Sensei

Definitely, you have atleast three favorite teachers in your little gradeschool/highschool list. It's as if having one is a requirement in life. In order for a certain teacher to be your favorite, personal standards are in the strictest implementation. Hmm... like for example, this certain teacher must be the one who recognizes your potential of giving you fair grades in the end of an academic year. Or atelast someone who recognizes you as a potential drug dealer after ten years... and then helping the most of themselves, for you not to become of them.

But how many of you who had given the chance to meet some certain teachers who did not make it to the final list of your "favorites"?

I was lucky I met and talked to her yesterday.

She's my grade three teacher which handles our class as her advisory. After a few years she went teaching in a more prestigous school for boys. And after a few more years, she decided to be in a more higher calling, that is, to serve her "kabarangays". She served as a Barangay Captain for atleast a decade and went on to have a stable government work inside The House Of Representatives.

She, my kuya and I went to a mall to assist her on buying surplus personal computer. While in a store, kuya went to other side of it and purchased a keyboard. This was my oppurtunity to chit-chat to her for awhile.

I asked if she missed teaching. And she said yes. She spoke of her past as if it was two days ago. Her face was a total depiction of a Filipino who served its people and due to the disgusting political system of the country, she grew tired. Yes, tired and hopeless. Here was a person who would want to make a difference and yet as the age ripened, the focus of the mind was now, more in personal welfare. She seemed open about the idea of living abroad now. But she said it with a crooked smile and felt a lump to her throat when she tried to swallow.


Our little yet very crucial and life-essential talk ended with a quote from herself as a teacher, a mother, a public servent and a wife...

"Nakapasok ako at naranasan ang buhay pulitika ng bansa. Masasabi ko na talagang madumi. Pero kahit madumi, may mga maliliit na tulad ko na gustong linisin ang sistema. O makapag bigay inspirasiyon sa kakaunting tulad namin na makapag buklod, at tularan ang malinis naming pamamaraan sa serbisyo-publiko. At the end of the day, nasa tao pa rin talaga at wala sa sistema ang problema."

She sounded really hopeless regarding the political issues here and there. Hopeless yet she wants me, still, to be hopeful. I guess she saw in me that I have the potential to be a Drug Lord or a corrupt official someday, but she also saw in me the great attempts and goals in choosing to be in the good side.

She was just my teacher back in third grade. A sensei who collected every life's teachings, lessons and experiences, summed up into one chunk of chocolate bar, to give it to her student after a decade.

She was my teacher back in third grade. And she wasn't on the list of favorites.
However, it's never been too late to make a new one. :)