By Michael Visaya

When being firm is mistaken for cruelty, its gentle strength goes unseen. In silence, a mother’s love carefully weaves a path, designing roadmaps that will lead her children toward a safer direction.
Her government service for 43 years made her understand what economists teach, that rational people think at the margin by making small, carefully thought choices every day. These added up to a lifetime of impact in the classroom and beyond.

With a book in hand, she walks the fields of Lagangilang Abra, carrying her dream of becoming a banker.  She later found out that life had a different plan. That determined girl grew up to become Dr. Violeta Alonzo, a beloved professor who spent 43 years in government service, not building banks, but building minds. She taught generations the principles of economics, and more importantly, the priceless values of honesty, respect, and discipline. Her journey focused on shaping futures far beyond what she imagined. 

𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀

Born in a time when opportunities were few and expectations were high, Dr. Alonzo pursued her education with grit. She graduated with an AB Economics degree from Saint Louis University in Baguio and went on to earn her master’s in economics at Ateneo de Manila University. Her hunger for professional development pushed her to complete her PhD in Development Management at Divine Word College of Laoag. With impressive credentials added to her perseverance, she could have taken a high-paying job in banking. It was once a plan, she said.

She first walked into the classrooms of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in 1982 as a 20-year-old, inexperienced teacher. Being the youngest among the five new faculty members of the Social Sciences Department, she recalls feeling nervous and afraid. “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭.” Yet, deep inside her, she knew she belonged, believing that teaching was in her nature. After all, she had been giving tutorials to her dormmates since college. 

Her unsteady steps slowly progressed into a quiet confidence as she stood before her students. She found joy standing before her class, sharing knowledge, and watching young minds awaken. She became known for her firm discipline and strong ideals. “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯,” she says. “𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺.”

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿

Dr. Alonzo’s teaching style was marked by an image of a stern one but was never unkind. Former students remember her as strict but caring, just like a mother who demanded the best not out of cruelty, but out of love. In fact, motherhood would become a running theme in her life, both at home and in the classroom. A mother of two, Dr. Alonzo naturally extended her maternal instincts to her students. “𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦”, she admits.

She notes that life will insistently remind people to learn, even if they are teachers inside a classroom. It is still vivid in her memory when a young student who is fresh from rehabilitation and with a briefcase in hand, always sits at the front of her class. His intensity frightened her. Eventually, the student dropped out. Another time, she mistook an older student for a colleague, only to find out he was completing a degree to support his family. Stories like these for her were reminders that every student carried a unique struggle, a personal story, and a reason for being there.

Throughout her decades of service at MMSU, Dr. Alonzo witnessed dramatic changes in society, in education, and in herself. From chalkboards to digital classrooms, she adapted. She notes that a teacher is someone who never ceases learning. It would take an empty cup to be filled with tea. When circumstances arise, one should always be willing to adjust. “𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘖𝘝𝘐𝘋. 𝘐𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.”

One of her proudest achievements came in 2007, when she earned her PhD. For Dr. Alonzo, said achievement is a reward for dedication and continuous search for professional advancement, more than just having a title. Yet more than that, she notes that her true reward comes not from degrees or accolades, but from moments that made her former students return to say thank you, graduates who made names for themselves, and professionals who cited her as their inspiration.

Amidst all of these, she remains modest. “𝘐𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵,” she says. “𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵.”

𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀

Now residing in Naguirangan, Batac City, Dr. Alonzo is set to retire from the university she has called home for over four decades. Her days will become slower, which will be filled with the laughter of her grandchild. It will be a new chapter, but one no less meaningful.

“𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨,” she reflects. “𝘈𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘣. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

Prof. Romelyn Pabro of the Department of Social Sciences described Dr. Alonzo as a leader marked by quiet grace and always accommodating. “𝘔𝘢’𝘢𝘮 𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘻𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭, 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵”. 

Meanwhile, Elen June Arcangel, communication instructor and former student, spoke of Dr. Alonzo’s devotion to students. “𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴”, she notes. 

To the younger generation of educators, she offers this advice: “𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵. 𝘈 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳.” 

From a once nervous young woman in 1982 to a wise, motherly pillar of her institution, Dr. Violeta Alonzo leaves behind a brand of knowledge and a lifetime of quiet, yet undisturbed service. Her favorite line “𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨” perfectly captures the spirit she carried through 43 years of routine.

“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵,” she says of her journey. 

This, perhaps, is the most powerful lesson she leaves behind: living an ordinary life with honesty and discipline. “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥”. Dr. Alonzo proved that not all legacies are loud. Some live in silence after a good question. And in that silence, she sent minds to build a greater nation.

As curtains unfold and the final bell resonates through the hallways, Dr. Alonzo closes her class record one last time. Her familiar voice, coated with firmness and patience, will no longer echo on the walls of the university but on the hearts of every student who once sat in front of her.