Nov 18 2008
Remembering good old Holy Spirit days…
I was invited to judge for the Communications Week of grade 5 pupils today (Wednesday, Nov 18, 2008), in my alma mater School of the Holy Spirit QC. Ms. Cabotage (Ms. C), a teacher and organizer communicated with me via friendster (thanks to friendster people get reconnected!) and asked me if I could be one of the judges for this event.
Not that I didn’t want to, but I didn’t give a 100% “yes” for I only studied in SHS for 2 years (grade 7 and 1st year highschool) before I transferred back to my homeprovince. I didn’t say “Yes I will” immediately, because I felt that they might want to reconsider other students/pupils who had stayed with the school for a longer period (like a loyalty awardee that they designate to people who studied since kindergarten) and are more deserving than me. But when I talked to Ms. C over the phone she said, “So!?! So what if you studied there for only 2 years?”
So that means - it doesn’t matter.
“So?!? nga naman Naomi!” I told myself after talking to Ms. C. SHS after all will always have a special place in my heart. It had a big influence to what I am today. Not only because I found my long-time friends Kari, Rona, Sheryl and Myra whom I still see every once in awhile, but because those 2 short years gave a lot of memorable experiences for me, especially in grade 7.
Back in grade 7, I was a newcomer then. A probinsiyana, and I expected to be discriminated against and encounter very big adjustment because of the culture shock and new environment. However that year opened alot of opportunities for me to spread my wings. I represented my class under Mrs. Cabrido in the declamation and won. I also joined and won an interschool singing competition held in Ateneo and Ms. Panturilla coached my singing while Mrs. Abubo coached my over-all stage performance.
Other than those contests, I remember grade 7 was a difficult year. We were loaded with tons of work and exercises that a bulk of it was even homework that deprive us of longer free hours on weekends. I used to complain together with my classmate Tracy because of that, however I will never forget Mrs. Abubo saying to the class, “Girls, I am giving you this kind of work because I want to train you for college.”
“College?!?” we used to exclaim.
But Mrs. Abubo was right. When I look back, I learned a lot in this school academically that prepared me to where I am now. The subjects with dedicated teachers we had in grade 7 are a good foundation especially at work and now that I am in lawschool.
It was in grade 7 that I fell in love with Constitutional Law for the first time because of Mrs. Malenab. I also represented the school for a Math quiz bee together with Kari and Sheryl. I remember some classmates envied the 3 of us because as participants we were all friends who belong to the same barkada and we had fun participating in it at Miriam school. Mrs. Librando was our math teacher and I will always remember her as a very meek and a kind person.
Being a communications enthusiast, I will never forget the astronomically demanding Mrs. Abubo who gave us a lot of exercises in language. Her exams were difficult and I recall exerting most of my efforts for her subject. In the spelling bee awhile ago, familiar words were being uttered for the contestants to spell i.e. spontaneous, jaundice, indict… etc. I can’t help but smile, for the same words were given to us and it never changed!
Ginang Roque
I also met Ginang Roque whose face and hairdo are still the same. She used to tease my bad handwriting and got mad at me when I referred to Fr. Arnold Janssen in a filipino essay as “panot.” Being a probinsiyana I had a hard time thinking of another filipino term to describe him. Hahahaha! I laugh when I recall those good old days.
When Ms. Cabotage corresponded with me for the first time via e-mail, she mentioned that she noticed Holy Spirit QC is hardly mentioned in my friendster or blog and she hoped I never had memories that I wouldn’t want to remember.
I wrote her back and called her attention that SHS QC is mentioned as one of my schools in my friendster profile ever since I signed-up in 2003. In addition to that, it deserves not only a mere mention in my profile but an entire blog post dedicated to it.
Thank you SHS! Thank you for the memories! Thank you to its teachers, & people who and experiences that gave such a great impact in my life! I live up and I will always will … to Truth in Love.
For more pictures, click HERE.
