The last time I saw her was when I was on a brief vacation in the old hometown at the foot of Bantay Gusing in Santa. Maestra Moning was still the old dyed-in-the-wool teacher, reminding me of my social responsibilities, of giving back to the commu- nity. “We will celebrate our barrio fiesta in a few days,” she told me, very casually. “We need sponsors for a community project. I’ll give you the letter tonight.” Already retired from teaching, she was still very much involved in projects benefiting the people whom she had served as Grade 1 teacher most of her life. As I write this, I am holding back tears as many other fond memories of Maestra Moning flash in my mind. She was a great teacher, the greatest, in fact, among the teachers I’ve had in my life. Maestra Moning taught me the basic principles of life and living these principles from day to day. These principles had to do with being in control of yourself and fulfilling your duties and obligations the best you can. Sometimes, I turned my back on these principles or simply dismissed them. But there’s no escaping the foundations we grew up with. That is, if we ever do grow up. Fulghum (1988) in his book said that all we really need to know we learned in kindergarten. I had no experience of kindergarten, because back then there was no kindergarten in our school. But I am absolutely convinced that all I really needed to know I learned in the first grade under Maestra Moning.
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Severino P. Pader is vice president for administration and student services of the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) Quezon City. He is also VP for linkages of both TIP Manila and TIP Quezon City. He started as a faculty member of the mechanical engineering department of TIP Manila in 1980. He grew up in Santa, Ilocos Sur, and studied in Vigan.
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