Rosemarie Mogote-Canson: A Dedicated Librarian

Rosemarie Mogote-Canson: A Dedicated Librarian
Melchor F. Cichon

August 25, 2013

"To all wishing to be a librarian, first and foremost, you should love the profession you have chosen. Love your library job.  Don't get bored at your workplace. Enjoy it. Memorize the Code of Ethics for Librarians so you will be guided by what you are doing. Practice the sense of loyalty and be happy. Every day is your chance for improvement. Be innovative. Be happy and stay updated."

This is a wise word from one of the youngest chief librarians in the Philippines today. She said she became the chief librarian of the JOHN B.LACSON FOUNDATION MARITIME UNIVERSITY-AREVALO at the age of 22. Since then, she remains as such.

She said, being there, she enjoys the work, and hope to stay there until she retires.

I am referring to Mrs. Rosemarie Mogote-Canson.

Rose, as she is fondly called by her friends was born in Marikina, Metro Manila, on May 29, 1978. But she took her elementary education at Miagao Central School Elementary , Miagao, Iloilo in March, 1991.  She continued her studies at Marillac Academy in Miagao, Iloilo and graduated on March 21, 1995.  On March 26, 1999, she graduated at West Visayas State University, La Paz, Iloilo City for her Bachelor in Secondary Education, major in Library Science.  In August, 1999, she took the Philippine Licensure Examination for Teacher and passed it.  And in December 1999, she passed the Philippine Licensure Examination for Librarians.

In the same year,  she was hired as a librarian at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo, Iloilo City until 2002.  On that same year, she was promoted as the Chief Librarian of the said university until today.  She was then 22 years old.

During this time, she took her Master of Library and Information Science at the University of the Philippines-Diliman  and finished it in 2004.  

But Rose is not just a librarian, she is also a budding haiku poet,  a good wife to Lodigario Torres Canson, and a caring mother to her only son, .Ralph Lodie.

And with a sense of nationalism.  Look at her comments on the recent pork barrel issue. Let me quote her from her August 26, 2013  Facebook post:

"Timing ngayung araw, may protesta doon sa Luneta ngayun. Kahit dito lng ako sa FB mag labas ng sama ng loob ko. Abolish pork barrel? Therefore, reduce may tax! Hindi nyo na ba ako pakakainin? 30% of my monthly basic salary goes to my tax! Hindi naman yata makatarungan na habang kinukuhaan ka ng tax,yung iba KINUKURAKOT lang naman pala. Ang nakakapagtaka pa, at the end of the year, may PAYABLES ka pa. ....Hayan kasi nag file po kayo ng overtime, tsaka na promote po kayo.....tax agad? Kaya nga kahit bumabalik ako sa trabaho, hindi office days...ayaw ko nang mag file ng overtime..tax ko yun no! Wag nalang..bumalik lang pala ako sa work para mag overtime at mag bigay ng pera sa gobyerno..wag nalang. Kinukurakot lng naman! Labor of love nlang yun.... Kayung mga kurakot dyan sa gobyerno...makonsensya namn kayo.....Kahit kaming mga taxpayers may malasakit sa kapwa Pilipino...Bakit nagugutom pa rin sila at mahirap pa rin? Maawa namn kayo sa mga kababayan natin.Yan kasi bumili kayo ng mga mansions at mga mamahaling cars...Sosyal kayo no? Habang mga mahihirap na kababayan...mahirap pa rin. Naiinis na talaga ako...buti pa mag tanim nalng ako ng kamote doon sa bukid, pag naibenta ko kamote wala pang tax.! POOR Filipino people..POOR taxpayers.! Sana matauhan na ang mga kurakot! Isang dosenang sako ng bigas na ang halaga ng tax ko..KADA BUWAN YAN HA! Ilang sako na yan sa isang taon? 144 sako nayan. kulang pa ba yan sa isang pamilyang Pilipino? Ipakain nyo yan sa mahihirap nating kapwa Pilipino! Mga tax evaders...huli nyo ng huli....kinulang lng namn ang remit nila sa BIR..nagbabayad naman. Habang ang nangungurakot ng taxes hindi nyo mahulu-huli....Akala natin isang tao lang si Kurakot...marami pala sila. The end!"

Since she is on the top echelon of the Philippine librarianship, I focused my interview on library management.

Below is the gist of our online interview:

Melchor F. Cichon ( MFC):  I have been thinking of interviewing you for a possible write-up of your profile. I will then post it in Western Visayas Librarians and in PAARL Facebook account. Is it OK with you?

Rosemarie Mogote-Canson (RMC): Ah,  ok Sir. You are always welcome.

I am just a low profile librarian but I can also share something about how I work and do my job well.

MFC:  Thanks. Can I just interview you online?

RMC: Ok sir...maybe during working days you can interview me...just give me time to prepare.

One week after, I buzzed her again on her Facebook account.

MFC: Why did you take up library science? Who/what influenced you to take this course?

RMC: The first that influenced me to take the library science is just for a simple desire to be an office worker. As far as I could remember, me and my former class mates in high school went to West Visayas State University (WVSU)...way back in 1995. I was planning to take a psychology major but during that time my classmates did not like it...so we came up with a decision that we would take a major that we would both like. I think that was the main reason that until now we were really good friends and believe it or not..one of my friends now is one of my staff..and still we both like our job and share ideas to improve our output.

So..I can therefore say that my friends were my lucky charms on why I took up library science seriously. We were only 6 in our class. We graduated at WVSU in 1999.

My library science course brought me to what I desire when I was young..being in the library job is not merely doing the office works but it was partnered with responsibilities, skills and knowledge. Not only knowledge but continuous learning and innovation. If a librarian is not innovative, he or she will not be productive.

MFC: What a striking word for the librarians. Since you have been a part of this still-going-to-be-strong profession, what foundations should an individual possess to become an ideal librarian?

RMC: I think there are 3 foundations that an ideal librarian should have: knowledge, skills and good personal relations. I have that in mind because it is already a public knowledge that when you are a librarian you will end up in a management level. Skills on actual work..and handling human resources.  Knowledge of what is new everyday...and if you posses a good personal relationships with your staff and customers, everything will go smoothly.  Our foundations as librarians should be within ourselves and they should start within our workplace. Skills are learned too.

MFC: What is your concept of an ideal employee?

RMC:  Hmm..my ideal employee? For me ideal employee knows the Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives of the company they are working with. Works independently without so much supervision. Observes punctuality and loyalty to the company.

MFC: Very well Jsaid. Now that you have been on top of your career, being the chief librarian of a university, what do you think are some of the reasons why there is a large number of labor turn-over among library personnel?

RMC: Good librarians were not treated fairly..not satisfied with the compensations suited for their qualifications. Also, one reason is personal relations with fellow co-workers..instead of staying , they prefer to transfer to other institutions.

Not a wholesome reality but we should accept it.

In my own opinion, being in the management level, I can see many sorts of dissatisfaction in the individuals. But one thing I have learned is to stick with one's principle,  avoid inconsistencies in  decisions making  because it is where office chaos begins.

MFC: Correct! Could you explain further your statement: good librarians were not treated fairly?

RMC: I have been in my post, as a chief librarian, for 12 years already. I became a chief librarian at age 22. I have gone thru a lot of ups and downs. But I am still satisfied.

Of course..the director/chief librarians  are also one of the major factors why there are labor turn over.  The directors and the chief librarians are the ones deciding who should be retained, and who should go. They know who are the people in the organization who should be nurtured.

MFC: Would you agree that the chief librarian/director can also be a good reason for this labor turn-over problem among the subordinates?

RMC: Good librarians were not treated fairly. Everyone should enjoy the benefits suited for their qualifications.

MFC:  Good. What then should be a fair salary for librarians?

RMC: I  cannot say that there is really a fair amount. It depends on the organization where the librarians are employed. But in my own opinion, if the librarian is in the managerial position, he/she deserves a P30, 000.00/month  salary or even higher above; and on the staff level, he or she deserves a P15, 000 to 25, 000/month salary. That is for a licensed librarian.

MFC: How do you take care of your high productive employee?

RMC: In our own system...I take care of my high productive staff by giving them a salary that they deserve. I emphasize to them their duties and responsibilities. I send them to seminars and conferences. I understand their strengths and weaknesses, and their personal shortcomings,  as long as they do their job on the right track and on the right time. It's already a compliance to my duties due to them.

MFC: And what's the best way to manage a boss?

RMC: The best way to manage a boss is: One must satisfy his or her boss by showing his best job performance. You must see to it that you meet the deadline set by the boss. If there are things that need clarifications, tell your boss about it so that he will know what you want to clarify. The bosses have their own instincts. They always stand for their decisions. But due to some inconsistencies sometimes, they also need the opinions of the staff. They will be happy to hear ideas from the staff. Doing the job with minimal complaints is also a good way of managing a good relationship with the boss. The boss wants a face to face conversation if complaints arise. Be frank, tell what you wish to tell and by that before the day ends, everything is polished.

MFC: One last question: How do you manage a bulldog boss?

RMC: Stay calm....take a deep breath....and before the day ends you must have told her/him what you want to say.

I said earlier that Rose is a budding haiku poet. Here is one of her works:

mountain peak--

Sirius shines

on Holland Rose

***Rosemarie Mogote-Canson