• A. V. DEL CARMEN
A little more than 20 years ago, Reyno ‘Rey’ Jison Abasolo, a native of Moises Padilla, earned his Management Accounting degree from Binalbagan Catholic College.
After working for about 10 years since college graduation – as a human resource specialist in Makati and Kuala Lumpur (2004-12) and later as sustainable livelihood program project development officer of the Department of Social Services and Development in Iloilo City (2015-17) – his professional pursuit took a sudden shift.
“I became unhappy working in corporate jobs, I soul-searched for a year or two and found teaching is what I want to do,” said the 42-year-old mentor.
He enrolled in supplemental courses in education at Central Philippines State University in Sipalay City and later in the masteral program in Educational Management at Philippine Christian University.
Online, he pursued higher studies, earning a post-graduate diploma in education and teaching at the Asian College of Teachers based in Bangkok.
Late last month, Rey added a cherry and icing to his track record when he topped the Philippine government’s Special Examination for Professional Teachers (Secondary Level) – with a 90.60 rating. The licensure examination was given on June 8. He took the exam in Dubai which was simultaneously held in key centers in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Singapore and Taiwan.
His teaching job for the last eight years has taken him to four countries – Laos (2017-18), Brazil (2018-2020), Kyrgyzstan (2020-21), and as a middle school Math teacher at the Presidential School in Uzbekistan, where he has been employed since 2021.
He said he was still teaching in Kyrgyzstan when he got wind of a teaching job in Uzbekistan when he saw a video posted online by a Filipino, who was promoting the Presidential Schools.
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Sir Reyno is the eldest of the four children of Patrick Abasolo and wife, the former Melanie Jison, of Barangay 3 in Moises Padilla. Both my parents are now deceased, with my father and mother passing away in 2016 and 2023, respectively, Reyno told Negros Weekly.
His younger siblings are Dory Kris, a licensed chemical engineer; Aemon, a public school teacher; and Pamela, a chemical engineer who is working as a public school teacher.
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Uzbekistan has 14 Presidential School campuses nationwide. One of these schools is located in Khiva, where Rey teaches.
Khiva is located about 1,000 kms. west of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The medieval city, which is a carpet-weaving trade center, was founded more than 2,500 years ago.
The Uzbek Presidential Schools have been established “to identify and educate gifted children through the use of advanced technologies in the educational process, as well as to support and encourage gifted youth, to enrich the spiritually rich and ensuring guarantees of upbringing of intellectually developed generation.”
Part of the school’s mission is “to prepare the future leaders and students of the nation who will win international Olympiads and competitions and enter the best universities in the world,” Rey said, adding: “We are training leaders who can compete on the world stage.”
The Presidential School in Khiva, as a middle school, includes classes from Grades 5 to 11. To ensure top-quality education, PSK conducts only two classes per year level with each class having 12 students and two teachers.
PSK is accredited internationally by the Council of International Schools, “a mark of recognition held exclusively by schools around the world that exemplify high quality standards in international education.”
PSK faculty is loaded with international flavor. Rey said his teaching colleagues at Khiva include nationals of South Africa, Kenya, United States, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistani, Burundi, Egypt, Canada and Great Britain.
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Here’s our Q&A with the licensure exam topnotcher.
Please describe your preparations in taking the licensure exam.
Earlier, I prepared for three months – from March to June in 2004. I resumed my review for six months this year – from January to June.
I enrolled in Gurong Pinoy, an Iloilo-based online review center, for four cycles. I have answered at least 10,000 LET questions and watched and re-watched lecture-videos from Gurong Pinoy.
I made sure that I watched at least three videos every day. Even while having coffee and eating, I was still reviewing by watching videos.
How did you know about the results of the exam? What was your reaction?
A friend of mine called me to let me know, he congratulated me, so I told him, I have seen the roster of successful examinees and I was waiting for the topnotchers’ list. I was happy to see my name as the No. 1 passer in the exam for the secondary level.
Actually, I was expecting to be in the 5th to 10th rank because I know that my score would be around 90% and in order to be No.1, one needs to get 93%.
What do you think made you top the licensure examination?
Hard work pays off. Indeed, if you put your heart and mind into something, you’ll achieve great things. Thank God for the wisdom!
In your present job, what challenges have you faced?
It’s more on dealing with co-workers who have different backgrounds.
Please tell us about your city in Uzbekistan.
Khiva City is “a real medieval city, where the spirit of modernity is given out only by electric wires. Cobbled streets, clay mosques, elaborate patterns and majestic fortress walls will impress even the most advanced tourist. The entire old town is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.”
Ichan-Kala is the Khiva point of attraction. This is an ancient fortress surrounded by a high defensive wall. Ichan-Kala occupies 26 hectares.
Today, about 300 families live in the area, most of whom are hereditary artisans. The state Historical and Archaeological Museum-reserve is located on the territory of the fortress. All the significant attractions of Khiva are located in Ichan-Kala.
Can you please tell us more about the fortress?
The construction of the fortress began in 1598. Most of the buildings that have survived up to the present day were built in the 18th-19th centuries, but there are also earlier ones. Scientists suggest that Ichan-Kala stands on an old fortification, which was located here in the Fifth Century.
The defensive walls of the Ichan-Kala fortress are a separate attraction. They have a thickness of 5-6 meters, a height of 8-10 meters and a length of 6,250 meters. You can climb them from the side of the northern gate and look at Ichan-Kala through the battlements.
There are also several gates and defensive towers preserved here. Of particular interest are Ata-Darvaza (main gate), Bagcha-Darvaza (garden gate), Tash-Darvoza (stone gate) and Palvan-Darvaza (heroic gate).
Do you meet other Filipinos there?
There are nine Filipinos living in the region where I live right now. Four are from our city – three teachers and a hotel owner. The other five live in other cities and are also working as teachers for the Ministry of Education. I have met all of them and we sometimes invite each other for gatherings.
What are your career plans after your contract ends there?
My contract is extendable. I have no definite plans now. I love my job here and I have established relationships.
When was the last time you came home?
I come home every summer break (July-August). I will be home again in August this year as I plan to travel somewhere before my trip home.
What do you miss most about home?
Food, family and friends. Also the simple lifestyle in my hometown, Moises Padilla.
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On Facebook, he wrote of his recent milestone:
“This is for Pops and Mom to whom I made a promise that I will do my best to make them proud. To my siblings who know I am the smartest in the pack, thanks for having my back all the way. To my friends who believed I will make it with flying colors, deym! you put so much pressure on me. Glad I made it!”
He also thanked Gurong Pinoy “for helping me prepare for the biggest exam of my life!”
He continued: “Thanks, Coach Mec Sayson Mana-ay, Coach Jun Cortes and Coach Toto Kbl (Freddie Tanllawan Jr.) and the rest of GP Coaches! This would not have been possible without your dedication, hard work and support. Walang hanggang pasasalamat!
“To my prayer warriors, it’s all prayers and grace!
“Mula sa kaibuturan ng aking puso, madamo guid nga salamat!”
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Reiterating his passion for teaching, Rey told Negros Weekly, “It’s what keeps me going. I find my purpose in it. It’s my calling.” | NWI
