When they were young

Title

Language

English

Year

1935

Subject

JosefaJara Martinez

Teachers--Biography.

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

Every ambitious person dreams cf some day occupying a high position or piling up money because men usually measure a person's success by the importance of the position he occupies or by the amount of money he has accumulated.

Fulltext

A1.1g111tl, 19-15 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 173 WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG EVERY ambitious person dreams cf some day occupying a high positio11 or piling up money because men usually measure a person's success by the importance of the position he occupies or by the amount of money he has accumulated. Mrs. Josefa Jara Martinez is one of the few who use service as the yardstick of success. A woman of keen intellect, practical ability, and indomitable energy, she gives the best in her wherever her services are needed, whether she is paid for the work or not. As a young girl she had a definite ambition in life-to be of service to others. Believing that taking care of the sick was ~. beautiful form of service, she thought that nursing was the course for her. Circumstances, however, did not permit her to realize this early dream of hers. Born to a family of modest means, Josefa might have remained in her hometown to finish the ordinary general course in the public schools and to work in obscurity, if J<'ortune had not taken a hand in shaping the girl's life. She was chosen pensionada to take the teaching courne in the Normal School. So in spite of her mother's misgivings because of the girl's "temper and lack of patience," she became a teacher, graduating from the Philippine Normal Schooi in 1912. The girl with a temper turnec1 out to be a highly efficient teacher and an effective speaker, so much so, that she waH selected to rep1·esent the Bureau of Education at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in -+,,.San Francisco, California, in 1915. · L Seeing America and the opportunities it j offered fanned ~he spark of ambition in he1· and she detenmned to go back again some day. Her most cherished dream then was to Q; go to college and wear a toga. Having set 4 her hea1·t on it, she found a way by which she could be ti·ansfe!Ted from Iloilo, he1· } Josefa Jara r.76fartinez 0 · ~ home province, where she.had been teaching, to the Philippine Normal School. Here she worked as a critic teache1· for almost two ·years. ·As such she had a chance to attend evening classes in the University of the Philippines and at last she 'thought she was on her way to the goal which would qualify her to wear cap and gown. But fate had other plans for her. She was i:neant for another field of service than that occupied by a teacher. The group of pensionados to the United States in 1919, the Philippines' brightest and best, included the bright-eyed, sweetsmiling young woman, who had alread·• made a name as Miss Jara. She was cho;. en by the Department of the Interior to specialize in family and child welfare work. While other pensionados were sent to college and universities, Josefa Jara was sent to a "school." Once more her dream of getting a college deg1·ee was farther from realization, but she buckled down to her studies. A two-year course. in New York School of Social Work, a few courses in English in Columbia University, and exten~ive field work in the slums of the great metropolis and visits to institutions for delin· quent and defective children and orphan· ages amply p1·epared her for the task ol (Pl<'08(' t111·11 to JUlfll' 18;!) 182 THE YOUNG CITIZEN August, J.'/.!j NEWS IN CARTOON WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG (Contin!l('d from .JHtgc 17J) helping in the improvement of soci,11. conditions in her homeland. Blit they did not qualify her for a toga. She had to give up th·~ dream of wearing one in response to the call for scn•ice. Upon her return to the Philippmcs she found plenty to do. Constructive social work was then in its infancy and trained social workers were badly needed. While employed by the Office of the Public Welfare Commissioner. she had to be loaned to various organization'> f rnm time to time to train workers a11<l help the needy. Among the organizations and institutions that reaped the benefit of her services are the Associated Charities, the Red C1oss, the government orphanag;:', the reformatories for boys and for girls, puericulture centers, tht: Settlemi:nt House of the Damas Filipina5, ar)d the Young Women's Christian Association. Wherever expert opinion in family and child welfare was needed she was called upon to contribute her share. Whether in subordinate or executive capacity, she \·.ras always glad to help in the best way she could. Her ability, L'arnestncss .. md intl'grity did nor pass unnoticed; for wben a chief was needed for the Di,•ision of Dependent Children in tbc Office of the Public Welfare Commissioner, Mrs. Martinez w.is DI'\. AUGUSTO J.D. COl'.Tf.S Of MAt-\ILA WAS MADE A KNIG\.IT Of T+1E Of'..Df:f', Of SAi \'\ T :SYLV:E 5Tf:I", t'> Y POPE PIU5 XI . AMONG THE BOY SCOUTS (Co11tin11cd froni pnge 180) the Japanese Boy Scouts of Nagoya 'J./brrever our delegation went ir. J;ipan, the Japa_nese Boy Scout::; showed a keen interest 'in their visifnrs. Even though some of the lads of Nippon could not converse in English their conduct and con· t;ict was of an extremely friendlv r..ltlire. In other instances when J2.panese Scouts could speak the English language there was an interesting exchange ~f impressions on scouting conditions and scouting life in both countries. O•i Board rhe S. S. President Grant After the departure from Hongkong, the delegation was able to begin the intensive training planned in preparation of the exhibition which they ate to give at the Jamboree. Since all of the boys h1d greatly recovered from the familiar ycr so unfamiliar sea-sickness {for thne is nothing worse when it gets yc.u and nothing like it either) th·y at last could enjoy particip1tin~ in all activities on board rhe good old ship. The dances. according to the hczid of the delegation. have created c0nsiderablc interest among the passu:.gers and officers of the President Grant. A special request came from ,1r-•pointcd to the post. becoming thereby the highest paid Filipino woman in the Civil Service. AMBASSADOf\ DE:eUCHI, A ~\G~ Jl>.f>Mlf:31': OfflCIAL,. VISITl':D ,\\AHILA. l-ll': SAID IHAT JA.PAN . WANTS To TRADf: W1T1tl11E: f'-llll-lfflNE'5 ONLY NOT To OccUP.Y T>iiS CouNT"'-Ythe first class passengers on July 21. to have the boys present the "tinikling" dance on the deck of the first class. ThC efforts of the boys were well rewarded by the continues applause of an appreciative audience. So we hope, that this particular dat:ce will make a great hit in the Lmd of Uncle Sam. It is one which would appeal anywhere because of its beautiful movements and' its attractive rhythm. A dress rehearsal will be conducted above five days before landing in Seattle to help the boys gee over their stage fright. The delegation will also take ad vantage of the friendships thi::y have made with the sailors. They arc hoping to learn a lot about knots from. the old sailor boys. Since sailors arc known to have all sorts of knot tricks up their sleev'C, our boys will surely arouse much interest and enthusiasm if they remember all they arc shown. The sailors have been very kind to the sccuts. The excellent treatment ac · corded them has been commended upon by all scouts. The Philippine Delegation is at present on its way to Seattle. There. they will be the guests of hon0r fer one week of the Seattle Arca Council Boy Scouts. A reception is planned in their honor and various entertainments also. All these ·will sure.ly impress our Scouts. TLey arc bound to have a good time in Seattle!

Date Issued

I(7) August, 1935

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