Cebu college teacher helps mold kindergarten pupils

Dr. Wilfreda Vios, a teacher and volunteer, breezed through life with a ready smile and warm heart as she served children from poor families.

The 61-year old taught religious education at the University of San Carlos (USC) for 35 years. She spent her free time as a volunteer principal at Wonderland Learning Center (WLC) in Tisa, Cebu City and catechist at Sto. Rosario Parish.

These, Vios consider, as her ways passing on her parents’ legacy of volunteerism.

“The Lord has blessed my life with opportunities. And through His graces, I managed to do all my works. The best way to glorify the Lord is by doing service to others,” Vios said.

Ten years ago, she had to spend a month in bed recovering from a vehicular accident that broke her pelvic bone. She had to learn to walk all over again.

“It did not dampen my spirit to continue as a teacher, volunteer, and catechist. It was a blessing that the incident did not require any bone operation,” she said.

A native of Lazi, Siquijor, Vios grew up joining parish and community volunteer activities, striving hard to live the selflessness that her parents taught her.

“We can always help people in simple ways. No matter how simple an act is, it will make them happy,” she said.

Vios earned college and masteral degrees in religious education and a doctoral degree in education from the USC. She lives in Cebu City with a working student whom she supports and takes care of seven dogs.

Vios taught with WLC since it opened in 2010. She shared with pride that one of their 2010 kindergarten graduates topped the entrance exam for Tisa Elementary School.

Her Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Fridays are spent in the learning center. WLC is close to her heart, she said, because her own family runs a kindergarten center in Siquijor, which is managed by her aunt.

“During my classes, I sing and dance with the children and tell them stories. I grew up with children at home. I like being with children; they take away all my worries,” she said.

Vios, along with one teacher and one teacher aid, manage WLC. They have 16 nursery students, 35 Kindergarten 1 students, and 15 Kindergarten 2 students from poor families.

On the side, she continuously sought out donors to fund WLC. When she met Fr. Dietmar Klose, her former German priest professor in USC, she told him about WLC’s financial situation. The priest solicited money from his German parishioners. The money was used to buy equipment such as seesaws, a slide and playhouse for the children.

The Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) donated a kitchen designed to provide nutritious meals to the children. RAFI has been supporting WLC through financial and equipment donations.

One of Vios’ plans is to organize the students’ mothers to train them to prepare their children’s snacks. For now, she cooks at home champorado (chocolate flavored rice porridge) and arroz caldo.

WLC is also supported by Vereniging Haarlemmermeer Cebu of The Netherlands and Schools and Homes Are Partners in Education and Service Inc. (SHAPES).

As one of the members of SHAPES, Vios was elected supervising principal of the learning center. She regularly trains the staff to deliver their lessons effectively.

Every month, the center collects P400 as tuition fee and an additional P80 as a contribution for the students’ snacks and other needs, such as paper and soap.

WLC is supported by individuals and organizations. The monthly collection from parents is used for the teachers’ salaries and the center’s other needs.

Vios has donated her three electric fans to WLC, believing that the school children needed them more than she did.

“Even if I retire from teaching in USC, I will still be a volunteer principal and teacher in WLC for as long as my body permits. I will continue to educate these little children for them to grow into responsible and God-fearing citizens. And that will be the best reward for me,” she said.

Vios also supervises feeding programs for hundreds of homeless people at Sto. Rosario Parish. With her college students, she facilitates Bible sharing with the program beneficiaries every Saturday.

“Offering everything for the glory of God and for the betterment of the humanity is a priceless act. We do not only feed the body but also the soul. I believe that we are made to serve and care for others,” she said.

Vios is adviser of the Carolinian Association of Religious Educators—an alumni group, and a member of the USC Alumni Board. Despite her busy schedule, she still finds time to walk everyday as exercise, read and learn more about preschool education.

“Let’s help one another by not equating money in every good act we do,” she said. /contributor Chrisley Ann Hinayas/Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.