FCM Presents: One-on-One with Jerry Caingcoy
Mr. Jerry Caingcoy is the founder of TFCC – The Filipino Champions of Canada.
FCM: Where are you from in the Philippines?
JC: I grew up in a remote, 24 kilometers circumferential island named Maripipi located at the northern tip of the Province of Leyte, Philippines. Not everybody knows about Maripipi Island, but it offered me a harmless environment and shielded me from the atrocities of city life. I grew up without electricity, television, electronic gadgets or commercial toys to play with. I slept early and woke up early.
In short, there was no distraction.
I walked to school on slippers, ate fresh seafood and vegetables every meal, snacked on locally made delicacies from root crops during recess time.
I’ve done cardiovascular exercise by swimming amidst big waves. My treadmill was climbing the mountains to gather firewood. Fine dining for me was by feasting on crops and fruits that grow in the wild.
It sounds like I was in the middle of isolated place but no, it was a paradise to me. It is the reason why it is called the “Island of No Return.”
FCM: When did you arrive in Canada? Marital status, and kids? Tell us about your life in the Philippines?
JC: We arrived in Canada on October 19, 2007.
Before coming to Canada, I worked as an executive in local and multinational companies in the Philippines. I had more than 15 years of management experience encompassing sales, training, and education.
I also founded a progressive private school which is now complete with pre-school and elementary classes.
I’ve been happily married for 18 years. My first born child is already at the university. My youngest is in grade nine.
While in the Philippines, I was involved in many things that I was passionate about. Back on the small island, I knew I had a dream. I knew that there’s something better that I can do in life. Looking back now, all these things that I’ve hoped for are starting to unfold as a reality.
There are things I have seen that I’ve never imagined would happen in my life today.
FCM: While in the Philippines, who inspired you or motivated you?
JC: First and foremost, I had this struggle of belongingness. I wanted acceptance. I struggled for some years trying to find my place under the sun. I thought that if I did well in school and hung out with the cool kids, I would feel accepted. But I learned that that’s not the case. There’s more to it.
The first person who gave me my chance to prove myself was my first boss. Coming from the province, I was in competition with other candidates from prominent universities from Manila. I remember during the interview, I was asked where I came from. To cut the story short, that first opportunity from my first boss has given me the chance to prove myself.
FCM: You mentioned you built a Montessori school. Tell us a bit about that.
JC: My father was a school teacher. My parents wanted me to study education so I can follow my dad’s footsteps. But I had different plans at that time. I wanted to explore the world and pursue new opportunities.
I worked for 15 years as a corporate executive. Along the way, I started to feel unhappy about what I was doing. I began thinking about what else can I do.
Then one day, my son was four years old. The realization came that I have to provide my child with the best education possible.
So every day that I would pick-up my son from school or teach him homework, it dawned on me that there are better ways to teach a child.
I was critical on how the school taught children at that time. I started to think that if I had so many thoughts on how to educate kids and how to mold them, I should do something about it.
So from a very concerned parent who wants to provide the best education for his child, to being critical of the existing school system, and being someone who would like to institute change, one day I realized that I could do better.
I started with learning how I can homeschool my child and how I can provide a better educational re-enforcement at home. That’s when I bumped into the Montessori school system.
My wife and I decided to put a pre-school. That was 13 years ago. We started with 20 students. Now it has evolved into a full elementary school with two locations.
At this time, we’re working on expanding it to junior high-school.
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