Day: June 10, 2025

BANGKOK, THAILAND — When Genevieve Sarcon first set foot in Thailand in 2013, she was a licensed nurse on a short-term mission trip. Teaching wasn’t part of the plan, until a Christian school in Bangkok asked for help. They needed a Science teacher, and she fit the bill on paper. But in the classroom, Sarcon felt out of her depth.

 

“Knowing something doesn’t mean you can teach it too,” she says, recalling the steep learning curve of teaching grades 7 to 12 for four years. “I was not confident enough to teach. I didn’t have the theoretical knowledge.”

 

It was a season of uncertainty. Married to a Thai national and adjusting to life abroad, Sarcon turned to family for support, specifically her younger sister, a graduate of West Visayas State University (WVSU) and a licensed teacher. “She coached me on classroom management,” Sarcon shares. “I needed guidance even with the basics.”

 

But Sarcon’s desire to teach grew stronger with every challenge. “I fell in love with teaching more than in nursing,” she says. That realization led her to WVSU’s University Distance Education (UDE) program—specifically, the Diploma in Teaching (DIT) track, designed for non-education professionals looking to make the shift into teaching.

 

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐕𝐒𝐔 𝐔𝐃𝐄 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: 𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝

 

The UDE program is a pioneering effort by WVSU to make quality teacher education accessible to Filipino professionals, wherever they are in the world. Through online modules, flexible schedules, and on-the-ground practicum, the program empowers learners to pursue teaching credentials while balancing their work and personal lives.

 

For Sarcon, it was a perfect match. “This program helped me be confident in teaching by understanding the needs of my students, being more compassionate, and managing my classes better,” she says. “More importantly, it gave me peace, knowing I’d be able to teach professionally, anywhere in the world.”

 

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐝𝐝𝐬

 

Balancing her studies with work and family life in Thailand was never easy. Internet issues, time differences, and parenting duties often collided with deadlines. Still, Sarcon stayed the course.

 

Her most transformative experience? A practicum teaching persons deprived of liberty at Iloilo City District Jail, done online, with students facing unique limitations. “It was a heartwarming and unforgettable experience,” she says. “It was more than just teaching theories. It was about giving hope.”

 

In May 2025, Sarcon graduated, on time, against all odds, with a Diploma in Teaching from WVSU. It marked the end of one journey and the beginning of a new chapter as a professional educator.

 

“I’m grateful for the WVSU DIT program,” she says, smiling. “It didn’t just train me to teach. It taught me to teach with heart.”

 

Genevieve Sarcon is one of many overseas Filipinos empowered by West Visayas State University’s University Distance Education program—proof that education, when guided with compassion and vision, knows no borders.

 

At the heart of West Visayas State University’s University Distance Education (WVSU-UDE) program lies a quiet but powerful mission: to make quality education accessible to Filipinos wherever they are in the world. For Janice Lamahang Ablao in the UAE and Kenneth John Prudente in Thailand, this mission became their lifeline. Both recently graduated from the Master of Arts in Education major in Language Teaching – English, with High Distinction and Highest Distinction respectively. Their journeys—marked by long nights, personal sacrifices, and unwavering faith—are stories of resilience and purpose, shaped by WVSU’s commitment to flexible, learner-centered education.

 

𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐨: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐢, 𝐚 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝

 

Janice Ablao had always dreamed of graduating from West Visayas State University. Raised in Jaro, Iloilo City and educated at Colegio de San Jose, she now lives a world away in Dubai, working full-time as an Operations Assistant in a bustling multicultural office. When she discovered WVSU-UDE, she knew it was her chance to chase that long-held dream.

 

“I decided to enroll in WVSU’s Distance Education program because of its flexibility, which suited my work schedule,” she said. “I was also drawn to the university’s strong academic reputation and the opportunity to pursue quality education even while working overseas.”

 

But the journey was anything but easy. Juggling work and studies meant that time management became both her biggest challenge and greatest triumph. “Studying independently also required a lot of discipline and motivation, especially with the time difference and the lack of direct peer interaction,” she shared.

 

Through perseverance and prayer, Janice finished with High Distinction—proof that purpose can push you past borders. She now plans to explore advanced opportunities in education while continuing to thrive in her current role.

 

𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞: 𝐀 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

 

Hailing from the highland town of Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental, Kenneth John Prudente built a career teaching English to students from various Asian countries. For nearly seven years, he has lived in Thailand, where he balances a demanding teaching schedule with his aspirations for personal growth.

 

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Kenneth saw a rare chance to turn crisis into opportunity. “I began searching for flexible yet reputable graduate programs and discovered the WVSU-UDE,” he recalled. “Upon further research and hearing strong recommendations from friends, I was impressed by the university’s commitment to academic excellence.”

 

He enrolled in September 2021 and faced the usual challenges of time management, but what helped him carry on was the support from colleagues and the consistent guidance of his professors. “Fortunately, I was supported by an encouraging group of classmates, the understanding of my School Director, and the consistent guidance of my professors.”

 

Graduating with the highest honors, Kenneth now looks forward to doctoral studies and a more dynamic teaching career. “Continuous learning is essential to becoming a more effective and impactful educator,” he emphasized.

 

𝐖𝐕𝐒𝐔-𝐔𝐃𝐄: 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

 

Founded in 2002 through BOR Resolution No. 118, WVSU’s University Distance Education program was designed to address the growing needs of students and professionals who could not attend regular classes. Rooted in the principles of guided independent study, the UDE uses both synchronous and asynchronous learning strategies, supported by advanced online platforms in collaboration with SEAMEO-Innotech.

 

Its goal: to offer flexible, high-quality education that meets the unique circumstances of learners, whether they are in Iloilo or across continents. On top of reaching this goal for its students is the current director, Dr. Daisy Rosano — herself no stranger to the challenges of getting quality education.

 

For Janice and Kenneth—two of only nine students graduating from the MAEd Language Teaching – English program this year—WVSU-UDE was more than just a school. It was a beacon of hope, a community of support, and a homegrown university that nurtured their ambitions even from a distance.

 

Their stories remind us that no dream is too distant when backed by dedication, and no learner is ever truly alone when guided by a university that believes in their potential.

 

𝐵𝑦 𝐻𝑎𝑧𝑒𝑙 𝑃. 𝑉𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎, 𝑃𝐴𝑀𝐶𝑂 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟