Meet the Author: Dr. Yangky Embodies Lifelong Learning from Womb to Tomb
By: Mheryll Giffen Alforte
Published July 2, 2024 5:00 PM
From the moment they enter the world amidst the blinding lights and the distinct faces of cooing parents, children begin to make out the shapes and sensations around them. This marks the beginning of a journey of discovery and growth—a lifelong process from womb to tomb.
Children’s natural curiosity and desire to learn should be nurtured throughout their lives. Formal education builds upon this foundation as they grow, providing them with knowledge and experiences to equip them for their journey.
However, lifelong learning transcends beyond the corners of classrooms and textbook pages. It involves a person’s ongoing pursuit of knowledge, self-improvement, and ability to adapt to evolving circumstances and ideas.
One such learner and educator, Dr. Estrella R. Agustin, affectionately known as “Dr. Yangky,” is the epitome of embodying the principles of the transformative power of lifelong learning.
“My teaching–learning experience is life span – from womb to tomb,” Dr. Yangky said in an interview with The Inteligente Publishing, Inc. (TIPI).
At 70 years of age, Dr. Yangky’s insatiable curiosity has led her to excel in not just one but various exceptional professions throughout her life – Teacher, Musician, Music Therapist, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Life Coach, and Author.
Professional and academic achievements
Starting her career in music, Dr. Yangky was heavily influenced by her parents.
“In music, my parents were my inspiration. On my father’s deathbed, he told me to take up music, learn to play the piano, and serve the Lord. On the other hand, my mother wanted me to specialize in music therapy,” Dr. Yangky said.
Yet, at the core of her being, Dr. Yangky’s passion and thirst for knowledge propelled her into another path where she envisioned herself as a Journalist/Writer and Psychologist.
And that she did.
Dr. Yangky’s exceptional academic and professional achievements are a testament to her belief in the transformative power of education. Her drive towards the continuous learning process is not just a personal journey but a source of inspiration and encouragement for others.
An accumulation of her various passions, interests, and influences in life, Dr. Yangky pursued and finished her education with a Bachelor of Music, Master of Family Life and Child Development, Master of Arts in Music, Majoring in Music Therapy, and PhD in Education, Majoring in Educational Psychology.
For many years, she has trained early childhood teachers, child development workers, special education, receiving teachers who handle children with exceptionalities (those diagnosed with giftedness and neurodevelopmental disorders), parents, and other paraprofessionals.
A perpetual learner, Dr. Yangky also has certifications in Liturgy and Music at the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music in Quezon City, Dementia Care, Neurologic Music Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Neurolinguistic Programming.
On being an author and writer
Dr. Yangky’s deep-seated passion for education and learning naturally extended to her writing books for children. As an author, she leverages her teaching experiences as a music teacher, preschool teacher, and developmental and music therapist to structure her books according to the needs of her target learners.
She has encountered all types of learners – from individuals with age-related issues to those with neurodevelopmental disorders and are developmentally delayed.
According to Dr. Yangky, education should be a specialized experience that recognizes and celebrates every individual’s unique characteristics and needs because each child is special and different.
“They need to learn the same concepts and develop skills, but teaching should be tailored-fit, and the curriculum’s content must be age/condition-appropriate, socially relevant, and aesthetically motivating,” Dr. Yangky said.
One of her initiatives as an educator geared towards the development of children is writing the workbooks “Getting Ready to Write” and “Ready to Write,” published under TIPI.
These writing textbooks adopt a step-by-step approach to developing the children’s love for writing. This approach encourages the children to move to the next level of learning without fear. The workbooks generally aim to develop the children’s fine motor skills, teach them to follow directions, and let them learn new words as a doorway to developing receptive and expressive language.
Therapy through books and music
Dr. Yangky believes that when trained in bibliotherapy, teachers can help children gain healing and therapeutic benefits from books. Bibliotherapy involves using literature as a tool for therapy to aid individuals in coping with emotional and psychological difficulties. It can be particularly beneficial for children with distinct learning characteristics, providing a secure and interactive method for addressing their needs.
“If teachers are trained how to handle unique learning characteristics. Bibliotherapy is also what is done with cancer patients and children who were/are victims of abuse,” Dr. Yangky said.
She added that, in addition to books, music can be a therapy or ‘treatment’ for those with psychobiological, neurological, and spiritual needs, as it is the neuropathway to learning.
Her passion and knowledge of Music Therapy are evident in her intrinsic musical inclination, which makes music a medium for teaching, enlightening, and empowering others.
“Music therapy is different from Music Education, (it is) different from music performance […] Music is an arousal for the whole body and mind to move. It activates thinking, feeling, and movement. It nourishes the soul, stabilizes feelings, and regulates movement. It is a word carrier so children can be helped with their memory, expressive and receptive language,” she said.
Currently, Dr. Yangky also lends her expertise to St. Peter Life Plan and Chapels by heading Music Therapy sessions and offering a safe space for self-expression and emotional release through healing melodies and therapeutic rhythms. Her work has significantly improved the well-being of the community members, demonstrating the transformative power of her lifelong learning journey.
Dr. Yangky concludes by highlighting the importance of remediating literacy of Filipino youth at home and in early childhood.
“Start in early childhood simultaneously with parenting roles. Undergrad Curriculum should have common subjects in parenting and family life like taxation,” she asserted.
Ultimately, being an educator committed to lifelong learning entails more than acquiring new knowledge. It is about encouraging a culture of curiosity, perseverance, and adaptability. For educators like Dr. Yangky, the journey is far from over. It is a continual evolution from womb to tomb—so long as there exists a child in the next generation who needs empowerment and guidance to successfully navigate a constantly changing world.
