U.S.-based educator Dr. Reynaldo “Rey” Garnace, a native of Jaro, Leyte, launched three books Sunday tracing his more than three decades in education, from classrooms in the Philippines to schools in the Bahamas and New York City.
Garnace said the launch at the Fides Hotel in Tacloban City was not only about new publications, but about “honoring a lifelong commitment to learning, teaching, service and storytelling.”
“Looking back, I realize that my professional journey has involved many transitions — from government service to private institutions, from classroom teaching to administration, and from local to international work,” Garnace told guests.
“Each move required taking risks, embracing change and remaining committed to the mission of education.”
He said teaching should always be accompanied by research, reflection and continuous improvement, a belief that led him to write and publish educational materials.
Garnace’s career began at Holy Infant College, followed by 11 years at the Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas Campus. He later taught in the Bahamas for about 15 months before returning to the Philippines to serve as dean of the College of Education and Liberal Arts at Holy Infant College.
He also held leadership roles in the Philippine Science High School System and served four years as chief administrator at Leyte Normal University and as an adjunct professor at Biliran Province State University before joining the New York City Department of Education.
His first book, “A Life of Service,” compiles reflections and experiences from his years in education and leadership. The second, “My Journey Through Teaching and Leadership,” focuses on lessons from more than 30 years of teaching, mentoring and administering schools.
Garnace said the idea for writing took root at PSHS-Eastern Visayas Campus, where limited learning resources pushed him and his students to create their own materials. Their work became an anthology of Asian and African literature used as a textbook. He also contributed to integrated science textbooks, particularly in biology.
The third book contains creative works developed through writing fellowships and workshops supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and other academic institutions.
Garnace said his time in the U.S. gave him space to organize decades of notes and reflections that became the foundation for the new publications. He also cited “Global English for Filipinos,” which he wrote to encourage more interactive and transformative classroom engagement.
Aside from being a member of the faith-based groups Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals and Knights of Columbus, Garnace served as internal vice president of the Unified Federation of Filipino-American Educators.
His books are available on Amazon.
Present at the launch were his wife, Maria Lorna Garnace, and their children, along with friends, mentors, former colleagues and students, members of the Leyte Dance Troupe of the Jess de Paz Foundation, performers from Leyte/Tacloban Idols and An Balangaw Performing Arts, and retired University of the Philippines Tacloban professor Joycie Dorado-Alegre, whom Garnace described as his thesis mentor and artistic director of An Balangaw Performing Arts.
