Remembering Them

Though the colour of the leaf changed,
the shape was still intact. Heart forever!

During these few days when I was bored to death, I happened to stumble on a programme through YouTube which is called Undercover Boss. Watching each episode brought tears to my eyes because of the generosity of the employers toward the most loyal workers and hardworking ones.  I was wishing that my employer will also do the same, if not of any monetary help, but of a personal encouragement and gratitude for every great year of teaching.

Anyway, I am then writing a handful of great things that happened to me since I was much younger so as to celebrate the generosity and support of the many people around me, still present or long gone but always remembered.

The generosity of friends - When my mum passed away, my friends were there not only as a support but also to help carry the burden of the expenses.  Then, when my dad passed away two years after, the financial help I got from all of my friends was exceedingly generous.

The magnanimity of others - When I got hospitalized and then recuperated at home, there was a daily supply of food from breakfast to dinner for a week until I was able to go back to work.  The doorbell rang everyday and there was something hanging on the gate of the house.  There was also a mum who came in with a large pot of soup for me to eat. They were exceedingly helpful.

The compassion of people - And there were also emotional support from friends such as my conversation with an Italian friend inside her car; when I opened my soul to a Singaporean buddy; when I stayed over in the house of a Malaysian pal while I was in Kuala Lumpur; when I spoke about my school's dilemma with a French teacher; when I am constantly being guided by a high school buddy in Manila, and when I cried on the phone talking with my good friend in Australia.

The absence of individuals - I will never forget my best friend from the US whose death gave me sorrow.  She was the penultimate in giving support both emotionally and socially.  Also, I will never forget how my beloved friend invited me over for their church service and later becoming my closest. His presence at the wake of my dad was priceless.

I couldn't thank them enough because no words are best fitted for their help. However, I am still writing them here not only to remember them but also to celebrate their friendships and memories.

To Friendship

It is so great to make new friends. Who says you can't meet good ones from blogging?

Ang Pagbabalik

Yes, you are not lost! This is going to be the very first Filipino entry in this blog world of mine. I was asked to speak in Filipino in celebration of my high school's 96th year founding anniversary this morning so I am here to share the entire speech.

Ang Pagbabalik

Isang Pagpupugay sa Aking Pinanggalingan

Naaalala ko pa nuong nakababata pa ako nang sabihan ako ng aking ina.

“O hindi ka na muna mag aaral anak, wala kasi tayong pera.”

"Inay, bakit naman po?"

“Wala kasi tayong perang pantustos ng matrikula, pasensiya na anak.”

Subalit hindi ako nagmukmok, nasaktan oo, dahil hindi na nga ako mag-aaral sa susunod na taon pero hindi ako sumuko.

Lumapit ako sa aking lola at sa kanya humingi ng tulong.

Salamat naman at pinaunlakan ako ni lola, at sa tulong nila ni lolo, ako ay nakapag aral muli sa St. Stephen's.

Isang karanasang nais kong ibahagi sa lahat. Gusto ko kasing mag-aral, ayokong tumambay o lumaking mangmang. Gusto ko nang maraming bagay at alam kong sa edukasyon ko makukuha ang nais ko sa darating na panahon.

Gusto ko ng piano nung ako ay bata bata pa. Gusto kong magkaroon ng mamahaling damit o kaya sapatos. Hindi kami mayaman pero dahil binigyan ko ng importansya ang mga leksyon ni Bb. Liwanag, Gng. Era, Gng. Altavano at nang aking mga naging guro dito sa paaralang ito kung kaya't ako ay yumaman sa karunungan.

Madaming magandang alaala ang pagiging mag-aaral ko sa St. Stephen. Madami akong gusto sa pagtuntong ko dito. Malawak ang kapaligiran. Madami akong naging kaibigan. Madami akong naging inspirasyon. Mababait ang aking naging guro. Higit sa lahat, dito ko nalaman ang pagiging maka- Diyos.

Siyamnapu't anim na taon na ang nakararaan at hanggang ngayon ang St. Stephen ay naririto pa rin para magbigay gabay sa mga kabataan. Ako ay naging apo na ng paaralang ito. Kayo naman ay mga apo sa tuhod or marahil apo sa talampakan.

Bakit ba tayo naririto? Naririto tayo dahil nais kong malaman ninyo na ang paaralan ay ang inyong tahanan, parang bahay niyo na rin. Kaming mga guro ay ang inyong mga magulang. Ang mga kamag-aral ninyo ay mga kapatid o mga pinsan. Sama sama tayo. May kasayahan man o wala, tayo ay magkakasama. Kapag nagkaroon ng problema ang inyong kapatid, damayan mo. Kaya naman kailangan nating magtulungan.  Hindi tayo dapat maging makasarili.

Subalit ikaw, ikaw at tayong lahat ay may mga responsibilidad sa ating bahay. Kaming mga guro ay magiging mas makatarungan at pahahalagahan ang inyong kinabukasan. Kayo namang mga mag aaral, 

1. Bigyan ninyo ng kahalagahan ang inyong pag-aaral.
2. Magkaroon kayo ng kumpyansa bilang mag-aaral. 
3. Magkaroon kayo ng kumpyansa sa sarili.

Dahil sa oportunidad na ibinibigay sa inyo, kayo ay magiging aktibong kalahok sa sarili ninyong edukasyon. Yan ang aming maibabahagi sa inyo bilang mga guro,at bilang magulang ninyo sa bahay na ito.

Mayroong mga pangit sa ating tahanan. Ano ba ang mga bagay na hindi ninyo gusto sa isang paaralan?

Marahil, hindi ninyo gusto ang

1. tumayo tuwing umaga para sa pambansang awit at panatang makabayan
    “ mainit, ang tagal na nakatayo, dah,dah,dah,dah..."

2. uniporme
   “hindi ko gusto ang kulay, ang baduy, ang haba naman, ang init, ang kati sa katawan.”
3. mga araling bahay
   “ hindi ko maintindihan, hindi ako makapanood ng kartoon, nakakatamad”
4. mga mapang uyam na guro
   “ ayaw ko nang pumasok, lagi akong pinahihiya ni ser o ni maam”
   “ ano ka ba naman Juan, hindi mo alam ang Pythagorean Theorem?”
5. mga kaibigang naging kaaway
   “ayan na naman si Juan, magtatago muna ako sa banyo”

Huwag na nating tignan ang mga pangit na bagay, mas bigyang halaga natin ang mga magaganda tungkol sa paaralan. Ano ba ang mga ito? Maaaring ang...

1. mga kaibigan
   “ tara, sabay na tayong kumain sa kantina, pakopya naman ng homework”
2. mga mababait na guro
   “ love ko si maam, galing magturo; nakakatawa si sir, laging masaya sa klase”
3. mga magagawa sa palaruan
   “ luksong lubid tayo, kuwentuhan tayo mamaya”
4. mga perang pabaon ni ama o ina
   “ ma, paki-dagdagan naman, tumaas na po ang siopao sa Ha Yuan”
   “ ketchup na nga lang ulam ko sa araw araw para makabili ako ng iTouch”
5. makita mo si 'crush'
   “ ayan na siya, hello!, ganda ganda mo naman ngayon.”
   “ shy naman ako, ikaw na lang magbigay”
6. mga bagay na importanteng matutunan
   “ magaling ako sa Chemistry, siyensiya ang kukunin ko sa kolehiyo.”
   “ gustong gusto kong gumuhit, arkitektura ang aaralin ko.”
   “ magnenegosyo ako, magaling yata ako sa Math!”

Ang St. Stephen ay hindi isang gusali, ito ay isang pamayanan. Naglalayon ang paaralang ito na gamitin ang kanyang kakayahan upang mapabuti ang mga batang pumapasok sa kanyang tahanan. Isang bahay ng karunungan, ng kagalakan, ng pag-asa at ng pagtitiwala sa Diyos at mga taong nakapaligid sa inyong lahat.

Kaya mga kabataan, tandaan po lamang ang aking mga sasabihin:

Mahalin ninyo ang inyong mga magulang

Mag-aral kayong mabuti

Gawin ninyo ang inyong mga gawaing bahay

Maging matiyaga

Ipagmalaki ninyo ang inyong pinanggalingan

Mahalin ninyo ang inyong mga guro

At isiping ang paaralang St. Stephen ay nagpupugay sa inyong kakayahan bilang mabubuting mag- aaral.

Hindi ako umalis ng ating tahanan, dahil ako'y nagbalik upang magbigay karangalan at pananampalataya sa kanyang kakayahan.

Mabuhay ang St. Stephen's!

In Memoriam

Dearest Joan,

I am still in shock when I received the news of your sudden demise. You left the country to care for your sick sister knowing that you were leaving with a heavy heart. We cannot do anything but abide by your decision as we exchange farewells.

Upon hearing the news, I was immediately stricken with grief and anger. A part of me died when you passed away knowing that all the things we dreamed of will never materialize.

We worked in the same school and from then on, we crossed paths every now and then since the community was just small. You left the school and the old house you'd rented and I left the school and rented the same house. You told me you'll write a book about me as you were fascinated by my name and persona. You always remembered my birthdays and I will always get birthday cards from you and our former students and colleagues in school. You were my bowling partner, my Hard Rock Cafe buddy, and dancing partner through and through. We were like one happy family- Carol, you and me. It was always time well spent with best buddies.

I will forever remember you and your camaraderie. My present house is filled with paintings you got from your Bali teacher, a sculpted pot you made with your students of which I embellished with glitters, and tons of teaching resources I had been using for a long time now. I still have the plants from your former house and they are big and healthy. I have the cards from you and some photographs of our happy days both in school and outside. 

Wherever you are, may you find serenity with the Lord. You are the best and you will be dearly missed. I salute you my friend, it was an honour being part of your life. 

Karin

An irreplaceable teacher is about to leave the school and I say irreplaceable. Is there such a thing such as irreplaceable? Yes, in her case, she is.

We’ve known each other for so many years and I have seen her rise from being an assistant teacher to one of the most promising in the field. She learns fast and had been adaptable to many situations confronting her everyday. She is well-loved by her peers and by her students and parents while maintaining a humble and well-respected demeanour.

She had been my support buddy. Not that we agree on all things but we also have our bouts of arguments and misunderstandings. We still maintain our own identities as teachers but continues to support each other through thick and thin. Our ideas would always be about children, the passion and the caring attitude, and it is in this respect that I find her not only a good person but also a great colleague in school.

I will miss her morning greetings, her warm smiles and her genuine concern. I will miss her gifts of chocolates after every school break. I will miss her baked cookies from her cooking sessions. One good friend had left last year and so her leaving would be very difficult for me. Yet I will always remember that she had been a part of my growth as a teacher.

Karin will be missed in school yet her contributions to the so many lives of young children will become a legacy in itself. I wish her all the best and with this entry, I send her all my love.

Aunt Frances

I remember living on the top floor of the school where I used to work when I first started working in an international setting. The school was small, housed in a condominium with four floors. The preschool section can be found on the second while the tutorials were on the third. The top floor was my sleeping quarter.

On my third week of school, I received some visitors asking about my whereabouts since the news spread out that there was a new kid on the block. I met Aunt Frances, a very fine fellow indeed.

Aunt Frances is a nurse by profession and they came to the country as expatriates from the US. She graciously offered one vacant room in their house to be my place and I agreed. It was difficult at first since I am not used to living with people who are not my relatives, more so, people whom I just met. But they were very good hosts and through the passing days, I became close to all three of them in the family. I was treated well, and received with warmth and became a part of her family. I am even allowed to use the car during the weekends.

I became part of their lives for a year until they were moved to another country and I had to find a new place to be in. I was very sad to see them leave but as expat families do, they had to go wherever they were assigned. Aunt Frances took care of me from day one up to their last day in Thailand. I am honored to have met such a great family, and deeply appreciative that I meet people like Aunt Frances during the course of my life. I am sure she is blessed for being so kind and loving.

Rosemarie

With little expectations, I was told that there was a need of a substitute teacher in a small school far away from where I was currently residing. It was three long rides before reaching the place. In a small quaint house was a school for the locals primarily geared towards the younger age. It was a house filled with activities.

I was introduced to the owner of the school and with her stature as an educator of excellent background, I stood there like a little kid awed. She is Rosemarie, an American educator who worked with the Peace Corps and then started a life anew in Thailand. She started a small school that catered to the need of the people in that village and she became a household name for the years to come.

Her persona is magnified in hundred folds as she is brilliant, caring, and always believe in people. She is a real hero for most, surviving difficulties all throughout and bracing whatever comes her way. She stood up high and became a beacon of success.

I was privileged enough to be one of her first teachers and was equally proud for being the person in charge of helping her establish her preschool in another posh village. I remember riding a pick up truck and going to Chinatown to purchase some supplies needed for the school, a day before the opening. It was fun!

The ride wasn't smooth as it was a new school. There had been problems and issues but resolved under the leadership of this magnificent woman. I was in many troubles with her and she managed to work with me even when I was being complicated. I became a part of her school for ten years from the very start to the flourishing years up to having built my name as an educator.

Until now, she will always be my mentor. I enjoyed my stay at her school and I do wish that all my efforts were not left unfounded. I knew from stories around that I am remembered and cherished. In my own little way, this becomes a fitting tribute to a woman who gave me the opportunity and the chance to become great.

Aunt Laura

Invited to attend a Christian service, I happened to met one wonderful lady by the name of Laura. She was a stern looking woman but knowing how stern looking people are (I am one!), I immediately took a liking to her personality.

Laura was an accomplished pianist, having played in many occasions including concerts for the royal family. She was well-known in her circle and was loved by everyone. She would be invited here and there and she enjoyed the glitter and the privilege to belong.

Laura was the one who accompanied me to the next person in my tribute line. She was instrumental in making me change, to be a better person. She encouraged me to believe in myself and something that she saw in me that I happened not to noticed. She believed in me as a person, and as a teacher.

People from the school often praised her for her true and vibrant spirit. She always had something for the staff to eat and when I was sick once, she sent some food to my place which was a lovely gesture. She was a family member, my adopted aunt.

We attended parties together, met people and had fun during weekends or holidays. Her songs in school and the music she created while playing the piano still lingers in my memory. We parted ways when I decided to leave.

Coming back after two years of absence, I heard that she passed away from health reasons. She was penniless at that time and one good friend shouldered the expenses to send her home. She was one of the most giving person I had met, that money was not the objective of her existence, but to share her expertise and genuine concern to others.

I cried upon learning her demise and I am proud to have had the opportunity to be with her even for a short time. She will be remembered and without doubt, a great part of my life as an educator.

Lin Lao Shr

After graduating with a degree in arts, I pursued a masteral program in religions through a scholarship from the same university. I wasn't doing anything in the mornings so when my friend called for a part time job, I went to meet the principal.

It was difficult for me to understand the way the principal spoke because I wasn't familiar with her accent. I lost my Chinese when I went to the university and had no contact whatsoever of my Chinese friends. It was tough seated there and trying to decipher the language and making sense of what she was saying. I was rescued by her daughter then when the latter started speaking English.

Knowing Lin Lao Shr after I was hired was a delight in itself. She was a veritable house of knowledge and spoke volumes in terms of teaching skills and techniques. We always ran to her when we were in need of help regarding a student or from an unreasonable mom. She was always smiling and we considered her as our mother.

She was an honorary member of some of the prestigious Chinese schools around. She was invited most of the time to be a speaker and she always shared stories of her life and her beginnings. When I left the school after being there for six years, I heard from some of my former colleagues that she spoke highly of me in one of her talks. She spoke about giving opportunities to all, and giving a chance to those who wanted to work in the teaching profession. Being a male person and a rarity at that time, I became a role model in her eyes and it was her teachings that shaped me to be a good teacher.

I owe her my humble beginnings. I was the grumpy, emotional and self-centered individual just out of college and knowing nothing about the world and teaching. Her guidance, assurance and words of wisdom had helped me find the direction I was intended to. She was the epitome of a great teacher.

Women and MEn

In a female dominated world, my profession as a teacher are always tested whether I will survive the challenges of teaching young children, the demands of parents, or the bulk of work associated with teaching. For many years, I am always struggling to cope, if not to belong, in the company of women.



This October, I decided to write things about the many women I have met throughout my career as an educator. It is just fitting to remember the glory and the contributions that gave me the strength to continue with this vocation.



Jean is probably the person fitted to be showcased as my first entry. She was a classmate of mine when I was in third year high school and then again when I was in second year university level. We were seated together in class as we share the same inital letter, when everyone in class were seated alphabetically. We lost contact when we started taking our majors but got together again when she called me up after graduation.



She told me that there was an opening in a school for an assistant teacher. Since I am not doing anything in the morning I accepted the offer. It was tough since I never thought I will be assisting very young children but that experience showed me that I have what it takes to be patient, loving and sincere.



We worked for a year and she left the school and pursued other things. We lost contact but the opportunity she shared to me to work together and be a teacher became my profession. It was the beginning.



I am thankful and just like the book The Giving Tree she gave me for my birthday years ago, each section of that chopped tree represented my inner self: my growth, my learnings and my destiny.