Meet Teacher Maru and learn how she supports children with special needs in realizing their potential.

Maria Tan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173295133959720241014-mary rose _maru genova-sped teacher-MT-12.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/>Mary Rose ‘Maru’ Genova, 32,  is a special education teacher at the NOH School for Crippled Children for more than eight years. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News MANILA -- She has experienced being bitten, being hit and sustaining bruises from her students. These experiences made her rethink if her decision to get this job was wrong all along.</div>Mary Rose Genova, fondly called Teacher Maru, initially doubted her fitness to become a special education teacher. &quot;Dumating ako sa point na nagtatanong na ko sarili ko. Alam kong hindi nila kasalanan, tip of the iceberg lang nakikita kong problema. Pero tao lang tayo nasasaktan at nagiging vulnerable. May times na nagrereflect na lang ako kung eto pa ba yung gusto kong gawin in the future, worth it pa ba. May mga ganong bagay na nilu-lookback ako,&quot; she said.But she did not let these hardships stop her from continuing her job until she finally realized this was her calling.<div>A rewarding profession</div>Teacher Maru said her first dream job was to become a Developmental Pediatrician, but because of financial difficulties she decided on the next best alternative, a SPED teacher.She said, &quot;Dati talaga gusto ko sana maging doktor pero during that time medyo financially-struggling yung family so nag-choose ako ng Special Education dahil medyo magkalapit siya don sa gusto ko na maging Developmental Pedia.&quot;&quot;Parang almost the same lang din. Gusto ko lang din malaman yung mga kinds of disabilities at kung paano talaga natutunan yung mga batang may kapansanan dahil during that time may article din akong nabasa sa newspaper about sa special education at sabi ko eto na siguro yung sign na may-SPED ako, na maging SPED teacher,&quot; she continued.&quot;Noong high school ako may teacher din kasi ako na ang anak niya ay may down syndrome. Cute yung bata na yon. Kahit na hindi siya officially enrolled that time, dinadala siya ng mother niya, sumasama siya sa school, naka-uniform din siya tapos marami na siyang basic skills na natututunan.&quot; <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173295148038020241014-mary rose _maru genova-sped teacher-MT-15.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/>Maru Genova engages her students at the NOH School for Crippled Children in Quezon City on October 14, 2024. Genova believes waiting for a student to bloom, especially those with learning disabilities, is one of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News A bitter-sweet process </div>Teacher Maru explained that being a SPED teacher is both a hard and joyful journey, as they have been meeting different cases of students who are aggressive and possess behavioral challenges because of various sensory issues.&quot;Pero later on, lalong parang na-fall in love na lang din po ako. Parang ganon lang siya yung process. Parang nung una gusto ko lang siyang kilalanin then later on na-fall in love ako sa profession and sa mga bata,&quot; she said.&quot;May time na yung isa kong student, hindi siya ever nasasalita. Hindi siya nakakapagsalita sa bahay, never siyang nakipag-communicate sa parents niya. Tapos hindi talaga siya verbal tapos everyday lang kinakausap ko lang siya kahit wala siyang response.&quot;She continued, &quot;Tapos one day na-late yung parent niya magsundo. Kumakain ako that time tapos may activity lang siya sa table tapos habang kumakain ako sabi niya &quot;Teacher, ano iyan.&quot; Tapos sabi ko, &quot;Ha, nagsasalita siya, paki-ulit, paki-ulit.&quot; Napayakap talaga ako sa kanya grabe for the longest time hindi narinig ko yung boses niya. Ito yung time na hindi ako nagtuturo, kami lang dalawa tapos nagsalita siya so parang sabi ang tagal ng proseso, ang tagal ko siyang hinihintay. Tapos yung sa time na unexpected ko nagbu-bloom pala yung bata.&quot;She then realized, &quot;Parang feeling ko, nagtatanim ka lang ng seeds pero di mo alam kung kelan tutubo pero later on pala magbu-bloom siya na di mo lang alam. Yun yung pinaka-rewarding part sa ako at yung marinig na tawagin ka nilang &#x27;Teacher&#x27;.&quot; <div>Breakthrough</div>On her 8-year in service as public SPED teacher, Teacher Maru has these things to say:&quot;Ang mga batang ito ay hindi nakakahawa. Hindi po ito sakit. Although lifetime na nila itong maeexperience ng mga bata pero hindi ito transferrable sa mga classmates.&quot;<div>Secondly, &quot;Hindi ito nagagamot. Pero mag-iimprove ang condition pag natherapy and pag pumapasok sa school.&quot; <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173295156917820241014-mary rose _maru genova-sped teacher-MT-25.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/>Despite the challenges, which made her think of quitting at one point, Maru Genova now sees herself totally committed after seeing the limitless possibilities of helping children with disabilities. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>And lastly, &quot;Hindi sila &quot;hanggang dito lang.&quot; Ang possibilities ay limitless. May mga talent sila. Pag icultivate lang natin yung talents nila for sure may maaabot sila in the future. I-open natin ang possibilities na maaaring may mas better silang kayang gawin. Hindi lang academics ang path ng mga taong may kapansanan. Napakarami pa pong areas ng buhay na maaari siyang maging magaling.&quot;&quot;Di ko man makita ang sarili ko na forever na maging SPED teacher, kasi tumatanda din tayo, pero napaka-rewarding sa akin kasi alam mo yung serbisyo at nafufulfill mo yung purpose mo na ishare mo yung talent and love to others and share the love of Christ,&quot; she ended.&quot;May time na yung isa kong student, hindi sita ever nagsalita. Hindi siya nakakapagsalita sa bahay, never siyang nakipag-communicate sa parents niya. Tapos hindi talaga siya verbal tapos everyday lang kinakausap ko lang siya kahit wala siyang response.&quot;She continued, &quot;Tapos one day na-late yung parent niya magsundo. Kumakain ako that time tapos may activity lang siya sa table tapos habang kumakain ako sabi niya &quot;Teacher, ano iyan.&quot; Tapos sabi ko, &quot;Ha, nagsasalita siya, paki-ulit, paki-ulit.&quot; Napayakap talaga ako sa kanya grabe for the longest time hindi narinig ko yung boses niya. Ito yung time na hindi ako nagtuturo, kami lang dalawa tapos nagsalita siya so parang sabi ang tagal ng proseso, ang tagal ko siyang hinihintay. Tapos yung sa time na unexpected ko nagbu-bloom pala yung bata.&quot;She then realized, &quot;Parang feeling ko, nagtatanim ka lang ng seeds pero di mo alam kung kelan tutubo pero later on pala magbu-bloom siya na di mo lang alam. Yun yung pinaka-rewarding part sa ako at yung marinig na tawagin ka nilang &quot;Teacher.&quot;<div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABRHiOxNGVQ2Uy76&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script>

Meet Teacher Maru and learn how she supports children with special needs in realizing their potential.

Unsung hero: How a teacher supports students with special needs | ABS-CBN

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Unsung hero: How a teacher supports students with special needs

Unsung hero: How a teacher supports students with special needs

Maria Tan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 30, 2024 04:33 PM PHT

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Maru Genova

NOH School for Crippled Children

special education

SPED

children with special needs

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