For UST Senior High School (SHS) teacher Chris King “Papa King” de la Cruz, teaching has always been more than a profession. For him, it is a lifelong act of service, faith, and presence.
At 44, De la Cruz wears many hats: father, church servant, choir member, basketball coach, and sports journalist. Yet in all these roles, one calling binds them together — the mission to nurture souls.
Known to his students as “Papa King,” De la Cruz embodies what he calls the “ministry of presence,” a teaching philosophy grounded in the University’s core values of compassion, competence, and commitment.
“The ministry of presence towards the students — handa kang makinig, handa kang magbigay ng panahon, handa kang magbigay ng pag-unawa in the real sense,” De la Cruz told the Varsitarian.
Teaching was not De la Cruz’s first plan. As a young man, he aspired to become a soldier and later entered the seminary twice before realizing that the priesthood was not his path.
He earned a degree in communication arts at UST Angelicum College, where he discovered a passion for theater and even worked part-time at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
His career direction shifted when he joined St. Jude Catholic School near Malacañang as registrar staff and later as assistant to the prefect of discipline, following the example of his mother, who taught at the same school for 20 years.
“I saw how my mother thought about her students even at home,” he said. “She showed me that teaching is a life of self-giving.”
Teacher, choir member
Encouraged by mentors, De la Cruz received a scholarship from Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD to study education at De La Salle University (DLSU), where he later completed a master’s degree in educational leadership and management.
After passing the licensure examination for teachers in 2010, he began teaching at Xavier School with the help of his former seminary batchmate, whom he credits for opening the door to his vocation.
Now in his sixth year at UST SHS, De la Cruz teaches Fundamentals of Faith. In 2020 he handled sports journalism at the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.
“[In teaching], you deal with souls. At kapag tao at kaluluwa ang ka-deal mo, kailangan meron kang extra mile. Minsan, may batang kailangan palang mas kausapin, mas kailangang intindihin.”
Beyond his teaching responsibilities, De La Cruz serves in the Church, a mission that began in 1992 when he became an altar server at the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Espiritu Santo in Tayuman, Manila.
His father served as a lay minister, his mother as a lector, and his aunt as a commentator — experiences he calls his “core faith moments.”
Today, he remains active in his home parish as a choir member and part of the ad hoc committee for its Jubilee celebration.
At UST, he sings with the Santisimo Rosario Parish Choir and also performs with The Queen Singers Manila at Mary the Queen Parish in San Juan and the EDSA Shrine.
For De la Cruz, carrying on his parents’ legacy of service strengthens his faith and anchors his mission as a teacher.
Coach and broadcaster
Faith also drives De la Cruz’s passion as a basketball coach and sports broadcaster.
Since 2012, he has coached teams ranging from private schools to government offices, including the Office of the Solicitor General, and most recently the UST SHS boys’ basketball team for the Thomasian Goodwill Games.
“Coaching complements my being a teacher,” he said. “Kasama ng elemento ‘yong pagiging coach at mentor,” he said.
He began coaching after attending clinics with veteran mentors Alex Compton and Rajko Toroman, eventually joining the Junior NBA Coaching Community, where he was named among the Top 10 Coaches of the Year in 2015.
His love for sports later brought him to the broadcast booth. Inspired by veteran commentators Sev Sarmenta, Quinito Henson, and Marv Albert, he began his commentating career in 2016 under the mentorship of Noel Zarate.
Since then, he has worked with UCBL, Pinoy Liga Cup, NAASCU, PressOne.PH, and Jesuit Communications’ JMM Radio, where he serves as a volunteer producer.
Among his most memorable experiences was covering the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry game in 2024 for the Pinoyliga Cup, a “surreal milestone” for him as a graduate of both schools.
Over his 14-year teaching career, De la Cruz has received several awards, including the Gawad Dunong for co-authoring five textbooks and the Gawad Likha in 2021 for his contributions to sports journalism and production.
Despite these accolades, he said nothing compares to the joy of seeing his former students succeed.
“Ang pinaka-fulfillment ng teacher [ay] kapag nakita mo ‘yong estudyante mo dati na umunlad, kapag nakita mo silang natupad nila ‘yong pangarap nila,” he said.
In the classroom, on the court, or behind the microphone, De la Cruz strives to embody the University’s motto, veritas in caritate, or “truth in charity.”
“Bago ko kasi sabihin sa kanilang mahalin nila ‘yong kapwa nila, dapat ako mismo bilang tatay nila sa klase, mahal ko rin sila. Veritas in caritate starts, first and foremost, with Thomasian education, living it out.”
