| Fermer Santos Toronto, Ontario, Canada The First Filipino Guidance Counsellor in Toronto The Pride of the Filipino-Canadian • Community Leader |
Fermer Santos is currently the Vice-President at the ELIA MIDDLE
SCHOOL, Toronto District Board, a Grade 6-8 school of about 600
students.
“We can be what we want to be if we believe in ourselves.” This is
Fermer’s personal belief and inspirational statement to youth and
new immigrants. By clearly defining our goals adding patience,
hard work, determination and faith in God, Fermer believes that
we can pave our chosen career paths and direct our lives to our
future destinations with a focused vision in mind.
She is the middle child in a family of ten children. Her parents,
deceased father, Fernando and her living mother, Mercedes
raised eight girls and two boys. Fermer’s mother and eldest
sister, Maria Luisa have always remained as her role models and
mentors. “In life,” she says, “we need heroes to look up to.”
SCHOOL, Toronto District Board, a Grade 6-8 school of about 600
students.
“We can be what we want to be if we believe in ourselves.” This is
Fermer’s personal belief and inspirational statement to youth and
new immigrants. By clearly defining our goals adding patience,
hard work, determination and faith in God, Fermer believes that
we can pave our chosen career paths and direct our lives to our
future destinations with a focused vision in mind.
She is the middle child in a family of ten children. Her parents,
deceased father, Fernando and her living mother, Mercedes
raised eight girls and two boys. Fermer’s mother and eldest
sister, Maria Luisa have always remained as her role models and
mentors. “In life,” she says, “we need heroes to look up to.”
Born in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Fermer obtained her early schooling at Education and Training
Centre School where she was a consistent Valedictorian of her classes. She later transferred and completed
her elementary education at Naic Elementary School, in Naic, Cavite.
Having been a product of a stringent Science curriculum, Fermer acknowledges the roots of her love for
learning and strong foundation in education with its humble beginnings in Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High
School, in Quezon City and was one of the gifted students in a special Science class. The program offered
was highly successful that eventually Quezon City Science High School was formed and Fermer belonged to
the second graduating class. In 1969, she left the Philippines for Canada to pursue her dreams and join her
eldest sister. One strong personal conviction she made was to only return to the Philippines with a university
education, and nothing less.
At sixteen, she supported and put herself through school. In Toronto, she continued at Harbord Collegiate
Completing her Grade 13 and later on attended various universities, namely Guelph, Toronto, Western, and
finally obtained a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Waterloo. She also completed
her Teacher’s Training at the former Toronto Teacher’s College.
She began her teaching career at the age of twenty. Her experiences include teaching children of varied
needs, age groups and levels. She taught from Kindergarten to Grade 13. Her experiences include teaching
various subject areas with several boards of education such as Huron County, Waterloo Board, Toronto,
Vancouver, and Saudi Arabian International School (Riyadh). She was also a Guidance counsellor for the past
18 years and the first Filipina to hold a position of responsibility in her field. In 1994, she was elected
president of the TORONTO SCHOOL COUNSELLORS’ ASSOCIATION of the former Toronto Board of
Education. This year she has recently been promoted as Vice-Principal at ELIA MIDDLE SCHOOL, Toronto
District School Board, Ontario, Canada and is one of our promising frontline leaders in education.
Fermer is a specialist in Music and Guidance. She has also completed her Principals’ Qualifications
Program Development and Implementation, and Program Supervision and Assessment. She is currently
completing her Masters of Education Degree in Theory and Policy Studies in Education at Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education/University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Having been the first Filipino Guidance counsellor in Toronto, she acted as a college and university
admissions liaison advisor for the Toronto District School Board. Receptive to the growing needs of our
Filipino youths and their families, she is the founder and remained as the advisor of the FILIPINO
STUDENTS-PARENTS, TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) as well as the Filipino
Canadian Youth Club. She also serves as a counsellor/facilitator for AWARE FILIPINO COMMUNITY
SERVICES and initiated the FILIPINO COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM (St. Jamestown). As an advocate
for our Filipino youngsters in the educational system, she is often confronted with issues dealing with safety
and violence, cultural assimilation and adjustment, educational assessment and family counselling.
She was one of the selected facilitators for ASIA CONNECTS (APEC for the Youth), Canada’s Year of Asia
Pacific national youth conference held in Winnepeg in October 1998. To Fermer, this was a highly intensive
and challenging multi-media conference that allowed youths the opportunity to share their global concerns
and look at the implications of APEC on our economy, education, and social structures to name a few, and
understand the role of our governments on these issues.
Fermer’s expertise in education is often sought. She is an educational consultant to CANADA WORLDWIDE
STUDENT SERVICES, a company that facilitates new immigrants from around the world in coming to Canada.
In Ontario, she was involved in the Centennial Celebration as a Public Relations coordinator and co-emcee of
PISTA NA BAYAN, a June 12 Philippine Independence Day festivity. This event gathered around 40,000 people
this year at Nathan Philips Square, Toronto. She also serves as an advisor of KABABAIHANG RIZALISTA,
Toronto Chapter. A former co-emcee of FLIPSIDE, a Filipino radio program, Fermer has assisted in producing
documentary films on Filipino youths in Canada.
In 1977, Fermer was the first MUTYA NG PILIPINAS, a beauty pageant sponsored by Barangay Pilipino
Canada and was the 1978 Ambassadress of Goodwill to the Philippines. Fermer has received numerous
awards and recognition for community service and academic achievements. This year, she was given the
award as one of the 1998 MOST OUTSTANDING FILIPINOS in Canada, and annual search sponsored by the
Binibining Pilipinas (Canada) Management.
“I feel humble in being an awardee as one of the TWENTY MOST OUTSTANDING FILIPINOS of NORTH
AMERICA. I share this award with all my students, colleagues, friends, loved ones, especially my family
members who remain my perpetual guiding light, source of strength and inspiration. #
Centre School where she was a consistent Valedictorian of her classes. She later transferred and completed
her elementary education at Naic Elementary School, in Naic, Cavite.
Having been a product of a stringent Science curriculum, Fermer acknowledges the roots of her love for
learning and strong foundation in education with its humble beginnings in Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High
School, in Quezon City and was one of the gifted students in a special Science class. The program offered
was highly successful that eventually Quezon City Science High School was formed and Fermer belonged to
the second graduating class. In 1969, she left the Philippines for Canada to pursue her dreams and join her
eldest sister. One strong personal conviction she made was to only return to the Philippines with a university
education, and nothing less.
At sixteen, she supported and put herself through school. In Toronto, she continued at Harbord Collegiate
Completing her Grade 13 and later on attended various universities, namely Guelph, Toronto, Western, and
finally obtained a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Waterloo. She also completed
her Teacher’s Training at the former Toronto Teacher’s College.
She began her teaching career at the age of twenty. Her experiences include teaching children of varied
needs, age groups and levels. She taught from Kindergarten to Grade 13. Her experiences include teaching
various subject areas with several boards of education such as Huron County, Waterloo Board, Toronto,
Vancouver, and Saudi Arabian International School (Riyadh). She was also a Guidance counsellor for the past
18 years and the first Filipina to hold a position of responsibility in her field. In 1994, she was elected
president of the TORONTO SCHOOL COUNSELLORS’ ASSOCIATION of the former Toronto Board of
Education. This year she has recently been promoted as Vice-Principal at ELIA MIDDLE SCHOOL, Toronto
District School Board, Ontario, Canada and is one of our promising frontline leaders in education.
Fermer is a specialist in Music and Guidance. She has also completed her Principals’ Qualifications
Program Development and Implementation, and Program Supervision and Assessment. She is currently
completing her Masters of Education Degree in Theory and Policy Studies in Education at Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education/University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Having been the first Filipino Guidance counsellor in Toronto, she acted as a college and university
admissions liaison advisor for the Toronto District School Board. Receptive to the growing needs of our
Filipino youths and their families, she is the founder and remained as the advisor of the FILIPINO
STUDENTS-PARENTS, TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) as well as the Filipino
Canadian Youth Club. She also serves as a counsellor/facilitator for AWARE FILIPINO COMMUNITY
SERVICES and initiated the FILIPINO COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM (St. Jamestown). As an advocate
for our Filipino youngsters in the educational system, she is often confronted with issues dealing with safety
and violence, cultural assimilation and adjustment, educational assessment and family counselling.
She was one of the selected facilitators for ASIA CONNECTS (APEC for the Youth), Canada’s Year of Asia
Pacific national youth conference held in Winnepeg in October 1998. To Fermer, this was a highly intensive
and challenging multi-media conference that allowed youths the opportunity to share their global concerns
and look at the implications of APEC on our economy, education, and social structures to name a few, and
understand the role of our governments on these issues.
Fermer’s expertise in education is often sought. She is an educational consultant to CANADA WORLDWIDE
STUDENT SERVICES, a company that facilitates new immigrants from around the world in coming to Canada.
In Ontario, she was involved in the Centennial Celebration as a Public Relations coordinator and co-emcee of
PISTA NA BAYAN, a June 12 Philippine Independence Day festivity. This event gathered around 40,000 people
this year at Nathan Philips Square, Toronto. She also serves as an advisor of KABABAIHANG RIZALISTA,
Toronto Chapter. A former co-emcee of FLIPSIDE, a Filipino radio program, Fermer has assisted in producing
documentary films on Filipino youths in Canada.
In 1977, Fermer was the first MUTYA NG PILIPINAS, a beauty pageant sponsored by Barangay Pilipino
Canada and was the 1978 Ambassadress of Goodwill to the Philippines. Fermer has received numerous
awards and recognition for community service and academic achievements. This year, she was given the
award as one of the 1998 MOST OUTSTANDING FILIPINOS in Canada, and annual search sponsored by the
Binibining Pilipinas (Canada) Management.
“I feel humble in being an awardee as one of the TWENTY MOST OUTSTANDING FILIPINOS of NORTH
AMERICA. I share this award with all my students, colleagues, friends, loved ones, especially my family
members who remain my perpetual guiding light, source of strength and inspiration. #
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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