Mr. Angelino Simbulan has been teaching at Van Nuys High School for four years. Overall, he has been a teacher for eight years. He teaches English and Advanced Speech for the National Debate Speech Association.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

“The prize for winning the pie eating contest is more pie.” By doing more than other people, they’ll just give you more work and I’ve understood that. But, I’m still trying to figure out how to maintain a work-life balance. Since I do the most, I get more by doing the most. But I know by eating that pie my students will also ‘eat’ 

What is your most unforgettable life experience?

Our first competition at this school last year with the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA), our two students that competed won first place. I think that was really good because I was able to prove to myself that I’m able to do and teach speech while incorporating theater in there. 

What are three things you could not live without? Why?

The Uber app because I Uber everywhere, and my laptop or chromebook because I love planning. I like making sure that my students know what they are doing and if I don’t explain it to them I have a way to say, ‘why didn’t you read this or look at this?’ A third thing is my PlayStation 5 because I’ve been playing a lot of video games lately.

What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you?

I share a lot with the students. But, one thing they don’t know is that I actually believe in all my students even though I’m sarcastic about students failing.

If there was one skill you could instantly master, what would it be?

Driving, because I do not know how to drive. That’s why I Uber everywhere.

In fifty years, what is something you think you’ll be the most nostalgic for?

A world where AI never existed. Even though science and technology advancing is a good thing, I do see how socialization is changing because of easier access to technology and AI.