A Filipino teacher working in Fujian Province was honored during the 10th Fujian Friendship Award Ceremony held on 29 September 2017 at Shangri La Hotel in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Ms. Anna Marie Ibba Arnaiz, was recognized along with nine other foreigners working in Fujian Province for their invaluable contribution to Fujian society.
Anna has been teaching English at Minnan Normal University since September 2005. Her 12 years of dedicated work prompted the Fujian Provincial Government to choose her as one of the awardees. Highlights of her citation reads: “She is earnest, hardworking, and popular among students. She is also keen on sharing with students, and she is good at mobilizing her shy students to express themselves with spoken English. As a model of virtue, Anna cares for her students like a mother. Anna’s excellent skill of organizing, and her enthusiasm about various cultural exchange events has provided both the students and the teachers on campus an important venue to practice their spoken English. Anna has taught so many students at Minnan Normal University, many of whom are already serving in different sectors….”
Prior to 2005, Anna worked in the Philippines at the Provincial Government of Bohol before deciding to work in China to “seek greener pastures” to augment her family’s income to raise her two children.
Having lived in Zhangzhou, China for 12 years, Anna claims being in Zhangzhou is like living in a dream. Her success in China, however, has not made her forget her roots in Jolo, Sulu and Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Both a proud Tausug and Boholano, she is glad that she could give honor to her homeland in her own simple way.
For more information, visit www.dfa.gov.ph, www.facebook.com/dfaphl, and @dfaphl on Twitter. END
