When I received a call from your management asking me to make the Response as part of the evening’s program, my first impulse was: Why me? But as I pondered longer on this invitation and knowing the Prepians’ respect for age, I accepted this invitation as a responsibility because I happen to be the oldest living among the teacher pioneers of the UP Prep High School.

On behalf of all the faculty of UP Prep, I thank you for the tribute you gave us tonight -- in song, in poem, in certificates. You certainly warmed our hearts and gave us the greatest fulfillment of our lives for the recognition you so generously expressed of your teacher’s contribution in your becoming.

Tonight I cannot help but bring back the memories of you and the UP Prep. I cannot forget my first day with you.

When I met Dr. Isidro, founder of the UP Prep, about my assignment, I could not forget his words which to me, a relatively new teacher then, sounded so ominous:

You will teach in a first class high school that is established to meet the needs of students of hogher intellectual ability desiring to go to college. I must tell you that you will be dealing with students coming mostly from affluent families, very articulate but can be very naughty when they feel bored in their classes.

I took up Dr. Isidro’s challenge. I was proud he believed in me, for why else will he call me to come to UP, when he knew I was already teaching in a school in the province?

Now I must confess, I have never prepared for a class as much as I did when I prepared for my first day of class with you. I looked over my education notes, my books, etc. on teaching -- and attitudes towards students.

The first day came, I dragged myself to the third floor of UP Padre Faura with apprehensions, fear, but with determination to meet the challenge because I felt I was prepared. I was met by handsome clean-cut boys and girls with smiling faces, freely talking to one another but, in so far as my knowledge of child psychology was concerned, can be potential "trouble-makers."

My first day with you went well, thanks to you and to my prayers that I would be successful at least for this 1st day. Indeed, everyday was a challenge; your questions, your pranks could be very unnerving, but luckily, I was successful in meeting the challenges head-on. Every challenge that I overcame made me more confident, feeling great in myself as a teacher.

I cannot forget one challenging experience when you put a live croaking frog inside the drawer of my teacher’s desk. You surprisingly looked eager for my coming. How great! Then I started the class; you were so unusually quiet that day, I felt good! But as I opened the drawer to get my eraser, there was that croaking frog. I instinctively closed the drawer. I thanked my stars, I was not the nervous type to scream and lose my composure. I could hear sighs of disappointment from you, which I ignored, as I continued on with the class, (as though nothing happened).

However, I announced to the class that for those who did the pranks, to stay after the class.

I was very happy, some four of you stayed and said sorry for the misdeed. I was not angry but I softly gave you warning that what you did could be very dangerous to one with heart ailment or for one with some nervous propensities. You cannot imagine how happy I was to hear the apology from you. To me that was the highest form of integrity and honesty from one so young to accept one’s guilt. You really made my day -- that day when I knew I have survived and will survive in days/years to come.

The rest of the days and years were beautiful memories because we became bonded together in mutual trust, concern, respect and love. To me, and I am certain to my colleagues who have taught you, my teaching stint in the UP Prep was the best years of my teaching career and too, I can proudly say I taught at the UP Prep and that once I was a teacher to these Greats in their chosen fields.

To me, all of you are awardees in your own right because you have unselfishly shared of yourselves so that those whose lives you have touched had made success of themselves.

Thank you so much not only for the beautiful tribute but also for the various lessons we have learned from you. At this moment, I am reminded of Kahlil Gibran’s words when he said: "The teacher gives not of his wisdom but of his faith and lovingness."

You have made us this teacher! You have taught us to be real, to be ourselves. We were able to know ourselves, to know that we know and these we shared with you; to know that we do not know and together we tried working out so all of us will know. You allowed us to give you facts, figures, concepts but you worked these out yourselves into your own becoming because you and I know, that your teachers " . . . cannot enter your mind; they can only lead you to the threshold of your mind."

You taught us faith in ourselves because you trusted us; you taught us faith in your potentials, as a learner, because you showed us what you can do.

You taught us lovingness because you respected us and you believed that we could be of help in your becoming; you allowed us to create the proper climate for your growth and together-- with love, respect and mutual trust -- we played our respective roles in the process of your becoming.

Thank you all, you have also taught us to be the kind of teacher we wanted to be -- committed to teaching with wisdom, faith and lovingness. We found purpose and meaning in our lives because your success is our triumph.

You are all GREAT, because you are alumni of UP Prep; we too feel GREAT because we taught you.

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