About eleven years a ago, I met a teacher whom I admire the most because of her positive attitude towards life. She is Miss May A. Santillan, my professor in Data Structures and Algorithms, C Programming, and Artificial Intelligence.
I first noticed Maam May's goodness when I saw her one morning of June, 1998 at the College Canteen. She was so happy to meet all of her old friends because she just arrived in Kidapawan after finishing her Master of Science in Computer Science degree at the Ateneo De Manila University. I admire her speaking skills. Discussing about almost anything under the heat of the sun is effortless because she has a very good command of the English language.
I formally met her when I visited her office to inquire something about my schedule. She was very accommodating that you will feel very at home with her company. Maam May along with Maam Moling (Mrs Romula Oyao) encouraged and inspired me to perform well in my academics and extra-curricular involvement. And so I persevered and was able to finish college with flying colors.
Maam May is also a very good friend. She also shared with us some of her good and not so good experiences since childhood. I have also seen some of her former students coming back to NDKC to visit her. She treats every teacher and every student as part of her family. I personally have met her immediate family. I even call her mother as nanay and her siblings as ate and kuya. I feel that I have been a part of their family that is why I often visit Maam May at their residence in Crossing Mangga.
However, there are harsh realities of life that we have to face. Maam May passed away last January 2001, two months before we graduate. She is really a big lost to the Notre Dame of Kidapawan College. We did not only lose a very good teacher but a very dear friend as well.
Maam May is literally a big woman. But her heart is bigger than her size. NDKC has already moved on but her memories still live in our hearts.
I am dedicating the song "What Matters Most" to Maam May. It's her favorite song.
I love you Maam May and I miss you so much!
WHAT MATTERS MOST
Kenny Rankin
It's not how long we held each other's hand
What matters is how well we loved each other
It's not how far we travelled on our way
Of what we found to say
It's not the spring you see, but all the shades of green
It's not how long I held you in my arms
What matters is how sweet the years together
It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall
The early morning smiles we tearfully recall
What matters most is that we loved at all.
It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall
The early morning smiles we tearfully recall
What matters most is that we loved at all.
No comments:
Post a Comment