"Empowered"
When asked what her definition of a modern Filipinas was, Janet S. Tibaldo, a personification of an empowered woman, answered, "Filipinas are not just for households. They can be anyone they want to be."
And be whoever she wanted to be she did. A voice of the masses she became, Mrs. Janet S. Tibaldo achieved her dreams in the communication field. Once just a little girl with the dream of becoming a reporter, she is now a facilitator, a professor of the well-known Saint Louis University, a passionate Media and Information Literacy advocate, proud owner of a Ph.D in Language Education, and a part of the biggest organization for Communication educators and practitioners of the Philippines as a compliance officer, all of which she worked so hard to accomplish. Truly an epitome of empowerment.
Born around the time of former President Marcos' regime, she experienced what it meant to grow up during martial law, under the care of strict yet beloved parents. Having been unable to go outside to play with the other children, Ms. Janet only had reading and listening to the radio as pastimes, and that is when she knew that she wanted to pursue communication as a career. Having grown up listening to the news, watching television, and reading made her realize that she has always wanted to be part of the people who use their voices and ability to write to empower people through mass communication.
Journalism and the idea of communication were things Ms. Janet holds close to her heart, what with a childhood spent hearing voices of reporters spreading news through radios, building up that passion for journalism she still has till this day. "Lagi kong naririnig yung boses nila. Ang ganda naman ng boses, nakakatuwa. So that one actually has moved me for this particular program that I pursued," was what she said regarding the voices that influenced her dream.
Someone once said to Ms. Janet that one's own high school experience is something that cannot be forgotten, but she found out that it is in her time in college where her most memorable experiences lie. Looking up to women like Loren Legarda and Korina Sanchez during her high school years, along with the example of Jesus in her life, Ms. Janet found herself in college pursuing a career in communication.
Describing herself as a "fiery" woman during her 20s, Ms. Janet was an activist, advocating for the government, empowerment of women, and spreading awareness about malnutrition up until her 30s. And yet, although there were many great things Ms. Janet had the courage to stand up for, there was one thing she held back on. "I was passionate regarding supporting causes like regarding the government, malnutrition, cutting of trees, women empowerment. But there's something I'm afraid of," a hesitant smile was on her lips. "Afraid to do at that particular time was try to enter a relationship with a man. Yung boyfriend-girlfriend relationship," Ms. Janet finished. Having grown up under strict parents, it was only natural she had some hesitance in doing other things.
“Up unto nag-graduate ako, parang hirap rin ako like, I was too afraid to enter relationships. I was too careful,” she added, clarifying her previous statement. At that moment, when asked what would be her message to her 20-year-old self, she had only said to try entering a relationship.
Now with two children and a loving family by her side, Ms. Janet found herself growing into the strict role of being a mother. Although she loves her children, as a mother who wants the best for them, she tries her best to instill discipline in the household. And even though that made her children more afraid of her strictness than of their father, Ms. Janet still sees raising her children right as her greatest fulfillment and her family as a blessing. She also admitted that despite the horrible cause of the pandemic, she sees this as an opportunity to recognize the importance of family and build a good relationship with God.
And when she is not being a mother to her children at the moment, Ms. Janet is a professional, having been in the field of communication long enough to have been able to establish strong connections with big organizations like ABS-CBN and significant people in her profession. Ms. Janet dedicates ample time to her work and is very committed to her career, having developed an eye for details and knack for seeing things through with perfection. An impassioned media and literacy advocate, she achieved a lot of recognition as a teacher of her alumna for almost 19 years, having travelled to different places training students and fellow teachers under the guidance of the National Council of Children's Television of the Department of Education.
Janet S. Tibaldo made sure to learn all aspects of life as she grew up, which made her the strong, empowered woman that she is now. With a successful career in communication and well-deserved achievement of her dreams, Ms. Janet imparts her words of wisdom to people who are wanting to pursue the same career she did: "Don't waste opportunity, grab it" and “Life is difficult but you are free to make choices and every time you make choices be prepared for the consequences.” She then adds, “Ask yourself every time if you are doing the right thing. Help yourself. Be brave enough. Learn from your mistakes. Stop racism and look into causes to build a better world.”
And despite all that she became and all that she achieved, Ms. Janet has always believed that being a human being who has loved was already enough, as love is the commandment of God.
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