PThe province of Bohol has lost a great educator and pillar in quality education when lawyer Dr. Victoriano B. Tirol Jr., president of the University of Bohol, died shortly before 11:00 pm yesterday in a losing battle with the Big C. Only turning 70 last December 22, Tirol was diagnosed to have been afflicted with stage four of prostate cancer and since then he was in and out of the hospital. He died at the St. Luke's Hospital in Quezon City. As an educator, Tirol was the epitome of public official of the Department of Education who rose from the ranks. His stint in DepEd started as Schools Division Superintendent of Bohol. He was later promoted regional Director of DECS in Eastern Visayas. Then he was transferred to Region I, (Ilocos) and later Region V, (Bicol). His latest stint was as DepEd Regional Director of Region VIII, Western Visayas.

In an official announcement released by UB's Board of Trustees, the University's administration says: “With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved University of Bohol President, Dr. Victoriano B. Tirol Jr., who has joined his Creator on March 21, 2014. His advocacy for quality education strongly raised the bar for academic excellence.” Will Tirol, as he was fondly called by friends and loved ones, was a champion of education in the country. And his philosophy in education was encapsulated with these words: “I am back not only to fulfill promises, ideals and dreams of my parents. I am back as a person who sees nobility and significance in the mission of educating people.” The University administration noted: “Carrying on this undertaking, while we celebrate his life, the University informs the school community that it is his wish that all academic and commencement activities at all levels will proceed as scheduled.”

“Please join us in praying for his eternal rest,” the University has appealed to the public. In a Facebook post, Jucil Topia Tirol said that Dr. Tirol's remains lies in state at St. Peter's Funeral, Quezon Ave., Quezon City. He will be brought home to Tagbilaran today at 2 pm via a Philippine Airlines flight. “For those who would like to pay respect to him, he will be at his residence in Cainggit. Interment schedule is yet to be decided by the family,” Jucil announced. Still, on her Facebook timeline, Jucil reminisced: “Daddy Will... Thank you for being the best dad-in-law and the more than perfect grandfather to our children. We will miss your everynight visits in our room. The little girls will miss your gentle words and hugs. Reena will grow up hearing our stories of how much you love her. We love you Dad Victoriano Will Tirol. Til we meet again...”

CEMABI PRESIDENT IS NOW WITH THE LORD

A press statement issued yesterday by the Confederation of Evangelical Ministries Association of Bohol Incorporated (CEMABI) reads: “Bishop Victoriano B. Tirol Jr., has passed away last night at St. Luke Medical Center in Metro Manila. The good Bishop was ordained two years ago as Head Bishop of all Evangelical Churches in the province of Bohol. The Evangelical Body of Christ in Bohol is saddened because of the great loss of a great leader, father, educator, lawyer, theologian, philosopher and pastor of the flock of God.”

“He was a true and gifted leader. His legacy to the Body of Christ and to the entire province of Bohol is always be treasured in the hearts of those who knew him well,” the statement said.

“In spite of his illness, by the grace of God, he was able to manage well the University of Bohol as president, as well as the Cristal E-College in Panglao. Amidst all his hectic schedule, the good Bishop Will was able to lead CEMABI with strong leadership and good example worthy to emulate with his flock. One virtue that we could see in him as leader of the evangelical Body of Christ in Bohol was his humility,” CEMABI said.

CEMABI said that the passing of Dr. Tirol is “a great loss to the evangelical Body of Christ in Bohol.”

“On the human level, in behalf of the whole family of evangelical Body of Christ in Bohol, our condolences to the bereave family of the late Bishop Will Tirol Jr., however, on the divine side, we are comforted knowing with the truth that he is now with Christ with blessed rejoicing in the glorious presence of the Lord our God,” CEMABI's statement reads.

DR. WILL TIROL ACCORDING TO LOY PALAPOS

Following is a beautiful article written by public relations guru Loy Palapos, a Bohol Sunday Post columnist, which saw print on December 12, 2010:

When he retired as the Regional Director of DepEd, Region VI, there were those who surmised that he had reached the pinnacle of success. Yet, those in the know were one in their conjecture that he was only turning over a new leaf, that he still has the aces on his sleeves, that he is the individual who, like his father, never really retires. There are always new challenges for a brilliant mind. The mind of Dr. Victoriano Belarmino Tirol, Jr. is a dynamic amalgam of creativity and fortitude, with the underlying mission to serve the public. This obsession for service is a legacy he inherited from his father, Atty. Victoriano Tirol, Sr., the individual who revolutionized college education in Bohol by having it within the reach of the less privileged in society. Victoriano, Sr. then played a vital role in the Guerilla movement, and was therefore hounded by fears that any untoward incident may nip his mission for a life of service. So, he decided his son, Victoriano, Jr. to be his namesake to carry on in case he fall. Nicknamed Will, to underscore unyielding perseverance and determination for a just cause, and as an embodiment of the father's desire to fight on, Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr. was born in Jetafe, Bohol on December 22, 1943 in the midst of World War II. Soon after his birth, another son was born to a mother who could not produce mother's milk, perhaps due to the trauma of war. So, Will had to share with another baby his mother's milk. A coincidence, but true to his father's desire to serve and share, the story of sharing in the life of Will started in infancy.

Dr. Tirol finished two doctorate degrees: Doctor of Philosophy in English (UST 1986, Benemeritus) and Doctor of Philosophy in Education (UB 1987, Summa Cum Laude); and six masteral degrees: Master of Arts in English (SU 1966), Master of Arts in Education (UB 1972), Master of Arts in Educational Administration (UB 1985, Magna Cum Laude), Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling (UB 1987), Master of Arts in Business Administration (UB 1977, Summa Cum Laude), and Master of Arts in Public Administration (UB 1999, Summa Cum Laude). A holder of four Bachelor's degrees: AB (RPC 1967, Magna Cum Laude), BSE (RPC 1963, Magna Cum Laude), BSEED (UB 1980) and BSC (UB 1980). Dr. Tirol is also an AA (RPC 1967) and ETC (UB 1966) graduate. He is the Boholano with the most number of educational degrees safely tracked in his belt.

He is a PD 907 Honor Graduate eligible seven times over, and passed the Superintendent Examination, Bar Examination and Teacher's Examination, all with flying colors. He is a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) Rank III, a Career Executive Officer (CEO) Rank III. These Civil Service eligibilities place him on top of the government qualifying totem pole. Atty. Tirol used to be a Professor of College of Law and Graduate School of UB. He was also the Dean of Student Affairs and Planning and Development. His first assignment, after passing the Superintendent Examination, was as Schools Division Superintendent of Bohol. Then he was transferred to the Division of Negros Occidental. Promoted a notch higher after an exemplary performance, he was appointed Regional Director of DECS, Eastern Visayas, then transferred to Region I, (Ilocos) and later Region V, (Bicol). His latest stint was as DepEd Regional Director of Region VIII, Western Visayas.

Dr. Will Tirol, Jr. was President of the Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA), the biggest Teachers Association in the Philippines, for 10 fruitful years, where he worked for the amendment of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, lobbied for the increase of their salaries, and advocated for higher honorariums and benefits for teachers serving election duties. As a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), he labored for the early release of teachers' retirement and other benefits. Being a Member of the Board of Regents/Trustees of All State Colleges and Universities in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) and Region I (Ilocos), he advocated further development of indigenous curriculums suited in the catchment areas.

As Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer and Ex-Office Member of the Board of Trustees, University of Bohol, he provided his expertise to a university which is focused in exploring the full potentials of individuals. “Students today, leaders tomorrow”, is its dictum that is easily justifiable. He became President of the first University in Bohol in January and after a year of incessant improvements of the institution he had his investiture on December 11, 40 years after his father was installed President of a dynamic institution which is now a pride of Bohol. Atty. Tirol founded Cristal-E College in Tawala, Panglao, Bohol with the end-view of providing 21st Century Global Education to the locality. He also founded the Informatics Computer Institute in Tagbilaran City, and the Galleria Ventures, Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City. All are internationally accredited, with increasing student-patronages.

Dr. Will Tirol was a Group Study Exchange Scholar, Rotary International Foundation, New York, USA. It was a five-month study tour of American educational and industrial institutions, which included round-table conferences and speaking engagements. He also took a Special Course in Educational Administration sponsored by the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA), at Hiroshima Prefecture Education Center. This was an intensive course in educational supervision and administration with focus on international issues in education. His Executive Training Course for School Superintendents, and Career Executive Development Progress at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) polished his proficiency in educational leadership and the technical aspects of the superintendency. His educational travels to the United States, Europe, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, Russia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other countries were unique exposures to the educational systems of the nations visited and benchmarking of pupil/student achievements in the Philippines, concluding with proposals for appropriate interventions.

Dr. Tirol is an inspiring keynote speaker, resource person, reactor, lecturer, trainer and facilitator in countless conferences, seminars, and symposia, in regional, national and international levels. Through these exposures he has perfected the art of public speaking, the rudiments of which he had long honed up as a student of Siliman University, as a multi-medaled orator and debater, and as President of the Oradec Club and the Student Government. Cited by the Department of Education five times for the successful hosting of the Palarong Pambansa, the Philippines Public School Teacher Association for his unselfish service to education for 10 years as President and Member of the Board of Directors, the Philippine Association of Schools Superintendents (PASS) for his exemplary services, the Association of DepEd Directors (ADD) for commendable performances as Regional Director. Dr. Victoriano Tirol, Jr. has earned a niche in the field of education. He was awarded the Bronze Usa, Silver Usa, Golden Usa and Bronze Tamaran for his services to the scouting movement. Back where he was born in Jetafe, the mother town of Buenavista, he was awarded a plaque as Outstanding Son of Jetafe.

When he took his Ph.D. in English at the University of Santo Tomas, he wrote a dissertation on “Boholano Literature”, which was lauded and became the foundation of an awakened interest in the culture and arts of Bohol. In another dissertation, his Summer Pre-School Program for his PhD in Education, became a prototype program for the establishment of public pre-schools in the Philippines. Sharing his passion for economic and cultural upliftment through education is his wife, Dr. Cristeta Balili-Tirol, a PhD in Psychology (UST), presently the Vice-President for Finance of the University of Bohol, and two children: Victoriano B. Tirol, III, the Assistant Vice-President for Administration of UB, and Will Tyron B. Tirol, the President of Cristal-E College.

What occupies his mind now is Global Education and to make it real and available in Bohol the development of a student's full potential is the goal he instills in the Faculty, the best that everyone is capable of attaining. To a child who was born sharing his mother's milk, this venture is so close to his heart. He wanted to share his life in education with the world…it is a wish that never ends. (with reports from MIKE ORTEGA LIGALIG)