An old lady in thick eyeglasses jagged mid-air a one and a half-foot, rounded stick while the other hand rested in her waist as she howled over her pupils who, just a few moments ago were engulfed in wild, chaotic noise. She bent down her head with a reddened face to the leader and with her bulging eyes growled like a lion saying, “You shut your mouth up, kid or else…!”
This is somewhat our typical image of a public school teacher in as much as negative perception is concerned. Blame Tito, Vic and Joey that the Ms. Tapia character has transcended beyond the boob tube entertainment to actual classroom setup in our imagination of what educators in general may look like. We usually make mental notes of her lifting her hand up and smashing that rod over the table as visions of her fiery eyes linger in our mind with the loud splaaat that makes our spine freeze uncomfortably. But that was the old time: decades or so ago of believing that the term teacher is synonymous with terror -somewhat of an absolute misnomer from its root up to the tip. And here are the just few of the reasons why:
On October 5, beginning at exactly 7:30 AM, things proved to change for the better. The once feared teacher was, for the second time in recent memory, showcased publicly in a different manner –manner that is closer if not closest to the picturesque reality most of the time clouded by unfounded thinking of human thirst for blabbermouths. A rarity that is seldom played in front of the community though believed that they have the equal capacity to have fun. And fun indeed, they were seen moving in a line along the streets of Rizal as the sun peeked through the top of the great mountain range, the Sierra Madre, in ample courage carrying banners and streamers proudly declaring that this is their day of reckoning not just against the negative perception from long ago but of the tiresome and sometimes crippling monotony of their daily grind. Each school paraded in full disclosure of their apparent struggle to fire at an utter objective that has been laid before them since the beginning: The quest for a better contention of education and excellently spreading it in this tiny part of the world.
Unabated by the searing heat of the sun that has by then started to lick their skins with its scorching heat, they were seen still cracking with genuine smiles and soft nods to people they pass through. Although ambushed with occasional honks of vehicle horns upon approaching the stretch of the Municipal Hall where even the well-mentioned breeds known as politicians came to wave their hands in discreet participation and offer of homage to what was unfolding before their very eyes. Miles across the community of courageous people better known as Rizalians, they showed that this day together with the world is a celebration as each of their sincere waves and heart-wrenching beams is a testament of their undying intent to make the world a better place to live.
Pag-asa –hope in English- actually known locally as a gymnasium but in fact better fitted to be called a sports complex was the final destinations of these marvelous teachers who arrived at the venue almost drenched in sweat after that long parade rolled more than an hour and a half earlier. The 200 square feet wide, 40- foot high covered behemoth, visibly the most recognizable piece of infrastructure in Rizal from up above using satellite imagery from Google Maps, Google Earth and other satellite picture maps online, was the graceful but mute location to the wondrous events that was about to unfold.
“Test…mike…testing. Microphone testing”, boomed the charming Ellen Manibog , one of the good hosts, before she greeted everyone warmly together with her partner, the congenial Bong Sabas, signaling the start of the whole-day affair. One by one, the program activities picked its lines from the singing of the national anthem to the greetings from the very important persons surrounding the event: Edith De Jesus, the district supervisor, remarked with very energizing words that cheered the teachers out of their tiredness and obscurity. Politicians, of course, will not stand without their fair share of getting along prospective supporters as one cheerful municipal councilor came up kicking and refusing to speak unless these great teachers would get quiet and intently listen to him as he spoke. His words, which were highlighted by a surprise donation given for all the less than four hundred industrious members of the teaching force who upon hearing of the said gift broke into a sudden frenzy of applause and cheers to the giver, almost made the day.
“You get upset when your pupils are creating noise but you, yourself, are equally noisy, aren’t you?” The donor said with a grin. “I know because I was also a teacher... So don’t fret, I carried with me two desk fans there at my car’s compartment as my gift to you all!” said Hon. Municipal councilor Lito Andres, a prospective mayoralty candidate in the 2013 local elections.
One of the more significant parts of the program came from a very modest person who for most of us is the epitome of a great educator. She is a symbol of excellence in her craft and an untiring testament of what a teacher is. Jovita Versula, a retired education supervisor who may not concede with age as an influence for a career, still refuses to get yielded into retirement. She assumed principal position in a private school here where she, herself, is a trustee. A product of Rizal, she had been an institution so-to-speak as she witnessed Rizalian education from its gradual first steps of development to its widest boom today. She was chosen, hands-down, to become the guest and inspirational speaker in the program. With her words of encouragements, she’s such an inspiration to everyone, indeed.
Amazed at how some collegiate teams used to throw females up in the air performing acrobatic, mid-air stunts followed by the heart-stopping flips before falling down with the fun and excitement of synchronized moves typically seen on TV, organizers of this district teachers’ day celebration decided to do the same. Yes, you heard (or read) it right as the highlight of the activity was the inter-school cheer dance competition. In a manner that is both within the capabilities of all these proficient and skilled educators, each school prepared amidst the bangs and whoosh of the terrifying typhoon duo named Pedring and Quiel which hovered over Northern and Central Luzon in sudden succession a few days before the big event. Each school showcased unparalleled talent in a genre never before seen in all of DepEd Rizal before. School by school, they persistently stretched their physical boundaries and extended their own talents into an almost unbelievable bounds. There were some who pulled amazing maneuvers like building human pyramids while others were contended with ground shows. Costumes and uniforms flowed like simple daily attire as each school managed to strip the normal and wowed everyone with their colorful outfits. Hearing all the astonishing compliments made one realize how simple yet absolutely incredible it is to witness this affair.
Afternoon was no less than stellar. At two minutes past one, school administrators shared the moment to have each one participate in an all-physical activity that would break a sweat and ‘oras-de-peligro’. Male teachers set up a volleyball court and started spiking and walloping to and fro each team created out of every sons of Adam around. Female teachers equally showcased their volleying prowess and stood their ground with their own games immediately after the male teachers ended theirs. The Laro ng Lahi, which highlighted local Pinoy games like the almost forgotten Patintero a.k.a. Harangang taga reminisced the child in each participant recalling how in the old times could equally or even better compete with the current DOTA and Counter Strikes; the all bouncy Sack race and the trap-a-dope-fun game called “Open the basket” which would most likely trump down Angry Birds and Plants versus Zombies in a head-to head battle if competed decades ago; and the almost air-borne hike Kadang-kadang that can be considered a jewel versus Backyard Monsters and Farm Ville.
Enjoyable, entertaining and pleasurable amidst the grueling and tiresome day, everyone felt it as a day that made their day. It was said to be like heaven on Earth to retract oneself of the focus of everyday school chores and even just for a day abandon the dreariness to renew and rejuvenate the tired fibers of their minds and turn these into amusement. More so, the winners in each event who received some small tokens of gift as awards instilled the essence of competition in a joyous feeling of reward. For those who did not afford to win, it was neither a day of losing nor a time of sour grapes but a gratifying moment that made each heart grows competitively fonder in time.
In the end it was doubled the fun and tripled the success. It may not defined victory in the exact capacity of promoting better quality education but sufficient enough to poke a small puncture in the monotony of every day slog; a retreat that is designed to recharge their souls to strengthen the educational and spiritual ebb in full heat. For tomorrow may start once again the quest for that betterment of education and finally change the terror images of Ms. Tapia persona to that of the awe-inspiring, motivational and selfless teacher billed as the modern-day heroes.
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