“They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel.” - Carol Buchner
Today is World Teachers Day so I will make the most out of it by writing some anecdotes about my life’s most memorable teachers and greatest lessons learned.
ABAKADA and 123s
Everytime I look back into my childhood, I remember our old cupboard. Taped on its glass panels are two sheets of paper – one for ABAKADA (filipino version of ABC) and the other for my 123s. I remember sitting in front of it reciting my lessons out loud. I must have been cursed when I was a kid because I prefer books to toys. I would read anything that has words printed on it. I even remember reading my uncle’s adult comics in front of relatives because I ran out of Funny Komiks to read. After I mastered the Filipino alphabet, I moved on to ABCs. I would remember my Dad teaching me every afternoon and reading with me before we go to sleep. He taught me how to pronounce “chimney” and “webbed” and helped me with my multiplications. When I was in kindergarten and didn’t get a perfect score in my exam (it was a BIG deal for me back then), he told me scores doesn’t matter as long as you do your best.
Grade I with Mrs Elias
Quirino Elementary School
To Mrs. Josephine Arcega – Kindergarten. Thank you for being my first teacher. I used to be afraid of teachers and thought that teachers are witches who have chalks instead of broomsticks but you proved that a teacher can indeed become a friend and that I – a teacher’s pet.
Ms. Menor - Grade 1. You scolded me when I answered without hearing your question first and I was so scared of you the lesson remained with me until now. Also, thanks for teaching me at an early stage that 5 is pronounced “five” and not “pive”.
Mrs Elias – Grade 1. You signed me up as a contestant for the Math Olympiad though I’d rather join a beauty contest instead. I never thought I was good in Math but you pressured me and left me no choice, so thank you.
Ms. Peralta – Grade 2. I remember you gave us a hard quiz and after five minutes of trying to figure out the answer, I gave up and started drawing flowers on my paper instead. You walked up to me and told me to keep trying and never give up. I’ve kept that fighting spirit you instilled in me and no, I’m not giving up on my singing career.
Ms. Paraiso – Grade 3. I’m sorry for cutting classes. Fine, I’m sorry for cutting classes and inviting three other classmates to cut classes with me (but really the carnival trip was worth it!). I didn’t know one of them would have such a big mouth. I’ve always known I have a strong influence on people but you taught me to use it responsibly.
Mrs. Ramos – Grade 4. It was the year I took the acceleration test and I was in doubt I’d be able to make it. I was used to being second best serving as the back up candidate for most school contests and all of a sudden I was competing on a national level. I doubted myself but you didn’t. You believed and worked on me perhaps without an overtime pay. When it was announced that I got accelerated, you were beaming as much as me. My name won’t be printed on a banner at the school gates if not for you. I wish I could tell you this personally.
Mrs. Magpantay – Grade 5. I didn’t really like you and your beehive hairstyle but when my Dad passed away, you along with many teachers came to comfort me and my family and I can never thank you enough for that.
Mr. Caddarao – Grade 5. It was a few weeks after my dad’s funeral and I wasn’t back to my normal self. I had to pass on a project but missed the deadline. I came to ask you if you could give me extra time. I thought you would shout at me but instead comforted me and told me to take my time. You taught me compassion and understanding which are two of my best assets now.
Mrs. Mabiog – Grade 6. I was flatchested, my classmates were bullying me, I was falling behind my lessons and was losing my drive and motivation. Instead of letting me sulk in my make believe world, you awarded my Investigative Study as the best entry. Though i didn’t win the contest, you gave me back my self confidence and somehow that kept me going. I still made it to the top 10 of the graduating class.
Quezon City Science High School
QueSci – the regional science high school for NCR and regarded as one of the prestigious sciences triumvirate in the Philippines. Whenever I tell people I graduated from QueSci, they would automatically think I’m smart. Either that or I just look like one. QueSci has some of the smartest students and that’s because they also have the toughest teachers. I salute all teachers from QueSci but I’ll just mention the most memorable here.
Quezon City Science HS
Mr. Almendarez – Earth Science, 1st Year. We learned a lot of good jokes from him and his class was always the most fun. It was a good break from our extensive math and science subjects. When I was on the brink of failing Earth Science, he talked to me and gave me another chance to prove myself. It’s probably one of the reasons why I still dream of hydro and biospheres.
Mr. Lorenzo – 3rd Year. He is the famous author of the series of quiz books Brain Blitz and a Philippine Champion of the World Quizzing Championship. I’ve always looked forward to being taught by QueSci’s most famous teacher unfortunately, he only taught us on the first day of classes but amazingly memorized all our names. I guess that’s enough to motivate a student to study harder.
Mr. Madriaga – Citizens Army Training. I despise this subject. First, it practically has almost no value to me since I don’t have any intentions (not even in my wildest dreams or nightmares) to become a soldier. Heavens forbid I fight for the Philippines in the next world war or I’ll guarantee we’ll lose even to the citizens of Lilyput. Every Tuesday when CAT classes are held, I’ll go to Sir Madriaga’s office and tell him I’m sick or that I have dysmenorrhea. He taught me not to make excuses and to follow the rules even when I didn’t want to. That’s one lesson I didn’t learn and because of that I didn’t graduate from CAT.
Mrs. Moreno – Filipino, 3rd Year. She was one of those teachers who will push you hard and knock your head even harder. She taught us to make use of our common sense as non-users are often crucified in front of the class. When she gives a commendation, you’ll never forget it, “Listen to Karissa, she talks with sense.”
Mrs. Flores – Research, 4th Year. We were in Fleming, the lowest in the intelligence/hardwork Quesci pyramid but thanks to Mrs. Flores’ guidance and persevering words, we competed alongside the smartest students not just of Quesci but the whole of Philippines in the National Science and Technology Week 2001. We didn’t bag the grand prize but at least we won some bragging rights.
Ms. Balucio – Advisor, 4th Year. We were a big headache and she had no choice but to go through one hell of a migraine because she was our class advisor. She was like a second mother always nagging us to study and come to class on time. When me and my friends took a one-week leave (come on, high schools should have sembreaks too!) right before the NSAT, she called the attention of our parents. The outcome wasn’t that bad considering I got a 99% score on the test.
Technological Institute of the Phillipines
I have to admit I’m not very proud of my college since it’s not one of the top universities here and when I say I graduated from TIP I’m often asked, “Why not UP? Why not MAPUA?” But hey, it’s not the school that makes the student but the students that make the school. And though I have a lot of complaints with TIP like the fact that the Engineering building has five floors with no elevators, I love TIP. I still hate our PE uniforms though.
Engr. Alexie Ballon, Logic Circuits and CCNA. No other professor in TIP can compare to Sir Ballon’s wits, influence and charm. I would often pass projects late, skip studying on exams and would rely on magic ink for test answers but not with him. When you’re in his class, he expects you to excel and become the best version of yourself. He despises mediocrity and would not settle for less than a 100% of your efforts. He wants the best in you that you’re left with no choice but to give your best. He’s such a terror professor he doesn’t even allow students to yawn in his class.
I haven’t mentioned everyone including my teachers outside of classrooms, people who taught me not just theories and postulates but life lessons more important than Gauss’s law of magnetism.
Tags: filipino teachers, quezon city science high school, quirino elementary school, technological institute of the philippines, world teacher's day
