We love because [God] first loved us.
— 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
for a noble teacher, from her former pupil
i was on my way to work this morning when i saw a very familiar face among the crowd - pleasant, calm and very gentle. she was about to ride the same bus as i did, and i can't help but smile as she walked the bus aisle towards her chosen seat. i was not sure if she could still recognize me after 14 years, but she did. finally she smiled and said, "kumusta ka magandang dalaga"? after so many years, i saw my most favorite teacher in the world again - mrs. henrietta v. nievera.
she was my grade 6 adviser and english teacher in 1996. but before she became my teacher, she was the adviser of my two other sisters who are older than me by eight and six years. she is basically an institution in the school - one of the, if not the, most sought-after teachers during our time. her excellence in english, journalism and music, as well as her dedication to her profession, is what makes her a truly remarkable teacher. while some teachers would ask a pupil to choose a topic from a book and write it on the blackboard for others to copy for the rest of the period,(just to buy time), she would make us recite a part of her carefully-compiled poems and selections from various works. that was our morning drill. i still remember one of the code of ethics she taught us:
"lead a clean and frugal life. do not indulge in frivolity or pretense. be simple in your dress and modest with your behavior".
while some teachers are done with their work after classes, she would patiently wait in the school library, preparing the materials for either: 1. schoolpaper staff practice for the upcoming journalism competition; or 2. review materials for pupils who will be competing in other competition/s. i saw her sleeping once, waiting for me in the library for our spelling cee review. i was late for our 1pm schedule and i thought she would scold me for making her wait. instead, she bought me a bottle of sprite and empanada. i almost cried. for some it might just be a simple gesture, but for this girl who came from nothing, it was that simple gesture that made me feel very valued.
she is the first person to believe in me and in what i can do. she was my mentor in spelling, she picked me as one of the dancers in our school for programs, she was the "punong-abala" when i was chosen as muse for school intramurals (which i really don't understand why), and she handpicked me as her editor-in-chief for our schoolpaper. i still have a copy of our schoolpaper and it gives me a sense of pride to see my name on top of the editorial staff.
i owe it to her that i was able to study in a private school with full scholarship. eventually, i graduated from high school with honors and was blessed to have made it in UP Diliman, also with good scholastic records. her efforts to mold our young minds finally paid off.
as years passed i lost contact with her, though i think of her once in a while and i wonder if she is still teaching. i would be a little bit sad if she retires, for i know it would be a big loss not to have her as a teacher. as fate would have it, i saw her this very morning and i am delighted to know she is still on a roll. she was on her way to esteban abada elementary school to train some pupils who are bound for davao, perhaps for a conference. she's still the same dedicated teacher i knew 14 years ago.
i wish i could have talked to her longer this morning, so that i could tell her how much i appreciate what she did for me. i wish i could have thanked her for being a great, great educator. i may just be one of her regular pupils, i might not be the best and i might be forgotten soon enough, but i'd like her to know that for THIS pupil - she made a lot of difference.
she was my grade 6 adviser and english teacher in 1996. but before she became my teacher, she was the adviser of my two other sisters who are older than me by eight and six years. she is basically an institution in the school - one of the, if not the, most sought-after teachers during our time. her excellence in english, journalism and music, as well as her dedication to her profession, is what makes her a truly remarkable teacher. while some teachers would ask a pupil to choose a topic from a book and write it on the blackboard for others to copy for the rest of the period,(just to buy time), she would make us recite a part of her carefully-compiled poems and selections from various works. that was our morning drill. i still remember one of the code of ethics she taught us:
"lead a clean and frugal life. do not indulge in frivolity or pretense. be simple in your dress and modest with your behavior".
while some teachers are done with their work after classes, she would patiently wait in the school library, preparing the materials for either: 1. schoolpaper staff practice for the upcoming journalism competition; or 2. review materials for pupils who will be competing in other competition/s. i saw her sleeping once, waiting for me in the library for our spelling cee review. i was late for our 1pm schedule and i thought she would scold me for making her wait. instead, she bought me a bottle of sprite and empanada. i almost cried. for some it might just be a simple gesture, but for this girl who came from nothing, it was that simple gesture that made me feel very valued.
she is the first person to believe in me and in what i can do. she was my mentor in spelling, she picked me as one of the dancers in our school for programs, she was the "punong-abala" when i was chosen as muse for school intramurals (which i really don't understand why), and she handpicked me as her editor-in-chief for our schoolpaper. i still have a copy of our schoolpaper and it gives me a sense of pride to see my name on top of the editorial staff.
i owe it to her that i was able to study in a private school with full scholarship. eventually, i graduated from high school with honors and was blessed to have made it in UP Diliman, also with good scholastic records. her efforts to mold our young minds finally paid off.
as years passed i lost contact with her, though i think of her once in a while and i wonder if she is still teaching. i would be a little bit sad if she retires, for i know it would be a big loss not to have her as a teacher. as fate would have it, i saw her this very morning and i am delighted to know she is still on a roll. she was on her way to esteban abada elementary school to train some pupils who are bound for davao, perhaps for a conference. she's still the same dedicated teacher i knew 14 years ago.
i wish i could have talked to her longer this morning, so that i could tell her how much i appreciate what she did for me. i wish i could have thanked her for being a great, great educator. i may just be one of her regular pupils, i might not be the best and i might be forgotten soon enough, but i'd like her to know that for THIS pupil - she made a lot of difference.
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