06/03/2026
For more than three decades, 𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐚 𝐀. 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐨, has walked the halls of Saint Columban College not merely as a school nurse and health and services officer, but as a steadfast guardian of student welfare and a resolute advocate of discipline, health, and empowerment.
With 33 years of service, a Master’s degree in Nursing major in Community Health, and credentials as a Licensed Professional Teacher handling Health, Social Science, and CWTS subjects, Mrs. Custodio’s professional life stands as a testament to dedication shaped by conviction.
Often labeled as the “strict teacher,” Mrs. Custodio acknowledges the perception with composed honesty. Her firmness, she explains, has always stemmed from a singular desire: to see students learn, grow, and thrive.
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕,” she reflects. “𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈.” For her, discipline is not about control—it is about responsibility, both from the teacher and the learner.
Having begun her career in a time when policies such as the Anti-Bullying Act and laws protecting women and children were not yet institutionalized, she has witnessed firsthand the evolution of school systems and student governance. While she recognizes that contemporary safeguards are essential, she admits that navigating discipline today requires greater sensitivity and discernment. Yet through these shifts, her commitment to student development has never wavered.
Mrs. Custodio attributes her resilience to a strong personality forged by faith, family, and careful planning. She shares that she has not experienced oppression in her professional journey, crediting her assertiveness and clarity of purpose. “𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒔—𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔,” she says. In marriage, career, and personal aspirations, she believes in direction and deliberate effort. “𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆.”
A self-described feminist and staunch supporter of women’s rights, Mrs. Custodio believes deeply in empowering women to claim their voices and opportunities. “𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔—𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝑰 𝒂𝒎,” she affirms. For her, women’s empowerment is not a slogan but a lived principle: standing firm in one’s beliefs, advocating for fairness, and extending opportunities to those often unheard.
In this stage of her life, she sees her role less as an enforcer and more as a guide. Her focus has shifted toward mentorship—helping students and younger colleagues navigate not only academic challenges but life itself. “Our purpose is to help others, and happiness comes from helping,” she states, a philosophy that continues to define her service.
She speaks candidly about stress, acknowledging that pressures from work, family, and unforeseen circumstances are inevitable. Yet she emphasizes personal accountability and resilience. Life’s unexpected trials, she says, are “the spice of life.” The key lies in learning how to cope, adapt, and strategize. “𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕—𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅,” she explains. As a health professional, she underscores the importance of safeguarding both physical and mental well-being. Illness, she warns, carries costs far beyond the financial.
Though she describes herself as mentally strong and not easily discouraged, she also recognizes the importance of reflection. At times, she admits, plans may not align with larger circumstances. Ignoring these misalignments, she cautions, only deepens one’s struggles. Growth requires introspection, humility, and the courage to recalibrate.
Above all, Mrs. Custodio advocates for holistic health. “𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉—𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉,” she urges. She encourages students to strategize their goals, challenge themselves, and embrace growth with intention.
Article by Christine Alfeche
Photo by Daniel Duran
Pubmat by Ryan Jumawid
