MYJOURNEY,

MY STUDENTS,
MY FAITH
narrated by Sheryl 'Sharima Ali' Renomeron-Morales
INTRODUCTION
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh (May the peace, mercy, and blessing of God be
with you).
Teaching is not just basically what is in the book but moreover, teaching how that book came into
existence, the countless written texts were products of hard-work, patience, determination and
heart. Teach them these things and I am confident I'll be reading, even in the most simplest form
of my students self-made book-- their life stories.
Education should aim at the balanced growth of the total personality of Man through the training
of Man's spirit, intellect, the rational self, feelings and bodily senses...the ultimate aim of
Education lies in the realization of complete submission to Allah (God) on the level of the
individual, the community and humanity at large (Husain & Ashraf, 1985).
It is worth mentioning that I am educated and trained in a progressive, critical, reflective ways of
thinking in appreciating and solving things.
When I open my door to Islam, my perspective of the world expands further, it allows me in my
beliefs, the space to help the country I live in. Islam urges Muslims to be active and even
proactive in any society they dwell in. Muslims have to be positive and participative in public life
in a way that ensures what is good and forbids what is evil. This participation is required, as long
as it is not motivated by self interest and desires. You can read in the Quran the injunction that
means
{Cooperate ye with one another on virtue and God-consciousness.}(Al-Ma'idah 5:2)
As an educator, I have always moulded my students on this basis. Students must stand up as the
faces of heroes of tomorrow Mga Bagong Bayani as Mr. Tony Meloto would call them. I
remember in my student days as we were told, It is the youth who has the spare time, the
energy and the enthusiasm. It is where we get our fresh blood of heroes and martyrs.
And yes, I still believe in that, that the young people are the new heroes, the ones who shall be
the face of a new country, strong, patriotic and ever vigilant. However, these young heroes of
tomorrow still need the guidance and wisdom of the Elders of today---and this is where I take
part: My journey, My student, My faith.
EARLY PHASE:
Looking back 12 years ago, when I started teaching, I'm assigned as an adviser of the second to
lowest section in the junior high school at Jose Rizal University where teaching then was not an
easy task. I have to be firm on my rules, and yet implement it with utmost consideration of my
My Jouney, my students, my faith

students' individual differences. Now I am happy chatting with them: Talking to an

accomplished graphic artist and photographer, a female soccer player, and another one who
became like me-a teacher. Though I only had a short year at JRU, it was an accomplishment
seeing where my students are today.
When I became a faculty and shortly after the academic head of a newly-established technical
school, I was even more exposed to students who have been living in more complicated
situations while trying to have a leap of faith in changing their lives. We tried to look into out-ofthe box methodologies on how they will acquire technical skills while their values and perspective
in life will be strengthened as well. We have seen that engaging them in community
involvements and sharing their acquired skills to the people outside the school environment have
been productive. I remember one student (who happens to be the most bully in the class) asked
me Mam, you seemed to be very intelligent, why teach in a small school? I answered back
I wanted to turn trash kids to great kids. And now still in contact with a few: A two-year
technical course graduates working in one of the known restaurants as senior graphic artist, a
network administrator in a top BPO industry, and an open-source advocate promoting
alternative software to marginalized sector. Some have continued their studies and became
teachers like me.
DEVELOPMENT PHASE:
Going back to my Sintang Paaralan seven years after finishing my graduate program, and being
the youngest faculty of the PUP Quezon City Branch is another challenging phase in my career as
an educator. Having been exposed to strong student leadership and activism during my college
years, gave me the kaleidoscopic eye on how I handled college students. Unfamiliar and not used
to my way of harnessing students, it has brought complaints to the administration. Letting my
students go out from their classrooms and applying the concepts they have learned in the real
arena of life. Perhaps it was a fear to the senior faculty that I will bring the acitivism faith I have
acquired in the main campus (PUP Sta. Mesa) to their somewhat more peaceful abode.
As years passed, the students and faculty get more acquainted on how I deal with them. That
was the time that I was given the opportunity to be the adviser of a new three-year diploma
course program. The first thing that I have worked on was to create a student organization-the
DOMT.Cs. In months, we were able to get accreditation from the office of the student services.
In its first year of existence, we were able to participate in different events, organized one
international activity (Software Freedom Day in collaboration with SFD International), and
volunteered in one national event at Whitehouse Makati (Heal-Om Festival). The following year,
we were able to acquire accreditation and registration from the National Youth Commission. The
DOMT.Cs organization was the first to register with NYC and the DOMT.Cs helped two other
student Orgs to be registeredthe Future Business Teacher Organization (FBTO) and the
Supreme Student Council (SSC). Invitations starting from seminars, workshops then community
involvement and volunteerism came one by one and it gave avenue-- the learning and realization
to my students and the rest of organization in PUPQC community. It was a joyous moment for
My Jouney, my students, my faith

me, seeing my students trained and acquired leadership skills in the hands of progressive
individual aside from me. From classroom students to student leaders, YES, I have started to
imbibe that idea to my servile dependents.
NATIONALISM PHASE:
December of 2013 was the turning point of my ability to mould student leaders. Bringing 32
delegates coming from Muslim youth leaders (both from the community and school-based) and
PUP Quezon City. Through my husband's networks and partnerships, we were asked to join as
facilitators of the National Youth Congress 2013 at the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm. Prior to
that, we had joined the facilitators' training at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. Since it was the
first time to closely work (of course, my college years were a different picture then) with the AFP,
my biases on how they organized such event was apparently obvious. I decided not to continue
the training and promised to proceed on the NYCongress to overlook on matters of facilitation.
Though there were shortcomings, the event was successful. In fact, after using our own
assessment tool, the participants we brought in, had good feedbacks. The Majority of the
participants after the event signified that they wanted to pursue the nation-building value
emphasized in the training; hence, gave me the realization that I will about to closely work with
the uniformed men.
At first, it was a test for both parties on how commitment will be going to work. Still hesitant,
I allowed my husband to take charge in dealing with the uniformed men as I continue to mentor
and meet my agitated young leaders. Months after months, dialogues, meeting and planning
were laid on the table. Finally, the core group of the NYCongress came into being. Bayani
Challenge in Tanaun, Leyte was the first national project for these youth leaders. It was a very
meaningful experience not only to them (NYCongress youth leaders) but to me as well. This was
a proof that my ability to work with students can be extended to community-based youth
leaders.
After the Bayani Challenge, the NYCongress core group activity has never stopped. Letters have
been pouring through exchanges of emails and Facebook messages and chat groups. From river
cleanup, medical missions, seminars, gigs up to community-based small events in their
barangays, the core group has been working and collaborating sincerely with one another.
Seeing them inspires us; more that we should continue supporting the activities of the group.
While helping to harness the ability of the NYCongress, another group of youth in Pagadian is
also sprouting and making their way to nation-building activities. The tri-people of the SubanenMuslim-Christian Relations group (was conceived after the summer youth camp with AFP in
Dimataling Municipality) was also receiving mentorship and guidance from me. With the help of
their community in the presence of their elders, and the strong involvement of the Armed Forces
in the region, the SMCR was able to declare their area as a 'Peace Zone'. This was witnessed and
signed by the barangay officials, Parish Priest, Muslim leaders, the Subanen chieftain, and the
representative of the Municipality Mayor. They also managed to have their own version of
My Jouney, my students, my faith

Bayani Challenge that was participated by 2000 volunteers from five barangays.
There is no denial that while pushing through with our partnership with the Armed Forces-J7, it
gained controversy and unsounding feedback from some people within our own organizations.
Nevertheless, seeing the goodness of the seeds growing and how they begin to flower as young
leaders is indeed a remarkable scene. Such wonderful beauty that I myself do not want to stop
from witnessing.
WAY AHEAD:
The Glorious Quran teaches Muslims that:
{Surely Allah enjoins justice, kindness, and doing of good, to kith and kin, and forbids
all that is shameful, evil, and oppressive. He exhorts you so that you may be
mindful.} (An-Nahl 16:90)
This verse highlights the basic Islamic values of justice and compassion. These should be the
overriding principles guiding my social engagements and deals. Hence, sincerely practicing these
values in my day-to-day life as an educator is vital to prove my worth to Allah (God). I shall
continue to mould young leaders towards an authentic value of nation building in collaboration
with new 'find friends' in the guise of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as the value of
volunteerism modeled and popularized by Gawad Kalinga.
Indeed, I shall always say, I am a mentor, a Muslimah and a Muslim Filipino, part and parcel of this
great country that will have great gain in the hands of the new heroes of tomorrow-the youth.
Submitting to the rules of Allah (God) is sufficient for me; us, we need not only to practice them,
but to teach and share them to others in the best possible manner. My faith as a Muslim does
not limit the virtue to people of the same faith as it was clearly stated in the Quran:
{O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you
into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each
other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous
of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).}
(Al-Hujurat 49:13)
Peace be with you!

My Jouney, my students, my faith