Teacher, Kabayanan Elementary School
October 5 is World Teachers’ Day and while most of my students would be busy writing their thank you notes to their teachers, I’d like to reflect on the impact of my mentors on the person that I am today. Allow me to honor them with my stories of how much their influence has stayed with me now that I have students of my own.
I want to say thank you to Ms. Ellen Merlin Tolang of Dominican College in San Juan who helped me believe in myself during my formative years in elementary school. I’ll never forget your efforts to meet up with me at recess time just so I could catch up with the lessons in Ingklitik and do well in the final test. That was crucial because I was a newbie on the honors list and I felt out of place for having been chosen to take the advance exams. You assured me of my worth as a student deserving of a chance to shine along with the others. That memory taught me to spot unpolished gems among my students now. You pushed me outside of my comfort zone to learn new things and conquer my fears.
Onward to college where I met Sir Antonio Tinio. I might never have enrolled in any of your classes at UP but I thank God for the opportunity to sit-in on a number of your round-table discussions on Philippine society and the burning issues of the time. Your intelligent insights and sharp analyses compelled me to check my aspiration in life, having ben given the privilege of being an “Iskolar ng Bayan”. You helped me understand the essence of serving the people and realigning our interests to forge solidarity with the masses in order to advance our causes. While your class is now held at the House of Congress, I remain steadfast in my commitment to the public school just as you envision educators should be. I hope I am making you proud of my contribution to our struggle, sir.
For Ma’am Merry Ruth Gutierrez, I would have to give credit to you for making my post-graduate studies at PNU a worthwhile experience. You weren’t just an expert who constantly wowed us with your wit, charm, and extensive knowledge but, more importantly, you were a friend who listened to us in times of need. You treated us with respect and dignity, as if our lives matter to the upliftment of the quality of education in the Philippines. You gave me a sense of purpose and the affirmation I needed to carry on despite the many limitations of our sector. You even shared with me the tools of the trade when I embarked on a new chapter as a rookie instructor at another state university. Thank you so much for helping me refine my skills as a teacher and for keeping in touch long after I have earned my Master’s degree. You have my admiration, ma’am.
The last three persons I’d like to pay tribute to are the ones I have worked with who taught me valuable lessons in life. To my dearly departed principal, Ms. Jeanette S. Gao, thank you for the trust and confidence you’ve given me. I was aware that you had doubts prior to my assumption as teacher I but slowly I earned your approval. Your brand of leadership worked well with me and somehow got stuck in my brain so, hopefully, I’ll be able to relive your legacy with the way I handle pressures from work.
To Ms. Marites P. Cedenio, your humility and passion for excellence continue to echo in my mind even if we are already miles apart. You showed me how it is still possible to uphold one’s integrity amidst the temptations of mediocrity and sinfulness. Your simplicity was what made you stand out among your contemporaries. Your work spoke volumes for your personality. Your loving relationship with the different people around us, which was truly remarkable, served as your protection from wickedness of all sorts. You helped me realize that our loyalty is to the students that we serve, so we cannot shortchange the future of our nation. Ma’am, please know that you have my earnest prayers for your continued success at your new post.
And, lastly, to Ms. Imelda Caravaca Ferrer, my heart is filled with so much gratitude for your gift of friendship. I am able to see the world now through a lens of faith. Your candid spirit and knack for creative stuff inject so much fun and vigor in my life, so much so that even if you stretch out my resources and mental faculties, I still see myself inching my way up to meet your expectations. Thank you so much for setting me on fire whenever we have projects and for cheering me on when things go against the tide. I take pride in growing under your leadership and guidance for you allow me to discover my core gifts and use them to bless the world.
My list of thank-you's to mentors will seem endless for my life is a work in progress. Every day I continue to learn from people I choose to hang out with and it is my fervent wish that with all the blessings that I receive, a day will come that I’ll be able to pay it forward. Happy teachers’ day to all my mentors!
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