Lorna and Aldrin’s Box

Graduation is in March and April, right? It is a mile stone to every student life. An ending and a beginning. Remembering the event, I can’t help but remember the heroes and heroines of my student life- my elementary teachers

Here they are….

Mrs. Felina B. Reyes – the very first person who told me this “Magrecite ka, magsalita ka.”  My grade two teacher  who is very  smart and  who always motivate her students.

Ms. Rustica Bayaua – My grade three teacher who introduce us into “critical thinking”. She always say “Ilagay nyo sa isip nyo ang mga pinagaaralan natin.” She is a mathematician and a good science teacher. In our science class, we were grouped. Each day a group is assigned to do the following tasks:

 

                      -    What day is today?

-          Report on weather

-          Report on any atrticle you read

Then, when we performed an experiment we have to state the following:

-          Problem

-          Objectives

-          Hypothesis

-          Generalization

The above learning strategies were used by the school from grade three to grade 6. When the above strategy was introduced to us, we were told that each section has “key words”.

Many years later, in one of my post graduate subject, we were asked to do a paper that resembled to the above. My professor is a doctor on her field and very meticulous. Most of my classmates’ works were criticized, emphasizing on “key words” Mine was spared, not that I’m good but because my elementary teachers taught me  the “key words” long long time ago. And I owe it them.

Mrs. Rulloda – My grade five science teacher who was very hard working who likes to asked everybody to recite. All the definitions she asked us to memorized are still in my mind. I can recite it for you even up to now. So whenever I talked to young kids, I can easily think of something to ask about “science”.

Ms. Nene Abao – She was my grade six science teacher. I can simply describe her as “small but terrible”. She can easily stimulate the minds of her students. She is the person who taught the class about “lubricants” in machines. And the person who taught me that “lubricant” and “oil” are synonymous.

Mrs. Dimo – My grade five social studies teacher who was creative and unconventional In one of our last exam, she gave it as a surprise. She  instructed, “Kumuha kayo ng papel, isulat nyo lahat ng alam nyo sa subject na ito, detalyado. Maya-maya tatanungin ko kayo sa harapan isa-isa at I rerecite nyo lahat ng bisinulat nyo” She was strict and really a good teacher. Afraid of being embarrass in front of the class, we all did good!!!

Mr. Agerico Posadas (deceased)– he was one of our journalism teacher. I have some fond memories with our teacher who is a “makata”:

One time I was asked to do an article based on an existing research. It’s about the benefit of urine to cancer. I did the article in Filipino. I wrote the title as “ Ang kahalagahan ng Ihi sa Paggamot sa Cancer”. He returned my paper and told me “ Lagyan mo ng impact, kailangan title pa lang, magiging interesado na ang mambabasa.” So I tried again and replaced the title “ Ihi Gamot sa Cancer”. From then on, I remember his exact words. Later, when I was in high school, I visited P. Gomez. While roaming around, I was approached by two students and one of them told me” Mawalang galang na po, o ikaw si Ms. Matalino?”. Then, I answered( I was about to laugh), “Kilala nyo ba ko, bakit naman?” Then one of them answered, “nababasa namin ang mga sinusulat mo sa “Gomezian” . The other one said, “Di ba ikaw yong nagsulat  ng “Ihi Gamot sa Cancer”. I almost fainted and told them “ Kaya nyo rin yon, mas higit pa doon.”

All of us were scared when we joined the District Essay Writing Contest. We were on a queue and was telling us that “basta magsulat kayo”. Then when no one answered, he recited the cheering rhyme of the school. “ P. Gomez…P.Gomez…P.Gomez the best..”

Sure, if Mr. Posadas, read my blog, he will correct a lot of things. And when we see each other again, I will surely recite the same…“ P. Gomez…P.Gomez…P.Gomez the best..”

Ms. Josefina De Guzman – She is the best mathematics teacher, a grade school student can possibly have. I can still remember how she taught us “fractions”. And even up to the moment I can still remember everything about fractions. She started with illustrations and visual aids, so the students can visualize what she would like to convey. Then she will write the board examples, various cases/examples. She will ask us to recite, then exercises/exam followed. No one went home without understanding the lesson. And because I was obedient then, she asked me and a few to teach some remedial lessons for  classmates with deficiencies. That happened after class. And when we have visitors in class like DECS superintendent, school officials and evaluators, she never failed to call me to say something about the lesson.

I will be forever thankful to ma’ams and sir. Sure, I will keep them close to my heart…

Fond Memories

My Tito Franz finally decided to retire from many years working. And it’s a good news. Tito Franz is one of the best uncles one can possibly have and I am so lucky to be his niece. I have a lot of fond memories which I would like to share with you:

Doctor Doctor I am Sick

Looking back, I am a cry baby. especially when I am sick. Everybody get tired of me, hearing my cries. And I remember , Tito Franz is the most patient of them all, and will just say “Gagaling din yan.”

Music Lover

He is a music lover. He has a collection of “plaka” and “long playing” albums of Matt Monroe, Beatles, Bee gees, Nat King Cole and the likes. When I was around 3 years old, I was able to memorized a song and sing it on top of a table at Central Market. I cannot remember the title of the song but it goes like this “You make me laugh, you make me live, you make me die for you. I love you hate you love you hate you …for whatever you do, I never never be in love with anyone but you…” Now I cannot remember the entire song but an except!

The Impossible Dream

One of the songs I remember from him is “The Impossible Dream”. Coincidentally, it was one of the song sang at SLS’s turn over ceremony.

A Walking Dictionary

He has the skills in words so don’t be careless in saying and pronouncing English words. Photographic Memory and A Poet He was in grade three when he was able to memorized, Jose Rizal’s “Paalam na Sinta” He recited the said poem to every section in their elementary school.

Geometry

I was in high school and we have a lesson about postulates in Geometry. I was a bit confused and so I asked help from him. I almost regret asking help from him. Not because He is unable to explain the postulates but He is a perfectionist. It’s already midnight and we are still solving examples in the book. The next day, when my father asked “Ano naintindihan mo?” I answered “Di na ko uulit, masyadong pineperfect, napuyat ako tay, hanggang als nuebe lang ang mata ko.”

My BSCS

After graduation in highschool, I am not sure what college course would I pursue. My heart belongs to “biology” and I am interested on how the body works. But pursuing a medical course is impractical for me. I was about to enroll at UST for a BS ECE course but I changed my mind, I saw my classmates and majority of them are boys. I went to PLM and in God’s mercy I passed the test and the interview for BSCS. But when the final stage came which is physical exam, I backed out. That is after hearing that you will undress in from of others for the physical exam. I don’t want to undress in front of anybody! Tito Franz, suggested, “Why not try AMA Computer College? They say it’s the pioneer in BS Computer Science.” I tried and…its destiny!

A Techy

I saw the evolution of computers with his help. He had different types of computers, Commodore 64, Commodore plus 4, Apple, Apple IIE up to the current technology. I saw the joystick and we had fun playing “pack man” in the old days. Man of Discipline, Patience and Principle His experiences with poverty in his childhood is incomparable to “telenobela” on t.v. Sure, you will be teary-eyed listening to him. But with those experiences he became a man of discipline, patience and Principle.

These are the things vivid to my memory, sure, there are a lot more.

To Tito Franz…”May the Force be with you!!!”

Yesterday was the turn-over ceremony of senior elem. student to junior elem. students in SLS. My son was a senior and I was oblige to go with himand see him….in social dancing! I remember my my elementary school days…well I don’t have a right foot…both are left. You can tolerate my voice but not my dance step. Aldrin is a better dancer than I am. He has the right move and …yes he has the left and right foot

We arrived early. I was so amazed by how the children dressed up…all of them look great! You can never tell that they are only in grade school. My son went up to their room immediately and was welcome by his classmates who came earlier. One of his classmates did his neck tie because I do not know how to tie a tie Another one fixed his tucked out outfit to make it more formal. I was looking at them down the building…and I got a smile on my face seeing their "friendship" and "brotherhood". They treated each otrher as siblings. And they were smart. They talked very well, carry themselves very well…really…really…really…it was a wonderdful experience seing wonderful souls on these children!

My son is "pasaway". He stay away from my camera. They had this ceremony with speeches from the juniors and seniors…Again I was amazed by how the speakers memorized such a long speech and with the right prunounciation(mahihiya ang mga taga call center nito).Each section made a dance presentation. Aldrin’ class performed "waltz and boogie… They were great dancers!

We went home smiling. Bought some pictures which I will post soon. Then, Aldrin told me "Ma, napagkamalan ka nilang nakababatang kaparid ng Mama ko. Sabi ko Mama kita, ang bata mo raw" . Whenever I hear comments like the previous statement, I go in a AB-normal state (hehehe abnormal state) that as if I won in sweepstakes. I commented "Talaga…yahoooo!!!!, sabihin mo ililibre ko sila."

It was a night I really enjoyed! My hugs and kisses to VI-A.