As a young boy in Surigao del Sur, Zaldy Alima had one dream.
He wanted to be a doctor.
Not because of prestige.
Not because of money.
But because he wanted to wear the white coat.
That symbol meant something to him.
But life has a way of redirecting dreams.
And for Zaldy, it happened inside a high school Chemistry classroom.
The Experiment That Changed Everything
His Chemistry teacher wasn’t ordinary.
She was a biochemist. An engineer.
She didn’t just teach from a book — she brought students into the lab. Into experiments. Into discovery.
And young Zaldy was captivated.
The bubbling chemicals.
The careful measurements.
The thrill of asking “What happens if…?”
That teacher didn’t just teach Science.
She awakened something.
Curiosity.
And in that moment, Zaldy’s dream changed.
He no longer wanted to wear a white coat as a doctor.
He wanted to inspire others the way he had been inspired.
He wanted to become a Science teacher.
Twenty Years of Igniting Minds
Today, Zaldy Alima has been teaching Science for 20 years.
“I love Science,” he says simply. “And I want to share it with my students. I want to inspire the next generation.”
His journey didn’t stop at a bachelor’s degree in Crop Science from Surigao del Sur State University.
He pursued a master’s degree in Science Education at Ateneo de Manila University.
Now, he is completing his doctorate in Science Education.
Because for him, learning never ends.
He always knew he wanted to become an expert in his field.
Not for titles.
But to make a deeper impact.
A Filipino Teacher in America
In 2021, Zaldy moved to the United States under the J1 Teacher Cultural Exchange Program.
He didn’t just bring lesson plans.
He brought culture.
Inside his Science classroom, students learned Biology — but they also learned about Philippine history, geography, and traditions.
Now based in California, he teaches Biology, AP Biology, and Earth Science at South San Francisco High School.
“I believe teachers have the power to create ripples of change,” he says. “And influence so many students.”
When Motivation Was Low, He Changed the System
When he first arrived, he noticed something troubling.
Many students lacked motivation.
So he didn’t complain.
He innovated.
Inspired by Google’s 80-20 rule, he introduced the “Genius Hour Passion Project.”
Mondays to Thursdays were for structured curriculum.
But Fridays?
Fridays were for curiosity.
Students investigated environmental issues they cared about.
They designed experiments.
Collected data.
Analyzed results.
Then they presented their work in Science exhibitions.
They weren’t just memorizing facts.
They were becoming scientists.
Science Meets Superheroes
Zaldy believes Science should never feel intimidating.
It should feel alive.
So he introduced BioArt.
Students explored genetics and mutations through creative models, multimedia projects — and even cosplay.
Yes, cosplay.
They dressed as Marvel and DC superheroes while learning how mutations, often feared, can actually drive innovation in medicine and agriculture.
“Science doesn’t have to be intimidating,” he says. “It should feel human, creative, and meaningful.”
Beyond the Classroom Walls
His influence doesn’t end with lectures.
He launched student-led Biology conferences.
Students curated portfolios — digital and physical — documenting their learning journey.
Then they presented them to parents and teachers.
They owned their progress.
And it showed.
Today, many of his former students are doctors, nurses, engineers, pilots, accountants, educators.
They still message him.
They still update him.
And he beams with pride.
A Personal Fight Against Cancer
In 2013, Zaldy lost his father to lung cancer.
The loss changed him.
It pushed him deeper into research.
He trained in a mammalian cell laboratory at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
He studied cellular processes. Mushroom cultivation. The genotoxicity of oyster mushroom extracts.
“I wanted to understand how cancer cells form, grow, and spread,” he says.
He attended workshops. Trainings. Research programs.
Grief turned into purpose.
Mentoring Future Innovators
Today, he mentors students in advanced research projects.
One robotics team he guided developed a project on DNA-assisted drug delivery for brain cancer — presented at a UC Berkeley competition.
His students aren’t just learning Science.
They’re shaping its future.
Building a Legacy That Lasts
Zaldy now serves as editor of GURO Chronicles, a global newsletter spotlighting Filipino educators and innovative teaching practices.
And he’s writing a book: Teaching Science Without Borders.
It focuses on practical, accessible strategies for teaching Science — even with limited resources.
He says the idea was inspired by advice from his Ateneo professor about leaving three legacies in life:
Have children — because they carry your genes.
Plant trees — because they sustain the planet.
Write a book — because books preserve knowledge forever.
Zaldy may not wear a doctor’s white coat.
But he wears something just as powerful.
The quiet authority of a teacher who changes lives.
From Surigao to California.
From a curious student to a global educator.
His story proves one thing:
Sometimes, the greatest impact doesn’t come from healing patients.
It comes from igniting minds.
