We were all student’s once, thanks to our teachers. I once taught in college and like most teachers, I caught my students cheating. I asked everyone to submit their papers and to come back to class if their conscience is clear. Come Monday, only four of the twenty students came to class.
The Dean asked me to be lenient. Once in a while, copying from classmates might be allowed but not in Business Ethics class. That’s precisely the reason why there is ethics class. It is where everyone should start practicing the virtue of honesty.
During our last year in high school in 1988, our class got involved in student action against tuition hike in our school. It was done in secret to avoid getting the students expelled. Until today, whoever participated in it remained a secret. As I am tempted to reveal names, I would like to remain silent as some of them are now doctors and engineers and respected members of society.
While I had dozens of teachers, I could only recall a few of them. Certainly, I could not forget my favorite teacher, Ms. Alona Chiu, who had been caring as a sister. In fairness to all my teachers, they were all caring as well. But Ms Chiu made us all feel special and boosted our confidence. I also remembers the strict but loving Ms. Balberona, our Physics teacher, who would always compare me to my brother, John, who was better in Math.
Our PE teacher, Mr. Nemes, would always remind us to become better men. Of course, who could forget Ms. Coronel, who taught English and Mrs. Ligahon, our Filipino teacher. Thanks to Mr. Balidio, who failed me in Math after three months of being absent from class. I realized that you get what you deserve but 74 is more painful than 70.
I also had the best teachers in college. The likes of Dr. Santos Castillo, who until today remains my mentor and colleague in Association of Math and Science Educators of Private and Public Schools (ASMEPPS) and Cavite ASMEPPS 103-A PMJF Lions Club.
At UNO-R, Dean Mahinay, my English teacher, would always get annoyed when I would remind her that it’s already past 12 noon. As well as our Political Science teacher, Ms. Eprol Espinosa, who always makes our class jolly with outbursts of laughter.
And who could forget Ms. Ching Guanzon of La Salle who flunked me in PE. Until today, she remembers giving me the failing grade and would remind me of it whenever we met. She is by the way, come to think of it, my wife’s aunt.
We are a family of educators. My mom, Norma, used to teach Home Economics at Mabini Elementary School, and later, as a preschool teacher in NY. My father, Ding, used to teach at Ateneo de Davao, Holy Infant, and in the US. My wife, China, and son, Osmund, also chose to teach in preschool. Osmund’s wife, Rowena Erika, is also a preschool teacher. My brother, John, is also into the field of education. As for me, while I used to teach, I wished to be forever a student, seeking knowledge. More importantly, I would always be seeking for teachers who will mentor me endlessly. ||
