Semper Optimus

I have to say that school year 2010-2011 was like a roller coaster ride…. nakakatakot, nakakakaba, minsan nakakasuka, pero after the ride, isang feeling lang ang talagang matatandaan mo….MASAYA!

The ride was not that easy. When my principal informed me that I’ll be the class adviser of this batch, i was a bit nervous because I heard that they seem to have a bad reputation. Pero, bukod sa kaba, na-challenge din ako dahil, first time ko silang magiging estudyante. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, “susubukin nito ang pasenya ko, pero handa na ako.” After malaman na ako na talaga at wala ng bawian at urungan, naghanda ako. I started asking some teachers kung ano nga ba ang trip ng batch na ito. I also asked their previous adviser kung sino ang dapat kong abangan, ano ang ibig sabihin ng class motto nila, sino ang madalas na mag-absent at ma-late, etc. Nagulat ako sa dami ng narinig ko about them. After hearing all these, biglang naalala ko ang sinabi ng teacher ko noong college. “Don’t judge them according to what you see and hear from other people….give your students the time to prove themselves to you.”

First day ng class, tinignan ko silang mabuti, isa-isa…sino ang mga students na sinabi sa akin na dapat kong bantayan o “ingatan.” Pero habang pinagmamasdan ko sila, iba ang nakita ko. I saw that most of them are smiling and as if they are excited to see me in class. Sa isip-isip ko lang, “parang nakakita ng artista ang mga ito…ang sasaya ng mukha.” Then one student told me, na talagang they are looking forward to see me as their adviser. I did not waste any time and right there and then I laid all my expectations and my perception of their batch. I even asked them about the things they expected from me as their class advisers. We ended the day on a positive note. Saying that we will try our best to make this school year a year to remember. That they will know how it feels like to be a winner and to prove that they are not just a bunch of noisy and naughty boys. “This is not going to be easy,” I told them. But if they will trust each other, we can make all these possible. 

There were many instances that tested these boys, tardiness, vandalism, bullying, absences, failing grades, community service, name it they had it. But these does not stopped them. Despite all the challenges they managed to win several academic contests inside and outside the school. Maraming magagaling sa batch na ito pero parang hindi nila alam.

I always tell my boys that to teach is to learn twice. I must say that I really learned a lot from this batch as I teach them not only about History but also teach them about Life. Let me share them to all of you.

1. Natutunan ko kung paano maging masaya kasama ang mga kaibigan. Nakita ko kung paano nila alagaan ang isa’t isa. Nakita ko kung paano nila tulungan ang kaklase na walang pang-lunch o pambili ng materials para sa Work Ed project. Nakita ko kung paano nila alalayan ang kaklaseng may sakit papunta sa clinic.

2. Natutunan ko na mas masarap tumawa kung totoo ka sa iyong sarili. I will surely miss how Bryle Bae say “Goooooood Morning!!!!” Hindi dahil gusto niya lang magpapansin, kung di dahil alam ko na gusto niyang simulan ang araw nila ng masaya. Ang kakulitan nila sa tuwing advisory at History class hanggang sa mga practices and field trip sa Monark. Ang malutong na tawa ni Jacob Apale at nakakahawang ngiti ni Stephen Kahanap, ang mga corny pero tinatawanang joke ni Ron Aquino, ang mga high blood moments ni Jairo Ilagan. Lahat ng ito, nagpakita na di masama ang maging totoo sa sarili.

3. Unity in Diversity. Hindi lang pala sa Indonesia bagay ang motto na ito. Sa Batch 2012, nakita ko na sa kabila ng pagkakaiba-iba ng ugali nila, nagawa pa rin nilang magsama-sama para sa iisang hangarin. I admire them for working as a team para manalo sa choral interpretation during the Filipino Week (kahit marami pa rin ang may utang sa Malong na costume nila). Producing a children’s play “the monkey and the turtle” as their entry for the Panathenea Playfest , nakita ko kung paano sila nag-tiyaga at talagang nagtulong-tulong.

4. SEMPER OPTIMUS: Sa maraming pagkakataon nakita ko kung paano nila gawin at subukan ang sundin at tuparin ang kanila class motto. “Always the best.” Hindi naging madali para sa kanila ito at alam ko na pagdating nila sa 4th year, higit silang susubukin ng panahon. Alam ko, naniniwala ako na kakayanin nila ang kahit na anong daanan nilang pag-subok. Nakita ko sila kung paano sila tumayo sa kanilang pagkakadapa, nakita ko kung paano sila lumaban. Semper Optimus, batch 2012.

Thank for the roller coaster ride. Next year school year, I know that you’ll do great. Always remember to strive only for the best.

At kung ako ang adviser ng incoming third year……. Good Luck! LOL

Hanggang sa susunod na pagkikita!