Mommy's day

This morning I got up an hour early to drop by ICA before going to the office. My special reason for visiting was to congratulate Gng. dela Rosa, whom I fondly call Mommy dela Rosa, for this afternoon, she is receiving the award for most outstanding teacher during ICA's annual Recognition Day ceremonies. When I found out she had finally won the award (I had nominated her 2 years ago), I was ecstatic. I simply adore this woman. In the short span of the 2 years I was a teacher, I looked up to Gng. dela Rosa as one of the most respectable, dignified, and competent members of the high school faculty. More importantly, she was warm, compassionate and loving, and it was so natural to regard her as a mother figure. Her students felt the same way about her, and very often I found myself envious that I never got to be Gng. dela Rosa's student. If only for that privilege, I wish I were actually an ICAn.

But whenever I was around her-- meetings of the 4th year teachers, conduct/graduation deliberations, chatting in the hallway between classes-- I always felt embraced by her aura of motherly love, and I felt ICAn enough. She cared, not just about whether students understood her El Filibusterismo lessons, or did well in talumpati; she cared about her students, period. She would notice if a kid was not acting like herself, or if she seemed upset about something. She would be concerned if a student's academic performance was slipping, and she would be relieved if she saw another student's grades improving. She would always give students the benefit of the doubt, and credit where credit was due. And she did all those for her colleagues as well. I remember one time, as the 4th year teachers were all sitting down for a meeting, she took one look at my haggard face and immediately asked me if I was feeling all right, and why I was looking so tired. In another instance, during my first year in ICA, we shared a brief conversation wherein she encouraged me to become an advisor the following year, saying that she believed I would make a great advisor. And yet another time, I caught her smiling at me and when I asked why, she squeezed my arm and just said, "Wala lang, natutuwa lang ako sa iyo." I appreciated her affirmation and affection so much, the little ways she would teach me, through her example, the kindness and generosity of spirit every teacher should have.

Gng. dela Rosa has so much heart, as a teacher, as a mother, as a friend. She is an inspiration to us all, and I can think of no one else more deserving of the award she will be receiving this afternoon. Congratulations, Mommy! :)