My teachers

Yesterday afternoon, September 9, 2008, at 2 o'clock, I went to my Basic Education Alma Mater. It used to be called Colegio dela Milagrosa. Now, it is called St. Louise de Marillac of Sorsogon. It was my first time to visit my school after fifteen years -- that is since I graduated 9th Honors from my High School Class. The feeling was really different. It was a mixed emotions for me.

When I reached the third floor of the then College building which houses the Laboure Hall, my heart pounded so fast. It was like I was having a sudden surge of the different emotions brought about my the different experiences I have had when I was in High School. Foremost, the different activities held in this same venue starting from more than 20 years ago -- first friday masses, the monthly culminating activities, pageants, contests, the recollections, the practices among so many others. It was indeed a very beautiful feeling. All positive feelings. All happiness.

I decided to walk on the center aisle as I proceeded to the area where the other judges were seated and waiting for the search for Mr. and Ms. Intrams 2008 to start. Immediately, as I reached the first line of chairs, the front ones, I was happily welcomed by my former teachers.

Wow! I was feeling ecstatic. I never imagined something like this before. They called me by my first name. It sounded just like how it was when I was still in high school. There were Mam Farenas, Mam Myrna Lacsa, Mam Norma Llovit who later corrected me by saying "now Mrs. Magdato." There was also Mam Macayana.

Immediately I had this fond memories of them. It was as if I could see things that happened before in front of me now. That was how vivid my recall was. It was fantastic. Then I smiled. I remembered specific moments that happened during the yesteryears -- so clear, so fun.. The voice even seemed to be so clear that it is as if I could still even remember it very well. I could almost hear them in my mind..

"if you see a smoke coming out from the small space between the floor and the door, then do not immediately open the door. Touch first the doorknob. If it is hot, then indeed there is fire inside. Go away from that." This was what mam myrna lacsa told us in our Home Economics class when I was in first year high school. It was when the firemen had a firedrill in our school.

"Which one is denser -- the water or the oil?" I still remember how it was asked to me by Mam Farenas, my chemistry teacher. My report then was about molecules and atoms.

"You don't have to go around the bush. Science is direct to the point." This was what Mam Lagamayo, a substitute teacher of Mam Melitante in General Science class, Freshman year. She told me this when I consumed half the tablet paper/sheet in answering her question "Is there a change in the weight of an object on the moon comparing it to its weight on earth?" She gave me one point out of the perfect 10.

"That the tao is guilty of not supporting his family, ignorance and indolence.. contrary to the laws.." Ah, I remember when Mam Llovit taught me how to properly deliver this piece of Raul Manglapus during our Public Speaking class. I learned so much from this experience including more self confidence.

"So you have heard Manuel sing 'Beth" and he had difficulty singing it because he is currently traversing puberty. His voice is in an awkward pitch." This was the similar line of Mam Leoncito (now Mrs. Doma) when I went balaguer during the audition for school choir. heheh

There were other teachers there. But I failed to recognize them anymore.

I miss the likes of Ms. Sonia Sy, my Physics teacher whose lambda and momentum words I will not forget;

Mrs. Lorna Escanilla, the very brilliant social studies teacher who I could not forget her "plus 5 will be given to Manuel because he explained the options very well.";


Miss Tuquero who I can not forget when he told one of my classmates, Rey Ramirez like "mukha kang demonyo" and when she asked me if I had prior knowledge of the content of her long quiz in Filipino because I got a perfect score.. Wow!;

I also remember my cousin/teacher, Miss Caguia who then my classmates would echo her Jollibee pronunciation (Dzuleebee)..;

There was also Ms. dechavez whose probability and possibility topics blew me away; her very difficult to understand factorial interpretation