Purely self-made: an interview with Dr. Joey Santos

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3. Describe to us your education, from elementary to college?  What motivated you to do well in school?

As I have already mentioned, I did my elementary and high school in our barangay. I attended Malinao Ilaya Elementary School and Malinao Ilaya Barangay High School. The standards were not so high but these schools allowed me to mature socially and intellectually as a growing individual. At school, I found myself enjoying the lessons and I developed the desire to learn more. From grade one, I was a consistent honor student and I graduated Salutatorian in High School. During that time, our school had no access to any information about the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) and I never heard about it until I studied at Luzonian University in Lucena City. I always thought that UP was only for those who studied in exclusive schools and for those who have money. I was wrong.

I spent 2 semesters at Luzonian University talking up BS Agriculture. It was impossible for my mother to send me to college, so through the help of one of my high school teachers I was able to avail of the government’s scholarship program called Study Now Pay Later Plan (SNPLP). This was the first time I experienced life outside Malinao Ilaya and it was very difficult to adjust. I was so naïve. My SNPLP allowance was not enough and I was too far away from home. I had been exposed to the real world and I met real people whom I compared myself with. I realized that I was indeed very poor and that idea motivated me to do well at school.

Towards the end of second semester, some of my classmates went to UP Los Baños and inquired about the requirements for prospective transfer students. They gave me an extra application form and then I realized that I can satisfy all the requirements. Before the start of the following semester, I got admitted in the BS Chemistry program at UP Los Baños.

Joey, with wife Jing, son Windol, and daughter Shantelle.

4. Tell us about your years in UP?  How did you cope with the financial difficulties then?

My years in UPLB were characterized by unpredictability, difficulty and optimism.

I never thought I could survive the demands of UP education. Having graduated from a barangay high school, my academic background was not adequate to easily merge with the high UP standard. I was particularly scared of English and Social Science subjects because I didn’t have good communication skills. My Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics were manageable but still there were some elements of obscurity since most of the concepts were new to me. Anyway, despite all the unpredictability of my academics, I finished my degree in four years.

Financially, my UPLB days were more difficult than my Luzonian days. It was more expensive to live in Los Baños than in Lucena City. Although I had a UP scholarship called “Grants-in-Aid”, my allowance was not enough to pay for a reasonable board and lodging. It was 1983 and I was receiving only 200 pesos per month. There were two occasions when I had balimbing and guava for lunch because I did not have any money and I was tired of borrowing money from my dorm mates. Perhaps, my locker in the dorm was the roomiest because I had only 2 pairs of underwear, 2 pants and a few t-shirts. I was very skinny because I was eating vegetables most of the time for I always thought that meat was very expensive. Due to lack of money, I never joined any social activity on campus. I never experienced going out at night, never watched a movie and never went on shopping.

During my second year in college, I got involved in a group called Punlaan Christian Movement and that was when I found optimism with what was happening in my life. That was my first encounter with the so called “born again Christians” and having no prejudice against them, I did not hesitate to attend their gatherings. There was something different in that group that made me stay. They were cheerful, generous people. I became hopeful amidst financial difficulties and despite all the unpredictability of my studies. Since most of us were staying in the same dormitory, we decided to share our resources and talents, something that made life easier for all of us. At the beginning of each week, we would contribute some money depending on each one’s capability for our meals. There were times that our collection was less than expected but we have also learned how to stretch our budget. We could feed 15 people with 2 cans of sardines if we cook them with three big unripe papayas growing in the dormitory’s backyard. Through that scheme, the group provided a considerable relief to my financial difficulties. They were indeed heaven-sent.

5. What were the most important milestones in your life? 

The most important milestone in my life was when I graduated in college. I told my mother, “Inay, graduate na po ako, hindi na kayo maglalabada at magluluto ng kakanin para kumita.” I was saying that while having the best feeling I had in years of financial struggle. My college graduation was also marked with excitement. It was April 6, 1987 and my mind was settled that I would be marching alone. My mother couldn’t make it because she did not have enough money to travel from Atimonan to Los Baños. Two hours before the start, I saw her. She had made it! One of my brothers-in-law gave her some money so that she could witness my graduation. She even brought with her some homemade banana pies that I shared with my friends after the graduation.

Although I considered my college graduation as the first and the most important milestone in my life, I did have more breakthroughs that followed afterwards. Two months after my graduation, I was hired as a faculty member of the Institute of Chemistry, UP Los Baños. That kind of job was something I never aspired because I lacked communication skills but I had managed to perform well. In 1989, I took the Board Exam without enrolling in a review school, and I got the Top 5 position. My mother was very proud of me when she saw my name on the papers. Then in the same year, I went to Japan under the auspices of JSPS to visit some laboratories in Tokyo and Tsukuba. It was a simple trip abroad but for someone who had never traveled outside Atimonan and Los Baños, that was a big deal. In 1991, I went to Melbourne to pursue my graduate studies and God’s blessings continued to flow. During my PhD years, I got married and had kids. Having my own family was the milestone that made my life whole.

6. What is your philosophy in life?  What keeps you going? 

It doesn’t matter how big one’s house is, or much money he has in the bank, or how many land titles he has acquired. Success is not measured in the things we have, but with how many lives we have touched. That was the reason why I always wanted to go back to the university to teach. I wish to relate my experiences to my students and encourage them to pursue their goals in life especially those who have the same background as mine.

What keeps me going? My wife and kids. When I feel that my life is relevant and that I am making other people happy especially my family, I am greatly inspired. My own family provides enough inspiration for me to get going.

7. How do you foresee your future?  What plans do you have for yourself and your family?

I look forward to the future because I know it is going to be exciting. There are lingering uncertainties but they make each day worth spending. I always enjoy teaching so I think I have found my calling. I am going back to the university to teach and probably retire in the academe. After saving some money in Japan or elsewhere (enough to live a decent life in the Philippines), I will go back home to where my heart belongs.

8. What is your message to your fellow Filipinos in Japan and to your fellow parents as well?

I’d like to say it in Tagalog.

Marami pong nangyari sa buhay ko na napakagandang isipin kahit napakahirap unawain. Alam ko pong biyaya iyon sa akin ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng aking Inay na nagtiis upang maiahon kami sa kahirapan. Hindi po siya nagreklamo sa kanyang naging kapalaran at naging dahilan pa iyon upang gumanda ang aming buhay.

Marami po sa atin dito sa Japan ang nagtatrabaho upang mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang ating pamilya. Hindi po mawawalan ng kabuluhan ang inyong pagpapagal kaya ipagpatuloy n’yo lang.

Sa mga kapwa ko magulang, umaasa po sa atin ang ating mga anak at malaki ang magagawa natin upang magkaroon sila ng tamang pananaw sa buhay. Kung ano po ang nakikita nila sa atin ay iyon din ang kanilang ipamumuhay. Bigyan nawa tayo ng Diyos ng sapat na kakayahan at kaalaman upang lumaki ng maayos ang ating mga anak dito sa Japan. *

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