vacation is an easy one.

John Carlo Magdangal, an incoming 4th year student of Cavite State University (CvSU) Bacoor City Campus, chose to once again serve as a tutor for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Tara Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP).

According to John Carlo, though he can easily choose to work as an English tutor for foreign students where he can earn more income for his studies, he would rather be involved in this government program.

“It’s not about the money. Kung sa mga foreigners kasi ako magtuturo, sila ang gagaling, hindi ang mga batang Pilipino. Pinili ko po ang Tara Basa para kahit papaano ay makapagbigay ako ng tulong at pangaral sa mga batang Pilipino, na sooner or later ay sila rin ang makakatulong sa ating bansa,” shared John Carlo.

His appreciation to this tutoring program roots from his experience as a tutor in 2024, the first time the program was implemented in Bacoor City.

A different kind of experience

In May 2024, John Carlo was assigned to tutor five incoming grade 2 pupils in Gawaran Elementary School.

According to him, all throughout his experience during the 20-day tutorial sessions, he realized a lot of things.

“Marami pong dahilan kung bakit hindi marunong o nahihirapang matuto ang isang bata. Hindi po dahil hindi sila magaling, may mga other factors po tulad ng family problems o lack of support,” he shared.

John Carlo added that these realizations made him more motivated not only in teaching them but also in guiding them as a ‘second parent.’

“There are a lot of joyous moments po sa pagtuturo ng mga bata. The more you show care to the children, the more that they feel they are loved and mas nagiging malapit sila sa inyo at mas ginaganahan po silang matuto,” shared John Carlo, who added that he will never forget how one of his pupils greeted him with a hug in one of his sessions.

For John Carlo, this motivated him more to perform well not only during his engagement with the program but also when he becomes a professional teacher in the future.

Looking forward for more experiences, lessons

This 2025, John Carlo signed up again as a tutor and also encouraged other students to be part of the program.

“Sinasabi ko po sa kanila na hindi lang pera ang makukuha nila dito kundi maraming learnings na makakatulong sa amin bilang mga future educators,” he shared.

During the capacity building sessions of tutors in Bacoor City last April 2025, John Carlo also made sure to guide his fellow-tutors, especially the first-timers.

This May 19, they are set to start the tutorial sessions and John Carlo cannot hide his excitement.

“Marami akong strategies sa pagtuturo na uulitin ko at looking forward ako sa mga bagong learnings, at kung may mga problema man kaming ma-encounter, for sure ma-o-overcome namin. Kailangan lang talaga ng mahabang pasensya,” he shared.

An advocacy as an educator

Through his learnings as a tutor in the program, John Carlo affirms his advocacy in the importance of ensuring Filipino children are taught how to read.

“Ito [reading] ang isa sa mga pillar, ito ang pinakamahalagang aspeto ng pagkatuto na kailangang mabigyan ng atensyon. Kasi, the moment po na mapag-iwanan sila, continuous na po ‘yun at mahuhuli na lang sila palagi. Kaya importante po na hindi sila pabayaan at i-prepare sila nang mas maaga para makasunod po sila sa mga lessons,” he shared.

As he prepares for the start of the tutorial sessions this year, John Carlo vows to be patient and show compassion. And through his interactions with fellow tutors, he makes sure that he inspires them to do the same.#