By Marietta Tutor - Padla
Retirement from service, for me, is not an exciting event to behold, but a nostalgic situation full of remorseful amusements.
It was sixty-five years ago, when the service of this educator began. Thirty years were started in the private schools run by Columbian Priests. It was not so easy but there a lot of nice and interesting experiences. Her last fifteen years of being a Secondary mentor was in a government school under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. As an educator, her feeling towards this is full of commitments, nice, authentic, unforgettable experiences – SHARED EXPERIENCES! She had spent half of her life with the Maranaos, Tausugs, and Maguindanaons. She had grown much in the Dialogue of Life and Faith. Yes, she had an automatic retirement – sixty-five years of age from the government service - - - - - 2006 - - - 6 years ago.
“Ma’am, the sentence is, - - Maugat the Carabao. (Mao got the carabao.)” “I’ll just draw your nose Ma’am.” “Bawal nakasimangot dito Ma’am” “The boys eat hurriedly yesterday.” “He does goes home late.” She really got mad at these situations. She shouted and showed her fists at them. Sharp eyes too!! Thus, with this experience of problematic students, the teacher had to go through deeper at this situation. Again, the same lesson the following day to have rapport with students particularly. Cleared! We were able to build bridges by showing mother and children relationship…… love and respect had grown…entrusting their being as a person.
A…a…a….. it’s time! The bell had rung, for the third period in English III – Hyacinth. SAD, only to find myself, in my sofa in the house for an afternoon nap.
Bang, bang, bang …….. Awakened…. I was able to take note, as if alive, names and faces of my students, in the row, doing crimes. GOD, what have I done to them? What touch of value did I show them?
Hoy…. Tingnan mo’ng dinadaanan mo… a tricycle driver hysterically shouted at me… looking at the streamers of achievements along my way, reminiscing all their faces, names and titles …. Exclaiming deeply…. They are my students before, they are all over there, everywhere and abroad. REMARKABLE! Thanks to ALLAH!!!
“I am the Master of my fate; I am the Captain of my soul.”
Never surrender……. Invictus…..
