Two dedicated educators from Saint Louis College have once again brought pride to the institution as they were recognized among the Ten Outstanding Private School Teachers in La Union by the Department of Education – City Schools Division, in partnership with the Provincial Government of La Union.
Mr. John Carlo Manabat, Head of the Junior High School Social Sciences Department, was named among the Outstanding Secondary Private School Teachers, while Mrs. Gracia Sotelo-Leonen, Elementary English Teacher, was honored as one of the Outstanding Elementary Private School Teachers.
Both are proud Louisians shaped by the school that nurtured them and now serving as instruments of that same formation in the lives of their students.
For Mr. Manabat, who has spent nearly his whole life in SLC from kindergarten to college and now a decade into teaching, the recognition affirms his faith in purpose. He reminds fellow educators to stay true to the Louisian core values: Christ-centeredness, Excellence, and Missionary Spirit.
“The tides may change, but if we are rooted in our beliefs and in our Core Values, we stay grounded. Stand for what is right and fight what is wrong.”
His teaching principle remains simple yet profound: “Be effective, ethical, and empowering. You are not a sage on the stage, but a guide on the side.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Leonen, who has dedicated sixteen years to teaching young learners, finds her fulfillment not in accolades but in impact.
“Teaching is not about what you gain, but about what you give — and what you gain from giving. It’s a calling that rewards the heart more than the hands,” she shared.
Her philosophy as an educator is deeply shaped by Saint Louis College’s mission and vision. “My journey as a teacher is influenced by our school’s vision to form graduates who are developed integrally,” she said. “I carry that with me, even beyond the classroom, especially when we reach out to our mission partners through community service.”
Despite teaching different levels, both educators share the same Louisian spirit— one that is Christ-centered, excellent, and missionary. Their stories reflect the school’s enduring mission to form educators who teach not only minds but also touch hearts.
Their journeys remind the Louisian community that teaching, though demanding, is a vocation of purpose and grace; a path that transforms both the learner and the teacher.
Through Mr. Manabat and Mrs. Leonen, Saint Louis College continues to affirm its truth: Wisdom Builds— in classrooms, in lives, and in hearts that choose to serve.
