A Narrative by Edmer D. Bernardo
I got called into his office, so I went. I tiptoed to his presidential table and instantly knew; the man, by destiny, owned the place. I croaked, “Good afternoon, Sir,” and if he heard me, he didn’t show. He was signing documents, turning page after page, and then… he looked up at me, right into my eyes and asked: “Kamusta na si Nanay mo Noy?” I liked him right away.
So, who is this newcomer who has taken us all by storm, and who, days into his office, mobilized the entire faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders to get a hundred percent Certificate of Program Compliance for all of ISCOF’s 37 graduate and undergraduate programs – and succeeded, too? Who is this bold outsider, who, weeks into his presidency, challenged us all to re-apply for university status despite the several failed attempts spanning a disappointing decade – and ended up inspiring us to dream again, indeed?
Who is Nordy D. Siason, Jr.?
He grew up in a barrio. As the fifth of nine siblings, he saw how poverty challenged the life of the family whose byword is, well, simplicity. Nevertheless, destiny always finds its power to arrange things due their proper end, in this case the University Presidency kind of end.
The trip to the ISCOF presidency was not an instant, epiphanous happening. It was an arduous 23-year passage from the lowest rung of the education landscape. In fact, he started at a private school, PAREF- Westbridge School for Boys, but after a year of serving the privileged, he decided he better render his best to public school students instead. He joined the Iloilo National High School as Teacher I in July 1999. He was promoted to Master Teacher I in 2005. He then took the lead as Officer in Charge of Iloilo National High School until April 2008.
On March 23, 2009, he served as Education Supervisor I at DepEd Division of Iloilo and as Officer in Charge of Iloilo National High School. He held these positions until appointed full-fledged Principal IV of the school on June 21, 2010. He then acquired his Doctorate in Education in the Graduate School of West Visayas State University.
While he was Principal, he passed the Career Executive Service Examination in 2012 and was given greater responsibilities as a leader. His hard-earned success at Nasyo prepared him for eventual successes in later posts: Chief Education Supervisor, Schools Division of Iloilo (2015-2016); OIC Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Schools Division of Iloilo (2016-2019); Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Schools Division of Iloilo (2019 – 2021); Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Schools Division of Guimaras (2021 -2022); and now, University President.
Siason assumed office as the 9th President of the Iloilo State College of Fisheries on February 4, 2022, by virtue of the official appointment by the ISCOF Board of Trustees led by Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III of the Commission on Higher Education.
“I had to think it over, a thousand times. DepEd had been my home, my life. ISCOF, on the other hand, was a big unknown. I had doubts as to where my post-ISCOF presidency would bring me but I had no doubts about serving the Ilonggo community, especially in the 4th Congressional District of Iloilo, where ISCOF’s campuses are located. I hope I don’t regret it,” said the new President, on one occasion.
In a couple of days, Siason will assume office as the first University President. How he manages to accomplish so much in so little time makes one wonder. But I don’t, at least, not anymore.
