Power is for Everybody: Liza Erpelo, interviewed by Bea Zamora

INTRODUCTION

Ms. Liza Marie Erpelo is an English professor and the coordinator of the Kababayan Learning Community (KLC) at Skyline College. In this interview, she talks about how she headed her way in becoming an English professor.  She also recalls how KLC started in 2003 and her experiences which motivate her in empowering her students.  As an instructor for 16 years, she shares her thoughts on how she wants to be remembered and what simply makes her feel proud.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Family background

2. Growing up in a Filipino family

3. Becoming a professor

4. Negative experience in the past and its influence now 

5. The start of the Kababayan Learning Community

6. Defining women empowerment

7. Empowering women as a coordinator

8. Greatest challenge women face today

9. Source of fulfillment 

10. How to she wants to be remembered  

SEGMENT 1: Family Background

Ms. Liza talks about her family and the places they have lived in since her father is in the military. She also shares when and how she moved in San Francisco.

Segment 2: Growing up in a Filipino family

Ms. Liza shares about her life growing up in a Filipino family especially since she is the oldest child. She, together with her two younger sisters, grew up around the Filipino community.

Segment 3: Becoming a professor

She talks about the people she met and the experience she had which influenced here to become an English professor.

Segment 4: Negative experience in the past and its influence now 

Ms. Liza speaks about how being rejected by other Filipinos influenced her in what she wanted for the Kababayan Learning Community and the Filipino Student Union

Segment 5: The start of the Kababayan Learning Community

Ms. Liza shares about the people she met who brought her to Skyline College and the history of the Kababayan Learning Community 

Segment 6: Defining women empowerment

Ms. Liza personally defines power and women empowerment

Segment 7:  Empowering women as a coordinator

 Ms. Liza talks about how she empowers women through her work as a coordinator and being an instructor. 

  

Segment 8:  Greatest challenge women face today

Ms. Liza shares what she thinks is the greatest challenge that she and the women face today and what we must do.

Segment 9: Source of fulfillment

Ms. Liza shares her experience with students that makes her feel proud as a professor. 

Segment 10: How to she wants to be remembered

Ms. Liza shares the reason behind why she wanted to become a teacher and how she wants to be remembered as one. 

CONCLUSION

With this inspiring figure who puts her students first and shows her love for the Filipino-American community, it is an honor for me to have conducted this interview and to share her story to everyone. May we all be inspired with her story to empower the people around us in any way we can.