Thank you, Ma’am Tatit

Thank you, Ma’am Tatit

(In celebration of the Teacher’s Month this September, I offer this simple and humble poem of mine to my most beloved teacher in high school who had greatly influenced and molded my views, outlook and values as I walk on in this struggle called “life”. Her name is Ms. Tarcisia Mahinay and she is fondly called “Tatit” by her peers but she is more than what her name stands for. If anybody of you knows her and her whereabouts, please inform her that she has a poem from me… Thank you.)

Thank you for the tears you shed before in one of our classes that reminded me always to be

responsible in all my actions and deeds so that I won’t harm other feelings and emotions because there are always vexations in one’s spirit that I might become pain and bitter as I walk through life and which I knew was my first lesson in human relations which is to act, behave and deal with others with respect and self-discipline that ultimately made me right now as one of the respected personalities in my workplace and community for the simple reason that I am at peace with my soul…

Thank you for the attention you called upon me when I was told to report to your faculty room

to discuss with me my frequent absences due to a number of extracurricular activities I was involved with, and I know pretty well that you were concerned that my non-academics campus activities would affect my studies and I was touched by your parenthood advice by not discouraging me to pursue my personal interests but merely informed me to have time management with my academics subjects and to be always the best in the activities I was involved with, and that advice has forever rang in my thought all throughout the years by setting my time wisely in all the things I have to do and to be the best in whatever fields, profession, vocation and in whatever capacity that I am entrusted to do…

Thank you for the praise and public approval that you gave me as I volunteered to read my first

ever English composition before the class, of which I knew deep in my heart I was so afraid to do for I might made known to my classmates of my limitation and weaknesses as a student in English Subject, but never did I realize that your positive comments were all implanted into my mind that from the time on grew like a molave tree, which is strong and a fully developed skill that even made me to write some handbooks and other literary pieces because I made it a point to keep on reading and writing every vacant time I have had and to participate in every discussion that I might come across with other people and that’s all because of the simple seed of approval that you gave me that I am now harvesting the fruits of my efforts and sacrifices by having a bigger responsibilities in my work and by attending international conferences and gathering as a delegate of my agency and our country, and…

Thank you for the sweet and wonderful lessons that you had shared with me in my four years as

my teacher and mentor of which you had inculcated me important and priceless lessons in life that I will forever treasure and grateful, but I am so sorry to say thank you just now because of my carefree attitude in my youthful years… and the shining moments of these lessons have now dawned on me as they became the foundations of what I am now today and Thank you, Mam Tatit, for being one of the greatest teachers I ever had in my life…