| Albert F. Celoza Phoenix, Arizona An outstanding professor who promotes academic excellence! |
Albert F. Celoza was born in the university district of
Manila, but grew up in the town center in Laguna Lake.
Across the house where they live is the church and the
town hall along side of it. A block down to the right of their
house is the market where he follows his mother on her
way to buy food for the day. Reenacted in front of their
house is the Catholic pageantry Christmas, the
processions of Holy Week and Easter, festivals for the
Virgin Mary, and the most famous May Santacruzan. He
always had front seats to fiestas and funerals. He would
climb up the window sill to watch the parade bands as
they furiously conduct their music making.
At the early age of four, he entered school but was
considered young but was allowed to join the class as
“saling bata”. He attends school for half a day and spent
the rest of the day playing and reading. The book “Nang
Bata pa si Jose Rizal” captured his imagination. From
that time on, Jose Rizal became his superhero.
When his adopted grandmother died, the Celoza family
moved to Manila during the middle of the school year.
Manila, but grew up in the town center in Laguna Lake.
Across the house where they live is the church and the
town hall along side of it. A block down to the right of their
house is the market where he follows his mother on her
way to buy food for the day. Reenacted in front of their
house is the Catholic pageantry Christmas, the
processions of Holy Week and Easter, festivals for the
Virgin Mary, and the most famous May Santacruzan. He
always had front seats to fiestas and funerals. He would
climb up the window sill to watch the parade bands as
they furiously conduct their music making.
At the early age of four, he entered school but was
considered young but was allowed to join the class as
“saling bata”. He attends school for half a day and spent
the rest of the day playing and reading. The book “Nang
Bata pa si Jose Rizal” captured his imagination. From
that time on, Jose Rizal became his superhero.
When his adopted grandmother died, the Celoza family
moved to Manila during the middle of the school year.
|
He was fortunate to have an available seat with very challenging students. His teacher assigned him
to teach a group in their class. Little did he know that it would be the start of my teaching career. It
was during his second grade was he able to affirm his real calling for teaching. With support from his
parents, teachers, and talented classmates, Albert Celoza was able to further pursue his studies. He
took piano and clarinet lessons and made music with the school’s marching band. He became the
editor of the school’s newsletter in Pilipino for three years.
His journalism teacher was his mentor in his pursuit of reaching his goals and higher learning. He
was able to travel parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to attend conferences and competitions
in journalism. His leadership in student government and community efforts was cut short by the
imposition of Martial Law by the late President, Ferdinand Marcos.
It was in the University of the Philippines where Albert Celoza found the best place to grow and
flourish his education, since students were not easily muzzled by the regime. In three years, he
majored in History and graduated with honors while playing first clarinet for the Philippine Youth
Orchestra, and acting with a theater group. His teachers exhibited a great respect with him for
analysis and inquiry. At the age of eighteen, he began to teach history at the University of the
Philippines. He found it exciting to engage students and incite their curiosity especially in the
university that is ingrained in its’ students knowledge in the service of country, not just for pure
personal gain. He served the best of the Filipino minds in UP. While teaching, he was able to meld
theory and the study of development as a student and later as a professor in public administration.
Albert Celoza received a Fullbright scholarship to do advance studies at Claremont Graduate School
in California. Because of Claremont's international character, he became inclined to study political
science and international relations became his newly found field of interest. His studies took him to
the United Nations in New York where everyday brought opportunities for global interaction. Since
finishing a Ph.D., he taught at Thunderbird - the American Graduate School of International
Management; Arizona State University and at Phoenix College. For almost twenty years, the Phoenix
College Model United Nations students has learned skills in negotiations, public speaking,
diplomacy, and peace making. They learned about global problems and prospective solutions from
the point of view of many countries and cultures. From 1989 to the present, the team has been
awarded for its excellent participation in various UN simulations. For four consecutive years, it has
been voted as overall best delegation in the American Model UN Conference in Chicago by two
thousand conference participants. In recognition of the accomplishments he received, the Carnegie
Foundation awarded Albert Celoza as the Arizona Professor of the Year in 2001. Phoenix College
also awarded him with the Distinguished Teaching Award while the graduating class at the
Thunderbird graduating class voted him as the Outstanding Professor in International Studies.
He was also featured in interviews with CNN, History International Channel, and by local television,
radio and newspapers.
“Looking back, I am awed that in my small way I was able to transform the direction and shared the
lives of those who enrolled in my classes measured not just by recognition but by the
acknowledgment of those whose lives I have touched.”
Albert F. Celoza has dedicated himself to life long learning. He studied Buddhism during his stays in
Buddhist monasteries in France and upstate New York; the scriptures and religious studies at the
Jesuit University of San Francisco. In Egypt, Jordan and Israel, he learned about biblical archaeology.
In Italy, Spain, and France, he traced the steps of pilgrims who for hundreds of years been in search
for holiness. His visits to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia brought him
profound understanding of Asia. The Philippines, has however always been a focus of his
scholarship and personal interest. He was able to interview heroes of the People Power Revolution,
the bank vice-president who was the star witness in the case against President Joseph Estrada, and
other participants in Philippine politics. Writing about Philippine politics has brought him back from
where I began. Though he has become a globally educated individual, he remains a Filipino who is
inspired by the life and teachings of Jose Rizal. Though based in the United States and at home in the
world, the Filipino spirit lives in him.
to teach a group in their class. Little did he know that it would be the start of my teaching career. It
was during his second grade was he able to affirm his real calling for teaching. With support from his
parents, teachers, and talented classmates, Albert Celoza was able to further pursue his studies. He
took piano and clarinet lessons and made music with the school’s marching band. He became the
editor of the school’s newsletter in Pilipino for three years.
His journalism teacher was his mentor in his pursuit of reaching his goals and higher learning. He
was able to travel parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to attend conferences and competitions
in journalism. His leadership in student government and community efforts was cut short by the
imposition of Martial Law by the late President, Ferdinand Marcos.
It was in the University of the Philippines where Albert Celoza found the best place to grow and
flourish his education, since students were not easily muzzled by the regime. In three years, he
majored in History and graduated with honors while playing first clarinet for the Philippine Youth
Orchestra, and acting with a theater group. His teachers exhibited a great respect with him for
analysis and inquiry. At the age of eighteen, he began to teach history at the University of the
Philippines. He found it exciting to engage students and incite their curiosity especially in the
university that is ingrained in its’ students knowledge in the service of country, not just for pure
personal gain. He served the best of the Filipino minds in UP. While teaching, he was able to meld
theory and the study of development as a student and later as a professor in public administration.
Albert Celoza received a Fullbright scholarship to do advance studies at Claremont Graduate School
in California. Because of Claremont's international character, he became inclined to study political
science and international relations became his newly found field of interest. His studies took him to
the United Nations in New York where everyday brought opportunities for global interaction. Since
finishing a Ph.D., he taught at Thunderbird - the American Graduate School of International
Management; Arizona State University and at Phoenix College. For almost twenty years, the Phoenix
College Model United Nations students has learned skills in negotiations, public speaking,
diplomacy, and peace making. They learned about global problems and prospective solutions from
the point of view of many countries and cultures. From 1989 to the present, the team has been
awarded for its excellent participation in various UN simulations. For four consecutive years, it has
been voted as overall best delegation in the American Model UN Conference in Chicago by two
thousand conference participants. In recognition of the accomplishments he received, the Carnegie
Foundation awarded Albert Celoza as the Arizona Professor of the Year in 2001. Phoenix College
also awarded him with the Distinguished Teaching Award while the graduating class at the
Thunderbird graduating class voted him as the Outstanding Professor in International Studies.
He was also featured in interviews with CNN, History International Channel, and by local television,
radio and newspapers.
“Looking back, I am awed that in my small way I was able to transform the direction and shared the
lives of those who enrolled in my classes measured not just by recognition but by the
acknowledgment of those whose lives I have touched.”
Albert F. Celoza has dedicated himself to life long learning. He studied Buddhism during his stays in
Buddhist monasteries in France and upstate New York; the scriptures and religious studies at the
Jesuit University of San Francisco. In Egypt, Jordan and Israel, he learned about biblical archaeology.
In Italy, Spain, and France, he traced the steps of pilgrims who for hundreds of years been in search
for holiness. His visits to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia brought him
profound understanding of Asia. The Philippines, has however always been a focus of his
scholarship and personal interest. He was able to interview heroes of the People Power Revolution,
the bank vice-president who was the star witness in the case against President Joseph Estrada, and
other participants in Philippine politics. Writing about Philippine politics has brought him back from
where I began. Though he has become a globally educated individual, he remains a Filipino who is
inspired by the life and teachings of Jose Rizal. Though based in the United States and at home in the
world, the Filipino spirit lives in him.
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