Technology is so nice. I can keep up with everyone I know even if we don't see each other anymore. One time, I was chatting with Shawn, and he told me that Ms Cruz just passed away, it got me thinking, and it got me thinking sad.. Ms Cruz was one of the people who played a BIG role in molding me to be who I am now... I wished I could have said "thank you" or hugged her or even just let her know how much she has helped me. So this blog is dedicated to all the people in my life, who have in one way or another, taught me and shared with me stuff I'll never forget. . .
Miss Tan
Miss Tan was my tutor during my pre-school years. She was a strict old lady who would have none of my foolishness. She was always there to bear with the burden that was a loudmouthed mini-me. She struggled to get me to practice my math, make my assignments and color only within the lines of the drawings. Every Saturday I would go to her house in Guadalupe, which I remembered had a long pathway leading towards her house. There, she would whip up these big notebooks made up of recycled paper where I was to do everything required of me. She would tirelessly spend the day patiently explaining to me the week's lesson, having to constantly subject herself to my annoying complaining. As a kid, I thought I knew everything, and that I did not have to study for it... she proved me wrong. She taught me that no matter how good or great you are, you still had to work hard to reach your goals.
Franz
Tito Franz was my very first piano teacher! I was a kindergartener who barely knew what music was, and he was a seasoned pianist. He taught me the instrument, even when I did not want to be taught. I would pretend to be sleepy and once even slammed the piano shut with his hands still there (I'm so so so sorry for that...) I really had no interest whatsoever in what he was trying to teach me. In the end, he won the game. Sitting with me every week on that piano bench and skillfully guiding my hands, I learned to love playing the piano and... I gained a friend in the person of my teacher who now had to deal with a less bored student.
The late Ms. Corazon Cruz
Ms. Cruz was my Elementary principal who I first met when I took the entrance exam in CEC. She was softspoken and encouraging that I remember immediately looking up to her and thinking proudly that she would be my principal if I do get in the school. And when I did get into the school, she used to greet me every time we met, even making it a point to mention my name. I felt ridiculously honored and pleased that someone as superior as the principal would even bother to remember my name. I did my best in school to try and please her, since it felt extremely gratifying to hear her praise me whenever I did something good. She had a lot of faith in me that made it very difficult to disappoint. In the end, I ended up trying my best to do what she said she always knew I had in me. She monitored my performance even until I reached high school, and she was no longer my principal...
Madame Villa
I was 10 and my mom decided to enroll me and my siblings to a summer speech course that was said to be highly-recommended. There I met Madame Villa. She was a jolly woman who spoke very good English. I was in awe at her confidence and of how she was so sure of everything she did. She spoke without falter and carried herself with a grace that I can never explain. I wanted to be just like her, so I ended up enrolling at that same class every summer. When I was 17, I finished her speech course as the youngest student in her class of professionals.
Until now, I will never forget the pink room where I learned that there really is NO glory if you have NO guts!
Sian Si Sedi
Sedi Sian was the High School disciplinarian of the Chinese department, and was my adviser as well as my Hwa Wen teacher during my very first year of high school. She was this tall Chinese lady who, though already advance in age, still carried herself with the poise that she must have possessed back when she was young. Sian Si Sedi made me sing Feng Xian to represent the class in the annual Chinese Singing Contest. Disappointedly, I let her down since I caught dengue on the day of the competition and wasn't even able to participate. But what she did for me goes far after the contest. Sian Si Sedi believed in my talent and in what I could do, she pushed me to use my (ahem) talent, and opened doors of singing opportunitites for me you could never imagine. It was in her hands when I became determined to develop and test the limits of my abilities. Singing is not the same if Sedi Sian is not in the audience, standing up, beaming at me and clapping her hands off. She was my most loyal fan - and unknowingly to her, the mentor I loved so much.
Words can never explain the wonderful relationships I have with these special people in my life, the companionship, the hard-learned lessons and the beautiful friendship I shared with them may forever always be just between them and me. But I hope, just like them, I too have touched someone's life...
There are too many, I may never stop typing! hehe.. But this is it for now, all this blogging made me miss them. I hope I will finally have time to visit Sian Si Sedi this week...
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