By Keziah G. Huelar

A woman unfazed by the trials of the life is rare – such a feat is immortalized by her steady inclination to the Author of all things, her devotion to a cause greater than herself and her commitment to the things that go beyond her lifetime.

Rev. Sharon Rose Ruiz-Duremdez has inspired hundreds of Centralians.  Her work and ministry has led others to pursue the calling of living and leading for Christ.  A well-loved professor of the Central Philippine Univeristy College of Theology and a passionate servant of the Lord, her life is a testimony that the goodness of the Lord bestows favor and grace to those who put Him first.

In 1968, Rev. Sharon graduated in CPU with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in English, Magna Cum Laude. Her stay in CPU has molded her to become a woman of faith – passionate for serving the Lord and fervent in helping others. “My parents were teachers, they emphasized the importance academics but they wanted their children to be nurtured with Christian values first and foremost.”

Rev. Sharon became the third Centralian who became a part of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. Her heart for servant leadership has made her a true ministry worker. “During the TOSP interview, I was asked on what is my role and contribution as a citizen in the development of the society – I am still very much answering that question today.”

According to Rev. Sharon, apart from being an institution devoted to producing exemplary Christian graduates CPU is also a venue for developing friendships that last. “CPU is a place where there is deep closeness among faculty and students forged by respect and common love for the university. Sentimentally, the Central spirit is very much alive. If you graduated from CPU and met someone who also graduated from CPU, although you were from a different batch, there would be an immediate sense of brotherhood or sisterhood – a common way of understanding and looking at life the Centralian way.”

After graduation, Rev. Sharon volunteered as an overseas missionary of the Convention of Baptist Churches. She went to Semerarang, Indonesia and worked with Indonesian students. There she developed a deep fulfillment for sharing the gospel which became her definition of success.

Rev. Sharon entered the portals of the CPU College of Theology in 1973 after studying in Berkeley Divinity School in California, USA. In the college she found joy teaching young people about the word of God and encouraging them live their lives for the glory of the Lord. “It is in the area of theology that we develop a deep understanding of the truths of life. You will understand that the ministry is meant to be for others – it is faith training.”

Several people inspired her to be the woman she is today. The most notable of which are her parents and professors in CPU; “My father was an educator. He encouraged me to develop my ability of expressing what I am thinking. On the other hand, my mother helped me in understanding other people and caring for them. My mother was a very passionate Christian, she told me that to have a deeper meaning of life one has to serve the Lord.”

Another person who helped her develop her potential is Dr. Elisa Griño, the Head of the English Department of the CPU College of Arts and Science. “I was impressed with the way Dr. Griño communicated with other people. She encouraged me to excel and to further develop my mastery of the English language.”

An advocacy close to her heart, Rev. Sharon shares that it is the upliftment of women in ministry, work and society that moves her to action. According to her it is vital that women learn about themselves and identify themselves as someone who has a significant contribution to society. “Women need to discover their God given gifts and talents. My work with women has brought me to communities. There I saw the necessity for me to divest my attention to the plight of women. There is a lot to be done.”

Seeing the victims of an unlivable society, Rev. Sharon forged a revolution against inequality. “Every person is worthy of human dignity. Before I engaged in my advocacy I realized three things: first, I should have a very clear vision of the future and I should draw people to that particular vision. Second, I should be making life livable for others through my talents, abilities and skills. And last, for my advocacy to be successful, I should empower others to join me.”

Rev. Sharon shares that it is not easy to engage in advocacy work, she has encountered a lot of challenges along the way but it is her fervent obedience to her the calling God gave her that made her persevere. “When you engage in an advocacy like this you won’t have many friends. You have to speak the truth, when you do this people who are in power will be threatened because they want to stay in position – many people will not like you. You will have to go on survival mode.”

In her fight for others, she encountered persecution but remained consistent with her purpose. “I was persecuted and put in jail. But when people saw the consistency in my words and actions, the goodness of the Lord was manifested, others began seeing my side of the story – the grace of the Lord sustained me. Just like what Matthew 5:10-12 says: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you,persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me .Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Rev. Sharon’s greatest joy is seeing younger people respond to God’s calling in their lives. As a theologian educator it is the passion of her students in learning and pursuing the word of God that gives her fulfillment. “Seeing younger people say to me: You make a lot of sense, always brings joy to my heart.”