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| Stephen Alayon. Image credit: Stephen Alayon's Facebook Page |
When I asked Stephen Alayon how he wants me to describe him,
he quipped matter-of-factly: “Call me a janitor’s son.” Such humility was so endearing
for a man, who, at a young age, has already reached the pinnacle of his career.
I know Manong Stephen quite a lot because
we were classmates at CPU- School of Graduate Studies’ program for Library and
Information Science. He was a mentor of mine, too, and he would always teach me
anything and everything that has to do with library management.
Stephen was born in Calitan, Panay, Capiz on August 2, 1980,
to Oscar Alayon and the former Leticia Biaco. Stephen was raised in a simple
household where love, hard work and faith reigned supreme. His father worked as
a janitor at Panay Central School in his hometown. To augment the family’s
meager means, his mother ran a sari-sari
store, while working as a beautician on the side.
Stephen’s mental aptitude was honed well at a young age. At
Panay Central School, where he spent six years, he graduated valedictorian of
his class.
He studied high school at Capiz Institute of Technology (now
the main campus of Capiz State University) in Roxas City. He majored in Food
Technology and continued to be diligent with his studies until he graduated First
Honorable Mention.
Stephen has long nurtured a love affair with science and
mathematics. His aptitude for these two subjects enabled him to win a
scholarship sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which
enabled him to go beyond the horizons of his hometown. He enrolled Bachelor in
Computer Science at the University of Philippines in the Visayas, Miag-ao,
Iloilo.
Stephen’s mantra is lifelong learning. As such, he never
stopped learning after college, nor was he happy to have achieved one degree
only. He diversified his educational qualifications by earning a diploma in
teaching from West Visayas State University. Prior to that, he already
graduated his master’s degree in education, with specialization in mathematics,
at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.
In February, 2002, Stephen was hired to work at the Data
Bank, Computer and Statistical Services Section of the Southeast Asia Fisheries
and Development Center (SEAFDEC) in Tigbuan, Iloilo.
In 2008, he transferred to the agency’s Library and Data
Banking Services section, where he was eventually appointed information
specialist and its officer-in-charge in 2012.
Despite an already well-feathered cap, Stephen believes
there is still room for growth. A self-confessed workaholic, he loves it when
he spends his night tinkering about the details of his work. Stephen eventually
decided to study Library and Information Science at the University of San
Agustin in Iloilo City. When he took the Licensure Exam for Librarians, he
garnered 82 percent, above average already, given that an average test-taker
would have to suffice with a 75-percent rating.
In 2009, Stephen spent two months in Belgium, where he
attended Vrije Universiteit Brussel’s program for Scientific and Technological
Information Management for Universities and Libraries. He also won a scholarship
to the Flemish Interuniversity Council - University Development Cooperation
(VLIR-UOS) - International Training Program (ITP) Scholar.
In 2011, he completed his academic requirements for his
Master’s degree in Library and Information.
In 2012, Stephen was elected president of the Philippine
Library Association-Western Visayas Chapter. So far, he is the youngest person
to hold that post.
To top all of these achievements, in 2013, he was honored by
the Philippine Association for Academic and Research Libraries (PAARL) with the
Outstanding Academic/Research Librarian award
for his contributions in this field. To complement with this, his library was
awarded with Outstanding Library Program award.
Through all these, Stephen remains humble. He credits his
down-to-earth attitude to his father, who passed away in 2009.
“He taught us to value humility and humor,” he said. No
wonder, I always see him smile and laugh despite the pressures of his work.
