SEPTEMBER 5 to October 5 is National Teachers’ Month.
Why the stupid September to October timeframe escapes me, but I think there was a Presidential Proclamation No. 242 that declared it.
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October 5 is National Teachers’ Day.
To me, it wouldn’t have made a difference if they said October 5 is National Teachers’ Day, but the whole of October is National Teachers’ Month.
By the way, October 5 is also World Teachers’ Day, a.k.a. International Teachers Day.
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Why we need thirty days to celebrate and honor our teachers, I cannot understand.
If at all, most students will just give their teachers gifts on October 5 anyway.
And puh-leez, we don’t need to honor our teachers for a month.
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We just give them an extra month pay, and I’m pretty sure that they’ll be happier.
If you think that teachers do not need the money, you are wrong.
And if you feel it is not all about the money, well, you can be a little wrong.
Because trust me, all teachers will all be happier with an extra month pay.
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Do you still remember your elementary school teachers?
Because I do.
My Kindergarten teacher was Ms. Gloria Dillo. She married a little later, and her married name escapes me at the moment.
My Grade One teacher was Mrs. Lydia Rafols. She’s still alive and kicking, living with family somewhere in California.
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My Grade Two teacher was Ms. Luz Doronila. She was a spinster when she was teaching us, and for a while after that. But she ended up marrying her first love in her very old age.
My Grade Three teacher was Mrs. Thelma Doregios, who became a widow, and never remarried. She’s also in the US, living with one or the other of her three daughters.
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My Grade Four Teacher was Ms. Nolina Dusaban. She passed away sometime ago.
In Grade Four, we had IS-OSA: In School-Out School Arrangement. (I’m not sure about the ‘A’ really, but if I can’t remember it, who could?)
One week, we go to our in-school mode with Ms. Dusaban.
And on alternate weeks, we go to our out-school mode with Mrs. Ledelia Dulaogon.
In the out-school mode, we answered modules supervised by the teacher; and we had so much free time if we could answer the modules fast enough.
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My Grade Five teacher (in-school) was Mrs. Perla Suspeñe. She died only this year in Florida.
Her out-school counterpart was Mrs. Aquila Dequilla. She died a long time ago.
Grade Five didn’t work well with me and Mrs. Suspeñe, so I asked to be transferred to St. Paul’s School in Barotac Nuevo, the neighboring town of Dumangas.
My teacher there was Ms. Josephine Delarmente. I lost touched with her when I moved back to Dumangas Central Elementary School (DCES) for my Grade Six.
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My Grade Six teacher-adviser was Mrs. Rafaela Cervatos. She immigrated somewhere in California after her retirement, too.
In Grade Six, we have other teachers for other subjects.
I remember Mr. Benjamin Diesto for Industrial Arts, Mrs. Imelda Legarda for Home Economics.
I love my elementary school teachers.
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And because my mother also started teaching at DCES when I was in Grade Two, I could almost remember all Grade Two teachers: Mrs. Myrna Deza, Mrs. Erlinda Deocampo, Mrs. Evelina Palma, Mrs. Antonia Divinagracia, Ms. Cecilia Defante.
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Damn, I could remember the names of teachers like Mrs. Leonor Dondonay, Mrs. Buenvinida Deocampo, Ms. Teresita Esporton, Mrs. Lilia Junsay, Ms. Dorothea Dulos, Mrs. Iluminada Dulos, Ms. Valentina Deasis, Ms. Rhodora Doyohoy, Mrs. Mercedita Donguines, Ms. Francisca Dusaban, Mrs. Delia Barrera, Mrs. Evelyn Palma (I could swear this is not the same as Mrs. Evelina Palma), Mrs. Hortencia Dimzon, Mrs. Hilaria Dilag.
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Our librarian was Mrs. Gloria Jamandre.
And we had principals like Mr. Antonio Perez, Mr. Agustin Dolorfino, who went on to become district supervisor, after which his wife Mrs. Amalia Dolorfino was made principal.
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In high school, as in the elementary, I was also the teacher’s pet.
My First Year class adviser was Ms. Juana Delicana.
My Second Year adviser was Mrs. Lydia Deza.
My Third Year adviser was Ms. Majelende Deala.
My Fourth Year adviser was Ms. Maria Dulla.
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But I know, and remember, most of my high school teachers.
Some of them have become good friends.
My CAT commandant was Mr. Alejo Deblois, Jr.
My school paper adviser was Ms. Meriam Sonza, who became Mrs. Patricio, was widowed, remarried to become Mrs. Dumancas, and is now Dr. Meriam Dumancas after obtaining her PhD.
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I’m pretty sure I can name more than half of the 170 teachers and employees of Dumangas Polytechnic College – High School Department, 1982-1986.
My mental filing system is pretty good.
Like, I can name them by the department, and this is all from memory, no photo aids, no cheat sheets, no help from anyone.
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English: Gloria Togonon, Juana Delicana, Lucy Depra, Majelende Deala, Maria Dulla, Mildred Hortinela, Leonora Billena, Romeo Taneña, Cynthia Decolongon (now Miranda), Felix Panes, Monica Velez
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Filipino: Marilyn Gallego, Candelaria Guanco (now Deza), Purita Debuque, Carmelita Derequito, Aurelia Depra, Albina Solatorio (later Brillantes), ** Subong
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Science: Andres Donguines, Nitte Detablan, Lydia Deza, Carmela Borja (now vda de Lanzar), Rhodora Depakakibo, Felix Laruscain
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Math: Elizabeth Lazarte, Teresita Defante, Agustin Deocos, Ruby Bedia, Raymundo Porquez, Cynthia Berus, Erlinda Villa
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Social Studies: ** Sodusta, Flores Buenavista, Roger Sumande, Anita Dellomo (later Deocos), Cecilino Nery, Oliva Maguillo, Antonia Divinagracia
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YDT (later MAPEH): Larry Deypalubos, Madeline Dorego, Alma Diancin (later Deriada), Rudy Suspeñe, Jimmy Degohermano, ** Espiritu, Nelly Cabais, Tita Belarso, Goldie Gomez, ** Pelobello
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And do not start me with the teachers in the Electives.
Because I can name at least 50% of them even if they weren’t my teachers.
My list is obviously not exhaustive, but it is exhausting for me right now. So I stop here./PN
