There are only two teachers we cannot forget.
The first one is the great teacher, the one we love most that we keep on remembering his/her greatness. Perhaps, there are a lot of them in your life. S/he maybe the one who gave you the highest grade, commended you and really made you the star in your class for a work well-done or just someone who listens attentively to you.
Dr. Primitiva G. Dumo is the one I consider who have made the greatest impact in my life. She was the head teacher in Esperanza Elementary School (Sison, Pangasinan) when I was in Grades 1 to 5 but was transfered and promoted to Asan Sur Elementary School as Principal when I was in the Sixth Grade. She handled our GMRC class in Grade 5 and made most of us realize the power of words and how other people corrupt young mind.
One activity I cannot forget was when she asked people around if we love this girl or guy. Of course, that was the age when we begun to have crushes and she hit me bulls eye because she asked me directly if I love this guy who I liked a lot at that time. I answered, eyes on the floor, "Yes Ma'am, as my classmate and friend." Everyone in the class shouted and teased us. She called more from the class and most answered "no". The last question is: "Do you love me?" we chorused "Yes, Ma'am." Then she asked us why is it so easy for us to answer her positively when she asked if we love her but so difficult to say so for other people especially with our classmates? She told us that malice is already destroying our mind when we haven't fully understand what love and compassion and passion are all about.
When my parents separated in May 1993, she walked with me to the gate (it was in the school ground just in front talipapa) after our class on the very first day of classes in June. She only asked me how was my stay with my father this summer. That was the only question but I know she is only waiting for me to open up but I only said "Ok lang po." She did not ask further question but the fact that the she gave me the impression that she is there if I wanna talk but must i say more? The fact that she cares is more than enough.
The last time I saw her was in 1998. I joined a declamation contest (Sisang Baliw but I was not able to cry which I don't know why I can't cry at that time) held in Asan Sur High School. After my piece, I went to see her in the elementary department and I hugged her real tight and cried. She died of recurring breast cancer after surviving two cancer episodes in 2000.
The last kind of teacher you always remember is the one you hate the most which you want to forget but already embedded in your mind.
What I learned from them? Their rudeness maybe rooted from their own problems and past experiences. They maybe insensitive but who are we to judge them anyway? They are still our teachers who we may hate but in some ways, we have learned something from them, not just academically but emotionally and psychologically as well.
To end this, I wanna share a text message I got from Teacher Hector Batallang of Rosario Integrated School, a former HS classmate: "Consider yourself a caterpillar. The people who love you are the nourishing leaves. The person who hurts you is the cocoon. Remember: You won't be a butterfly without nourishment. You won't develop wings without the cocoon. There are neither heroes nor villains in life - just people with different roles to teach us one great lesson: to fly!"
The first one is the great teacher, the one we love most that we keep on remembering his/her greatness. Perhaps, there are a lot of them in your life. S/he maybe the one who gave you the highest grade, commended you and really made you the star in your class for a work well-done or just someone who listens attentively to you.
Dr. Primitiva G. Dumo is the one I consider who have made the greatest impact in my life. She was the head teacher in Esperanza Elementary School (Sison, Pangasinan) when I was in Grades 1 to 5 but was transfered and promoted to Asan Sur Elementary School as Principal when I was in the Sixth Grade. She handled our GMRC class in Grade 5 and made most of us realize the power of words and how other people corrupt young mind.
One activity I cannot forget was when she asked people around if we love this girl or guy. Of course, that was the age when we begun to have crushes and she hit me bulls eye because she asked me directly if I love this guy who I liked a lot at that time. I answered, eyes on the floor, "Yes Ma'am, as my classmate and friend." Everyone in the class shouted and teased us. She called more from the class and most answered "no". The last question is: "Do you love me?" we chorused "Yes, Ma'am." Then she asked us why is it so easy for us to answer her positively when she asked if we love her but so difficult to say so for other people especially with our classmates? She told us that malice is already destroying our mind when we haven't fully understand what love and compassion and passion are all about.
When my parents separated in May 1993, she walked with me to the gate (it was in the school ground just in front talipapa) after our class on the very first day of classes in June. She only asked me how was my stay with my father this summer. That was the only question but I know she is only waiting for me to open up but I only said "Ok lang po." She did not ask further question but the fact that the she gave me the impression that she is there if I wanna talk but must i say more? The fact that she cares is more than enough.
The last time I saw her was in 1998. I joined a declamation contest (Sisang Baliw but I was not able to cry which I don't know why I can't cry at that time) held in Asan Sur High School. After my piece, I went to see her in the elementary department and I hugged her real tight and cried. She died of recurring breast cancer after surviving two cancer episodes in 2000.
The last kind of teacher you always remember is the one you hate the most which you want to forget but already embedded in your mind.
What I learned from them? Their rudeness maybe rooted from their own problems and past experiences. They maybe insensitive but who are we to judge them anyway? They are still our teachers who we may hate but in some ways, we have learned something from them, not just academically but emotionally and psychologically as well.
To end this, I wanna share a text message I got from Teacher Hector Batallang of Rosario Integrated School, a former HS classmate: "Consider yourself a caterpillar. The people who love you are the nourishing leaves. The person who hurts you is the cocoon. Remember: You won't be a butterfly without nourishment. You won't develop wings without the cocoon. There are neither heroes nor villains in life - just people with different roles to teach us one great lesson: to fly!"
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