A Filipino teacher who embodies exemplary public service, Dr. Ju-im Jimlan has become an agent of positive change. His nineteen years of sustained teaching professionalism made him worthy of prestigious awards.
Equipped with courage, he helped and saved victims of terrorist attacks in Marawi City at a young age. He became a voice for the “bakwit,” or displaced members of society as a result of armed conflicts. Bombs and bullets did not stop his passion to serve the nation, so he became a teacher in Aklan.
When a certain private firm wanted to publish his study under their own authorship in exchange for money, he defended his morals. He was not even spared from near-death experiences that taught him to sanctify his noble profession and convert work into prayers. His integrity as a teacher is par excellence since he has received strong spiritual and personal formation from the prelate of Opus Dei.
Dr. Ju-im Jimlan is an Earth warrior who advocates for an “Education for Sustainable Development” which encourages changes in knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to enable a more sustainable and just society.
He innovated a teaching approach called “TUKLAS-ARAL” that integrated “sciencetoons”, or scientific concepts presented in cartoons, and served as instructional materials incorporating the foundations of environmental protection. TUKLAS-ARAL’s outstanding efforts utilizing “sciencetoons” are in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Learners also do scientific investigatory projects that have won in national and international competitions for five consecutive school years and achieved a “Hall of Fame in Scientific Research” by DepEd Region VI (Western Visayas). Moreover, this accolade made him the 2014 Most Outstanding Coach in Science (National Level) by the Association of Science and Mathematics Coaches (ASMAC) of the Philippines.
He also facilitated the creation of a teaching material called “EARTHAN, The Guardian of Nature”. This made him one of the regional qualifiers for the 2021 Global Leader Awards.
It is a three-part comic book that talks about the challenges of saving the environment from further destruction. The comic book is a convergence of creative arts, culture, social studies, value formation, and issues of global warming and climate change. It was recognized by Climate Change Commission Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzma, Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, and former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The comic book was published for national circulation by LIFE Inc. (Lifelong Initiatives in the Formation of Ecosystems), where Dr. Ju-im Jimlan also served as Program Director. The Universidad de Manila and Filamer Christian University also collaborated with LIFE, Inc. in promoting environmental awareness.
To add to his endeavors, he conceptualized an Eco-School Toolkit that strengthens the establishment of eco-schools and intensifies the core value of “maka-kalikasan“. DepEd Aklan has considered the beneficial effects of implementing the eco-school toolkit in the schools in terms of environmental leadership, ecological resiliency and literacy, and in inculcating a green and sustainable community.
This contribution to service made him a 2021 Global Educator Awardee. This Eco-School Toolkit was also presented at the following: the 24th National Social Welfare and Development Forum and General Assembly; the 18th Annual Green Forum by Green Architecture Advocacy of the Philippines; the 2021 Sustainability Summit Philippines by ACG Human Capital Solutions Inc.; and the 2021 International Conference on Governance and Development by the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
For his belief that education must continue in this global pandemic, he formulated “Modyul Mo, Hatod Ko” in collaboration with DepEd Tangalan, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tangalan, and the Tangalan Association of Tricycle Operators and Drivers (TATODA). For this initiative, he was named a Civil Service Commission (CSC) 2021 Dangal ng Bayan Awardee (Regional Qualifier).
It became a recovery program for tricycle drivers who were affected by the pandemic, and at the same time, it encouraged students to stay at home because learning materials were delivered at their doorstep. This also gave birth to Municipal Ordinance No. 147, Series of 2020.
Dr. Ju-im Jimlan also sustained “Innovashare 6.0 – School Supplies Drive from the Heart”.
Meanwhile, as a member of Toastmasters International, it became his duty to share technical expertise in effective communication, confidence building, and leadership. The “I speak, I share, I care project” is a trifocalized initiative conceptualized as a major achievement of the Tangalan Teachers’ League, with him being the president of the organization. Before the pandemic, actress Wilma Dassent also volunteered to lecture on power dressing and collaborated with him in unleashing the inner confidence among teachers, which culminated with a fashion show.
He also spearheaded PUSO (P-provide environmental literacy, U-universal understanding, S- sustained commitment to serve, and O-outreach initiatives) para sa Katutubo, a community project for the Indigenous Peoples in Brgy. Vivo Tangalan, Aklan. For him, this is the most challenging endeavor since he needs to take a long walk in the mountains and cross rivers just to be with the beneficiaries. The community services he provided made him one of Aklans’ Ten Outstanding Mentors (ATOM) Awardees in 2017.
To add to his list of public service efforts, he crafted the “Self-Learning Resiliency Kit for Parents” which promotes flexibility, involvement, and resiliency among parents as partners in promoting education in the new normal. One of the outstanding outgrowths of the kit was the organization of a medical mission with doctors, nurses, and dentists from South Korea.
Meanwhile, he is also the brains behind the creation of “COVID ka lang, Tangalanon Kami Project”. Even prior to COVID-19, parents participate in capability seminars and workshops because Dr. Ju-im Jimlan believes that parents are the primary educators of their children and there should be sustainable home-school collaboration.
This community project got him the 2021 Most Outstanding COVID-19 Resiliency Award at the International Level. Furthermore, the action research was recognized as the best research paper and presenter at the 2021 Singapore Royal Institution, as well as the best abstract and presenter at the 2021 International Research Colloquium.
With all these remarkable contributions to service and the community, he demonstrated transformational leadership and translated visions into action.
For Dr. Ju-im Jimlan, excellence is never an accident; it is the result of pure intention, persevering effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution, spiritual discernment, and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.
