Ma. Regina S. Villaruz: The Practical Lady

Ma.  Regina S. Villaruz: The Practical Lady

 

by Melcichon, July 12, 2013

"Do something, while waiting."

This is a wise word from a young lady, Ma Regina Villaruz.

Rej, as she is fondly called by her friends, was born on September 22, 1988 in La Paz, Iloilo City, although her father, Mr. Rodolfo Villaruz,  is from Sara, Iloilo while her mother, Mrs. Erlinda Salvago- Villaruz, is from Leyte.  

Rej's father is the author of the now out-of-print book, Break the Shell, which was published in 2004.  This is a book that provides ample samples on how to write a knocking resume, and more.

Rej studied her kindergartin and her Grade I at St. Mary Academy of Capiz, in Roxas City. When her parents moved to Iloilo City, she enrolled at the Iloilo National High School in Jaro, Iloilo City.  She was a CAT officer here.

While in the elementary, Rej wanted to work as a cashier to have more money, but then when she reached high school she dreamed  of  becoming  a computer woman because she wanted to type and earn money. And she made use of this desire while she was still in high school by typing the research papers of her classmates. Hence, she was able to buy pairs of pants, shoes and other things she needed in school.

She did the same thing while in college.  She earned extra money by typing the reports of her classmates. Aside from this, she sold cellphone load. 

She still does.

This is an example of what she says: Do something, while waiting.

Like any other teenager, Rej changed her mind. She wanted to become  a medical technologist. For lack of money, Rej did not realize this dream. Finally, with some hesitations, she decided to take up a library science degree mainly because her father encouraged her to take up that course.

Her father knew that there are only very few library science graduates in the country and there are thousands of elementary and high school libraries in the Philippine that badly need licensed librarians to manage their libraries. Aside from this, there are hundreds of  colleges and universities in the country that surely need professional librarians to meet and to meet the requirements of accrediting bodies like DepEd and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA). This is not to mention some corporations and government agencies that hire librarians to manage their libraries. And of course, there are a lot of possibilities to work abroad.

So she enrolled at the University of San Agustin for the Bachelor of Library and Information Science degree. She graduated in 2009.

True  enough, immediately after graduation, Rej landed a job at the Professional Electronics Institute as a librarian. She stayed there for  more than  a year. But she transferred to the Dominican College of Iloilo, in Zarraga also as a librarian. But she stayed there only for three months. After which she tried working in a call center, and she was lucky to have landed at Sabant Technologies, Inc. She worked here from September 2010 to May, 2011.

After her work at Sabant Technologies, Inc., she concentrated in cellphone repair business together with her beloved partner, Randy Espartero. 

While observing on how to repair a cellphones, she eventually became a cellphone technician herself. 

But then, librarianship was calling her.

When she learned that St. Therese-MTC Colleges Library was looking for a library personnel, she applied. She was accepted. Now she works again in the library.

When I asked her what's lacking with today's library science education, she said that a lot of library science  graduates cannot communicate well, more particularly in written communication.

Of course, this is not a stressor  for her because their curriculum focused more on cataloging, and other technical aspects of the course. The writing aspect was left behind. That could be a reason why many library science graduates find it difficult to write effective letters and reports.

But this is not really a stressor,  since effective writing can be learned through constant practice.

Meanwhile, her stress relievers are her son, Raine Matthew Villaruz Espartero, and music.

Let me quote her:

"I subscribe myself to music because music is my other option for stress reliever. Music is my only buddy when I'm alone. Music is my spirit in life. Without music, life would become complicated, dull and boring."

That's Rej, the practical lady.