Stephen Biaco Alayon: A Young Achiever

Stephen Biaco Alayon: A Young Achiever
By Melchor F. Cichon
Revised, November 6, 2012

During the General Assembly of PLAI-WVRLC and election of officers held at John B. Lacson Maritime University, Molo, Iloilo City, on October 19, 2012, Stephen Alayon was elected president.

So I asked myself: “Why did the librarians from Western Visayas (WV) elect him to the position when he is still young? What is in him that
captured the minds of these librarians to elect him to this position?”

These are just some of the questions that came into my mind after the assembly.

Perhaps many of them know his achievements and his potentials as a leader.

But do they really know who is Stephen Alayon?

I first heard about Stephen when my colleagues at St. Therese-MTC Colleges at la Fiesta Site started to talk about their forthcoming licensure examination in librarianship. They told me that somebody from SEAFDEC-AQD Library was volunteering to conduct a review class especially for the San Agustin University Library Science graduates. They told me that Stephen is a San Agustin University library science graduate and a license librarian. And that he is not only teaching library science subjects in that university, but also at Central Philippine University.

Later I put up a site that caters to the librarians in Western Visayas focusing on the profiles of WV Librarians. My main objective in putting up this website is to provide venue for WV librarians to post their views on the various issues that affect their profession, and to make their presence felt.

So I thought of Stephen Alayon as my first featured librarian. And after some hesitations, he agreed to be interviewed.

Stephen was born in Calitan, Panay, Capiz on August 2, 1980. His father, Oscar Alayon, now deceased, used to work as a janitor at Panay Central School, Capiz, while his mother, Leticia Biaco Alayon, was a sari-sari store vendor and a beautician. He took his primary grades at Panay Central School where he graduated as valedictorian. He then enrolled at Capiz Institute of Technology, Roxas City where he graduated First Honorable Mention. Because of his intelligence, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) gave him a scholarship for his BS in Computer Science at the University of Philippines in the Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo.

Not contented with his BS degree in computer science, he enrolled at West Visayas State University for his Diploma in Teaching (Secondary Mathematics), after taking his Master in Education (Mathematics) at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. Still not contented with it, Stephen took a Bachelor of Library and Information Science degree at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City, which qualified him to take a board exam for librarianship with a rating of 82.65%. In May to July 2009, he was in Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Campus Jette and Etterbeek Brussels, Belgium for his studies in Scientific and Technological Information Management for Universities and Libraries - An Active Learning Environment - Edition 9 (STIMULATE 9), followed by a scholarship in Flemish Interuniversity Council - University Development Cooperation (VLIR-UOS) - International Training Program (ITP) Scholar. At present, Stephen is taking up his Master of Library and Information Science at Central Philippine University Iloilo City.

In February, 2002, Stephen worked at SEAFDEC-AQD in its Data Bank, Computer and Statistical Services Section. Five years later, he worked at SEAFDEC-AQD Library and Data Banking Services. When the head of the Library retired a few months back, he took over the position as the Acting Head Librarian.

When I asked him of his major accomplishments, he immediately said:

1. To have graduated from the University of the Philippines Visayas.
2. To have studied abroad.
3. To have been elected President of PLAI-WVRLC
4. To have taught in a university
5. To have been appointed as OIC Library Head of SEAFDEC-AQD Library
6. To have delivered a lecture in CONSAL.

And hopefully to publish an article in an ISI Current Content journal.

But when I finally asked him who is Stephen Alayon, it took him about five minutes before he could say: he is “strikto...maalwan...meticulous, easy to get along with daw, loves to share and mentor”.

That is Stephen Alayon, perhaps the youngest president of PLAI-WVRLC.