An Ilonggo who works as Foreign Expert in Sino-Canadian Program in Jilin City, China was awarded as one of the Outstanding Expats. He is the only Filipino chosen as an awardee for this year 2019.
John Rey Java, a native of San Enrique, Iloilo, was named as one of 2019 Outstanding Expats in the City of Jilin. The awarding ceremony was part of the National Day Reception for Foreign Experts hosted by People’s Government of the Jilin Province.
The event was also part of the 70th Anniversary celebration of the Founding of The People’s Republic of China.
Java was thrilled to be recognized for his work in the foreign country. “As long as we continue to find meaning in what we do, our light will never cease to illuminate; it will keep blazing outward to invigorate others to glow their own,” he said.
“In the end, our lights combined can grow into a roaring fire of passion and compassion that would radiate positive change in all directions.”
Java graduated as Cum Laude in Bachelor in Secondary Education Major in Social Science at West Visayas State University (WVSU) – College of Education in 2008. A year after, he was hired as faculty member of WVSU Himamaylan City Campus and later chaired the Division of Social Sciences (2012-2016).
He taught Sociology, Geography, History, Research, and Social Dimensions of Learning for seven years before coming to China.
Java has 36 units earned in Post-Graduate Studies (Doctor of Philosophy in Social Science) from College of Arts and Sciences of WVSU as of 2016. He completed his degree Master’s of Education in Social Studies at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas last February 2014.
He joined the Sino-Canadian Program of Jilin City in 2016. Presently, Mr. Java is teaching English Language Arts 11, Sociology 12 and Global Geography 12.
The school attended by the Chinese elite in the province of Jilin offers Canadian curriculum with graduates earning Nova Scotia High School Diploma which will enable them to pursue post-secondary studies in North America, or around the world.
Mayor Trixie Fernandez and the rest of San Enriquenhons congratulate John Java for the amazing feat! (via Mary Ann Palma)
