Sabrina Ongkiko: Passion + Skill + Need = Purpose

Sabrina, or “Ma’am Sabs” as her pupils call her, never dreamed that she would be a public school teacher. She was all set to pursue a career in medicine when her mentor at Ateneo de Manila challenged her. “All it takes sometimes is just one person to believe in you and say, alam mo, pwede kang maging magaling na teacher. And now I’m here teaching in a public school for seven years.”

She shares the three steps that led her along this path. First: “You have to look at what you’re passionate about, to see what is life-giving for you. For me, teaching is life-giving.” She realized, secondly, that teaching was something she was good at, a natural talent that she discovered volunteering her time in college teaching public high school students.

And finally, Sabrina knew in her heart what needs she wanted to address. “Ano ang pangangailangan ng mundo na pwede mong punan? The call is not to teach – the call has always been to love.” She saw how good, quality education can improve the lives of Filipino children and couldn’t turn her back on them.

“Ang pangarap ko, we teach our kids well, we help them grow up to be better people so that they have the aspiration to also give back. I think giving back is anchored on gratitude and that’s also one of the reasons I’m teaching, because I’m grateful for everything that has happened, everything that was given to me.”

“Ang Pinay ay isang magaling na tao dahil alam nya kung saan nya gagamitin ang galing nya. Para sa pamilya, para sa anak, para sa kapatid, pero laging may kasabay na puso. Tapos ang pusong yun, hindi bumibigay, kasi mayroong dahilan bakit.”

Sabs as the keynote speaker at Ateneo De Manila’s "Paghahandog: A Celebration of Student Leadership and Service" held at the Leong Hall Auditorium on March 9, 2015 With Vice President for the Loyola Schools Dr. John Paul Vergara and Outgoing Sanggu Vice President Ryan Yu

Sabs at an event with students of Culiat Elementary School