A Chat with Leah Riza

Here's an excerpt of our chat just a while ago.

Leah Riza
hello sir Darwin.. musta nman?
12:03pmDarwin
Good ra japon.. Merry Christmas..
12:04pmLeah Riza
Merry Christmas sad dha....
12:05pmDarwin
dili "sad" woi..hehe joke! bitaw, musta na? padad-i unya ko snow ha? nice au imo pics sa snow.. sa snow ra pud.. hehe
12:09pmLeah Riza
hehhe.. gli oi.. kaso malanay sad sya.. anyway, mo visit bya unta ko ni Dione kadto last visit nku dha last March kaso lng nakuha nku iyaha # sa imo mama pa uli nasad ko sa Manila
12:10pmDarwin
ah c.. wer sa u.s ka now?
12:11pmLeah Riza
Dinhi sa Washington DC naa kasi dri ang work sa akong bana

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was my sister Dione who informed me that she got married to an American guy. One time, she invited me over Facebook and so we got linked.

Looking back the old Spinola time, Leah Riza was one of the III - Matulungin students, whose picture appears at the bottom of this blog site. I wouldn't think she would gone this far, for at the time, she was like carefree and someone who has a happy disposition. Now, she is settled at the US and from our chat, I could sense that she is living a life with some responsibilities. She told me she's working part time there at the U.S. She told me she misses the food here. She plans to visit the Philippines by 2011.

Met Two Spinolanians Today

1. Eng'r. Elnie Celecios
I was walking at the commercial center in Zamboanga on the way to the jeep terminal for Baliwasan when I met Elnie. From our short chat, I learned that he is working as Maintenance Engineer at a big shopping center in the city. We couldn't talk any longer because I had to rush for my classes.

2. Marissa Madrona
My last class in MA SPED was called off and so I could take an earlier trip way back home. I happen to catch up an air con bus. While I was looking for available seats, I heard Marissa's greeting. There was still a vacant space where she was seated, so I took it. She paid for my fare. I was really gratefull. We talked a lot while the bus was on its way home. At that time, she is the OIC at the Rural Bank of Siocon.

Elnie and Marissa were two of my best students way back in Spinola. It is so heartwarming to see them at their working status. It is a teacher's fulfillment seeing his students succeed in their chosen fields.

MSS Palaro 2009 made me reminisce

Ana, a co-teacher at MSS way back '97 came to school and invited me to judge the Literary competitions for the MSS 2009 Palaro. Earlier, she was trying to contact me but she was using the number of my phone that got lost. Anyway, I told her I'd come.

Last Friday, October 23, I entered back to MSS. I saw students playing ball games, some just roaming around. I was right away reminded of my stay at Spinola. When I got to the lobby, I recalled the times when I talked with my students there. I was told that Sr. Myrna was upstairs and the contest would be at the HE Room. Sr. Myrna has been a long-time close friend. She happily welcomed me.

As the contest progressed, I remembered what happened in the past - the moments when I was there at the school. The students were as talented as in the past. I was truly reminiscing the old times!

Dada and I at a Contest

Yesterday, there was a contest in our school. It so happened that my student before at Spinola School, Idalyn Lutero, was there to coach for a spelling bee, which would also be participated by my contestants, whom I was also coaching.

It was somewhat new to feel something, that your student before is in a contest, with both of you involved. During the course of the contest, I couldn't help but confront with what I was feeling. Well, the contest was truly not a big deal as it would spend time that should have been for teaching tasks. And so I just realized, that aside from really growing older (O yes, I accept it!), it is also heartwarming to see my students joining in the circle where I belong. I have been always feeling the fulfillment to have seen my students succeed. Idalyn, or Dada as we fondly call her, is certainly one of those I am so proud of. Looking back at MSS, Dada was one of the students who were excelling. I know that as she continues with her journey in the DepEd, she would sooner reap the sweet fruits of her labor.

All the best in life Da!

Ellan Jasper's Home!

Last month, while I was at WMSU, I got a text from Ellan, one of the pioneering students of MSS. He just arrived from abroad and he worked there as a seaman. After the end of my class, I proceeded to where he was. He was on a drinking spree with his batch, who were also my students at Spinola.

As we were talking, he happily showed me his cellphone pictures while abroad. He has traveled like all over the globe. The places he visited were truly amazing. Ellan has gained a lot of weight, but he still has been a student that I used to know of. Our meeting there near UZ with his batch was just like a day that came after yesterday - their high school moments at Spinola.

He will be back abroad sometime at the end of this month. Way to go, Ellan!

Butch, once a student, now a co-teacher

Ralph Magbanua he is. He's one of the very first students in a science class that I taught at MSS. I could still remember the "eagerness to learn" of the little boy that he was during our classes. During his second year, I taught the class where he belonged English lesson. I wasn't assigned to their class when they were in third year.

Now, he is a civil engineer and, a co-teacher at WMSU-Ipil ESU. I was so glad to have known that he would be teaching in the campus. I have been proudly telling my students at WMSU that once, Butch was one of my brightest students!