Fine Arts Teacher, IT Support
As soon as you walk into nearly any building on the San Miguel High School campus - and when you walk around outside - Brother Martin’s artistic influence can be seen. Not only teaching photography to Freshmen and Seniors, Brother Martin has acted as the school’s unofficial photographer and also helps with the Yearbook. His love of photography, teaching, and the community at San Miguel propels him into each event with his Canon / Sony / Nikon / Pentax / Olympic / YouNameIt camera!
Brother Martin’s influence in art and photography goes back to his early days of studying, and has been involved in shaping young people’s lives throughout his education and career.
HOME TOWNS
Hailing from Saigon City, Vietnam, Brother moved to the United States with his parents, sponsored by his older sisters and brothers, and settled in Westminster City (Orange County, LA).
EARLY CAREER
Brother Martin moved between California and Vietnam several times during his early career and continued education.
After living in California, Brother went back to Saigon where he joined the Brothers as a Postulant. After graduating from BINH THANH Educational Institute (Saigon, Vietnam) with a focus on electro-mechanics, the Brothers sent Brother Martin back to the United States to continue his Vocation and Education.
COLLEGES
Back in California, Brother Martin went to work at St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, went to Mont La Salle as a Novice, and then returned to St. Mary’s College High School to continue studying the English language, Art and Design. In San Jose while he lived with Brothers, he studied K-5 Education and did after school care and helped students with homework.
Heading back to Berkeley, Brother Martin continued studying while living at the De La Salle house, volunteering to help students with homework and working with Boys and Girls Scout Troops. He then transferred to Oakland to study Optical Arts and Crafts where his astute Advisor encouraged him to go for a different Major – thus continuing his studies and getting his Associate in Applied Science degree in Computer Information Technology at Heald College in Concord, CA.
The Brothers moved Brother Martin to Portland, Oregon where he taught Fine Art and Digital Photography and acted as the IT Technician at De La Salle North Catholic High School while waiting for the Brothers house to be built in Tucson, where he would next be placed. While there, Brother Martin got his Bachelor of Science degree in Data Communication System Technologies at the ITT Technical Institute in Portland, Oregon.
Seven years later, in 2012, Brother Martin moved to Tucson where he has been working and teaching at San Miguel High School since.
HOBBIES
Growing up, Brother Martin was often the “chef” at home. As the second youngest, he would often cook for his older brothers and sisters. As a result, cooking is one of his favorite activities. Each time he lived in a different community he learned about different cuisines and how to cook them: Italian, Irish, Filipino, and more.
Brother also became an avid bicyclist while living in Portland, and today he keeps himself busy with hiking (to take pictures of course :)), playing the drums or harmonica, swimming two hours a day, or battling it out in the ping-pong, badminton, or soccer games.