No rocket science needed for teacher’s award streak

By Ma. Diosa Labiste
Inquirer

ILOILO CITY–If life’s a lotto, science teacher Josette Biyo has won it several times.

On Sept. 19, she copped another grand prize, the Presidential or Lingkod Bayan award, given by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to government workers in recognition of their commitment to the ideals of public service.

And Biyo, 49, who is also the director of the Philippine Science High School in Western Visayas, exemplifies that dedication as a government employee.

Biyo, who has a doctorate in biology, was cited for “developing a culture of science among the youth through research, resulting in the high quality of researches of students and faculty members, gaining both national and international recognition.”

Her work on “introducing science research modules and innovations, giving motivational speeches makes her a world-class teacher worthy of emulation,” according to the CSC.

Biyo is one of the five individual recipients of the Lingkod Bayan awards. Other awardees are Air Force Capt. Giemel Espino, Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, Chief Supt. Samson Tucay and Gov. Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga del Norte.

Two institutional awards were given to the Benguet State University for developing potato and sweet potato varieties for the Cordillera, and the Philippine General Hospital.

Most meaningful

“I have won many top awards but this (Lingkod Bayan) is the most meaningful of them all. The screening was rigid and I didn’t expect to emerge as one of the five winners,” said Biyo.

She felt honored to have competed with politicians and ordinary government workers who must have spent years doing their work unrecognized.

Biyo, who joined the government in 1994, is proud to be recognized as an outstanding public employee, aside from being a science teacher.

As a winner, she is entitled to an automatic promotion or a salary equivalent to the next higher position, but the latter is more likely since she is already holding the top position as a director.

The award also comes with a prize of P100, 000.

Past awards

Before she received the Lingkod Bayan award, Biyo had won several coveted national and international awards that come with handsome cash prizes. The biggest was the 2002 Intel Excellence in Teaching given in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. She not only bagged $5,000 but, as part of the recognition, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln laboratory also named an asteroid after her.

The Intel award propelled her to celebrity status and opened the door for more awards (a room in her house is filled with these awards).

She received an honorary degree of doctor of humanities from the Manila Central University and numerous invitations to give speeches in the country and abroad.

She also became an endorser of insurance and a pharmaceutical company that eventually supported some science research projects of students, and received citations and medals of merit from President Macapagal-Arroyo, the Senate and expatriates in the US for being the first Filipino and the first Asian teacher to win the Intel award.

Biyo was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 1998. She received the Metrobank Outstanding Teacher in 1997 and the 2004 Metrobank award “for those who stand out for continuing excellence and service.” The first one has no cash reward, but Metrobank gives P100, 000 to winners.

Press darling

Biyo was recognized as outstanding Ilonggo in the field of education by the Iloilo provincial government in 2003.

She is a “press darling” or a bankable personality to be profiled by magazines and coffee table book writers. The stories they wrote conferred on her more recall, giving a face to an otherwise cut-off world of science teaching, and an interesting hook and angle that attracted more readers.

For example, the repeated quote was from Biyo’s book published in 2005 and titled “A Trip to Planet Biyo: I dreamt of stars … I got a planet.” The book, which she distributed to students, schools and private groups, has the message “Being a teacher is a noble profession; being a Filipino is something to be proud of.”

Biyo said many had listened to her message, as shown by the e-mail, letters and feedback that she got. She believed that she “has inspired individuals and companies to pursue their dreams, and even convinced several people, especially teachers, doctors and nurses to stay in the country.”

Biyo tries to wear her celebrity status lightly. She said through SMS: “In winning the awards, you don’t have to be somebody else. Just be yourself and enjoy what you are doing. No rocket science needed. Just consistency of purpose and giving the best of your self for the glory of God and country.”

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