Bona fide text
Remembering my alma mater
Last Saturday I was invited to be one of the judges by Mrs. Ruby Agnes Estrada, my former teacher at Regional Science High School (RSHS) for Aklan for their Search for Mr. and Miss Sportsfest 2008.
When Ma'am Estrada and I saw each other last September 28 during the first NASSPHIL Youth Leaders Congress at Punta Villa, Iloilo City, she had the chance to get my cellphone number. Through text, she was able to communicate with me and invited me to judge their search. I said to myself, though I have to travel for four hours from Iloilo going to Kalibo, Aklan just for that, I can't say no to my former teacher and to my alma mater.
I left Iloilo City at around nine o'clock in the morning considering that the program starts by 1 p.m. as what Ma'am Ruby texted me. I arrived in Kalibo exactly one in the afternoon, thank God! I was bit lost where the venue of the program is, I told myself maybe this is the effect of going to my home province once in a blue moon. So I called Ma'am Estrada over the cellphone and she gave me some instructions going to the venue. All the while, I just thought I was already late however I was the third judge to arrive and still we waited for two more judges. The search proper started at around two o'clock in the afternoon where the heat of the sun almost suffocates the NVC gym by that time. As soon as the 13 contestants ramped on stage they were all welcomed by responsive crowd who were all yelling for their own bets and clapped as cloud as they can. The whole gym turned a bit cooler as the contestants wore their smiles before the huge crowd. The search lasted for more than four hours because the program includes mass induction of classroom PTA officers and the general PTA for S.Y. 2008 – 2009.
During my high school days, we didn't experience such activity. But one thing is for sure and I experienced then, every time the school holds an activity, it should always be well-represented by the students from the preparation until the materialization of the program. Hosting, leading the prayer and national anthem and other tasks are assigned to the students and the main duty of the teacher advisers is to supervise the whole activity. I can say that, I was trained by my former school to become a versatile person and given with all the activities I joined before -- from hosting the program, joining various organizations and attending boy scout camps -- boosted my self-confidence, enhanced my leadership skills and developed my hidden talents in which I really appreciate now that I am a teacher .
I was once an ordinary student of Science Development National High School, former name of RSHS. I graduated class batch 1999 and after leaving the portals of my alma mater by that year I visited RSHS only once for eight long years. Many teachers left the school, some were promoted, and some remain and improved their status as teachers. The buildings and facilities improved in a greater extent. Before we used to hold classes in "amakan" classrooms. There were rainy days that we used our umbrella while our teacher was discussing the lesson. It would mean, we proved that no matter what happens, we longed for an education, "umulan man o umaraw." The idle library before is turned into a more productive one having computer sets with internet access and whoa, the library becomes wider and take note it is already air-conditioned! How I wish we had that 10 years ago. However, when typhoon Frank visited Aklan on June 21, the school suffered including the newly renovated library leaving wet books and supplies and of course, the 26 computer sets were all damaged. Hopefully before the year ends, it will be replaced by new ones so that students can do with their research works. Until today, the school is still coping to the loss brought about by the destruction of the super typhoon.
It was a great opportunity on my part that after 10 years there I was seating as one of the judges. I remember my alma mater, just like saying, I am a part of this school, before until I will grow old, and I am proud of it!
My personal thanks to my ever dear teacher, Ma'am Feby Reynado for letting me stay in their house because I wasn't able to return to Iloilo right after the search. Thanks to the Reynado family, Mr. John, Kirk John, Dale, Lyka, and Shena including their house helper Elena La Torre for the warm accommodation they have shown to me. Salamat guid! More power to all the students, the faculty and staff of Regional Science High School for Aklan.