Over 20K Teachers gather at the PLDT Home Gabay Guro Grand Gathering 2014

Seeing all those teachers gathered at SM MOA Arena for the PLDT Gabay Guro Grand Gathering made me sentimental and reminisce of how much fun (and at some times, terrifying) my highschool teachers made my fragile, adolescent years. Looking back, I realize that a huge part of my childhood was honed not just by family and friends, but also by my teachers. My memories of highschool are still vividly clear, and making me wish that even just for a brief moment, we can revisit those memories, back inside a classroom where we met our lifelong friends and second parents.

I remember Ma’am Tubeo, our TLE teacher, whose ritual of passage for incoming freshmen was to sing “A House is not a Home”. Behind the authoritative façade is a malambing mother to us all.

 I remember Ma’am Rubio, Our Math teacher, who is probably the most patient person I know, with the countless remedial classes and exams she holds just so we can pass.

I also remember Ma’am Barrosso, our Social Studies teacher, who has got to be the personification of both discipline and cool. At times she feels like she’s just one of our classmates.

I won’t forget Ma’am Quisil, our PE and dance teacher, who I swear treats her dance club members like her own children. Those “yema” dance moves and sunflower props have become iconic to our batch.

Ma’am Juliano, our Filipino teacher, is memorable to me because of how she calls me “Jupree” when I wanted to recite. She was young but she was good, and I still remember her laugh.

I may not remember the names of all our Student-teachers, but I do remember how they made each class more fun by being both our teachers, and our barkada. We wish to say sorry to those who we made cry - please do know that we regretted our actions after seeing those tears, and I hope that you are now stronger persons when teaching your students.

We’ve had a lot of teachers back in highschool, and enumerating all of them wouldn’t be enough for one blog post, but we all value each and every one of them (yes, I am speaking on my batch’ behalf).

Maybe somewhere in that crowd at SM MOA Arena, some of my teachers were also cheering at the show that PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF) and PLDT Managers' Club Inc. prepared for them. I do hope so because they would have had so much fun! It was a throwback concert where over 20,000 teachers were treated to performances by popular celebrities, including Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Derek Ramsey, Jonalyn Viray, Dulce, Rachel Alejandro, Manilyn Reynes, Jessa, Dingdong Avanzado, Iya Villania, Alice Dixson, and many more.

The Gathering also gave back to the teachers by holding the biggest raffle draws, with substantial major prizes that include a house and lot from Camella Homes, a brand new HAIMA car from Laus Group of Companies, an APE Piaggo three-wing van from Auto Italia, 10 PLDT Home Cyberya Internet Café setups, Retailer Phone Kits and Sims from Smart and Sun, and cash prizes.

The event made me think, “What have I done to give back to my teachers?” Surely a small token would have made them very happy, but it wouldn’t be enough to show my appreciation. Much more than  formulas, poems, and how to make terrariums, our teachers have also taught us patience and love. What have you done to give back?