Cebu's Butch Carungay wins Asia Jewelry Design Gold - Planters ...

sme focusTeaching is in the bloodWhile Mark tried his best to veer awayfrom teaching, he was always drawn into it.After finishing his degree in dentistry, hefound himself doing dental work for thestudents in their school.“Hihigupin ka talaga,” he remarked,laughing. I’ve been practicing (dentistry) fortwo years and I’ve been school dentist also.One day, I decided to take up one class. Itaught biology and I liked it.”The teaching bug bit him, so to speak.But he wasn’t at all surprised. “Sabi nganila, once its in your blood, it will surfacewhether you like it or not,” he adds.His sister, who now resides in theUnited States, is the school director fora Montessori school in California. Shestill helps Casa del Niño as an AcademicConsultant. She comes home during hervacations to train the teachers with thelatest and up-to-date teaching methods.“I didn’t feel any pressure to join thebusiness. We were exposed to it. That’show we developed the love for it. It’s likecoming home,” says Mark.Putting science into the businessTime and again, the Acierto familymembers have put in effort to update theirknowledge. But this time, with Mark atthe helm, his vision is to really blend theirpassion for academics with professionalbusiness management.“I had to re-tune myself and I went tothe Asian Institute of Management (AIM)to take up Master of Entrepreneurship in2002. I learned a lot from that. My guru said,‘you have to do good and do well at thesame time.’ Things have to change in ourbusiness. It can’t always work from gut feel,”explains Mark.22 / sme.com.phMark Acierto with student scholarsToday, Casa del Niño Montessori andScience High School has developed a schoolsystem to manage the six branches located inLaguna and Isabela. “We created a professionalteam of administrators who can make the dayto day decisions. We meet with them, trainthem, and we set the directions, strategiesand plans. We allow them to improve andinnovate,” he explains.Mark, who is just in his early 30’s, is nowenjoying fulfilment in educating others. He iscurrently the vice-president for administrationand is well-loved by his students.The greatest reward for him is theachievements of their graduates. Last yearalone, six of their students graduated withthe highest honors in their respectiveuniversities. “Sa amin ang balik non is morethan enough. You can go out to the worldand tell the truth—yun ang kaligayahannamin,” he enthuses.He proudly adds that instead of invitingpoliticians and successful individuals tospeak during graduation day, they nowinvite their alumni students.Future plansOn one side of their administrationoffice lobby, a quote from a great guru inIndia is painted on the wall in bold letters. Itsays, “The end of education is character.”For Mark, it means that character makesyou successful in anything you want to be.Character, for him, is formed by meaningfulexperiences. He learned this in their schooland it’s the same thing that he wants toimpart to every Casa del Niño studenttoday and in the future.“Our responsibility is to dedicateourselves to the betterment of other peopleand try to outdo ourselves every time. Ibelieve in the principle of kaizen, whetherin teaching or in business. It’s outdoingyourself, one little step at a time,” he saysin conclusion.Photos by AJ Perartilla