Filipino Librarian: Roderick Ramos

And so we begin this year's Filipino Librarian series post with Mr. Roderick Ramos, as Mr. January.

Eric, as he is fondly known, received PAARL's professional service award last January 26, 2013 during its 40th year anniversay. He is no stranger to awards. In fact, as librarian of St. Louis College, Valenzuela many years ago, he was recipient of an award for service and honor performance as President of the Association of Schools of Valenzuela for Culture and the Arts. This recognition was given to Eric by the local government unit of Valenzuela for spearheading activities that develop and promote the city museum. This goes to show that Eric's leadership skills stretch out from the library to the community it serves.

 His experience working in varied libraries, from school libraries to academic libraries, fortified his people skills and professional competence for what seemed to be a thin academic preparation in library school. He started out as a teacher librarian in the Manila public school system; moved to St. Louis Valenzuela as college librarian; went farther north in Sagada and served as librarian in St. Mary School and cataloger in the William Henry Scott Library; back to the lowlands he worked in PNU, his alma mater, and then settled in DLSU, Taft for a couple of years. There he finished his graduate studies, a MA in Education. After his stint as readers services librarian in DLSU Taft, he got a job at Adamson University doing library promotions, marketing content and services. Right now, Eric's professional home is the University of Perpetual Help Library where he and his family live very near the learning community.

A rolling stone gathers no moss, so they say, but Eric believes otherwise. Subscribing to the idea that change is constant, the library hopping is a non-issue. The real adventurer, he organizes trips to Sagada, Mt. Pinatubo crater, Babuyan Island to mention a few, for a good cause. On top of this, he managed to participate in professional organizations since his return to PNU. He was elected President of PNULISSAA in 2008 and in 2010, he was voted Vice President of PAARL.

In between working, adventuring and running organizations, he writes a monograph, Produktivong Librarianship to inspire, influence, promote the profession and encourage librarians to be productive. He is one marketing marvel and this talent he uses to help up lift colleagues in the profession. 2012 was his 20th year in the profession. This new year, Eric begins another decade by keeping a dynamic and proactive outlook, taking into account prospects in the training scene and professional development of librarians and continuing to organizes trips for librarians and pilgrims. His unsolicited advice to the younger, hipper librarians: integrate and fit the library to the lifestyle of your library patrons!

There's only one Eric Ramos, Filipino Librarian!

Sagada (Day 1)

The roads to Sagada are winding and treacherous. If not for the breathtaking landscapes and the beautiful rice terraces the six-hour road trip from Baguio to Sagada would have been uneventful. Dianne and I snapped pictures all the time. We got great shots! But, that was just the beginning of our Sagada adventure.

Upon arrival at the poblacion, we immediately met Manang Julia, the landlady at St. Joseph’s Resthouse. She’s such an easy person to talk to. She gave us great discount to our lodgings as well. Thanks to Roderick Ramos, my friend and colleague, who inspired me to go to Sagada with Dianne in the first place.



There were seven of us city slickers, six from Manila and one from New Orleans. We were tourists in a place where time moved in slow motion. No rush. No hurry. It was so easy to tell us apart, what with Dianne and her strong American features standing out the locals looked and wondered. Then, with a knowing smile, we were labeled in their eyes – lowlanders. Yes, the Sagadians were a friendly lot but they keep a certain distance from new comers. We were welcomed and were treated rightfully though. Then again, I could not help but feel like a stranger in my own country.



At the municipal hall, we talked to the assigned personnel at the information center for tours and registration duties. A minimal fee is needed to do this – only 20 pesos and you could pick your choice of Sagada adventure. While the idea of trekking, caving and seeing the sights fermented in our minds, our stomachs got the better of us. So, we headed to the nearby Masferre Café for a late lunch. The restaurant is family owned. Eduardo Masferre is a Spanish Mestizo known for his photographic art of the Cordillera people. His photos chronicled and depicted the Cordillera way of life and culture. What could not be described in words, Masferre captured in photos. Some of his photos were exhibited on one wall for costumers to look and see while waiting to be served. His son, the youngest (I think) manages the restaurant. Patricia Masferre, granddaughter of the master, waited and served us lunch.

It must be the twelve-hour bus ride, the sleepy mood that enveloped the locality and the long wait for lunch that made us lethargic. We canceled the afternoon’s activity for a few hours of rest. We wanted to hit the caves in the late afternoon but a downpour kept us in our rooms. Dinner was at Café St. Joe. The cold climate made me order another mug of mountain tea. This became my staple drink in our three days and two nights stay in Sagada. I was not the only one who fell in love with the tea. My companions bought dozens of mountain tea packs for home and pasalubong.