Another Long-Winded Thank You Note

Okay, so this is the second half of my epic-long thank you to some of my favourite teachers.

This time, I’d like to focus on those from my college level, plus a few inspiring souls who may not have taught me in the classroom, but most certainly taught me in life.


Mr. Mark Cayanan (1st year college literature in English --- both semesters)

It’s hard to forget a professor who keeps harping in his class that he wants to be Michelle Pfiefer as Catwoman.

With his magenta Chuck Taylors, cute little pose sitting on the teacher’s table and faux-hawk, he made poems and short stories written in who-knows-when very fresh and current to his iPod toting class. At the same time, he also exposed us to post-modernist works that would make purists roll in their graves. He basically showed us something essential that literature espouses --- freedom. In literature, you are free to choose who influences you or which style to follow, even whether to write a poem about a glass of mucus (It’s been done. Sharon Olds, you are slightly sick!). And it is with that belief of freedom that he respected his students’ critical analyses of works, no matter how messed-up/ultra-feminist/cheesy/insert adjective here they sounded.

Need I mention the fact the modernist and post-modernist poems we discussed in his class are my influences in writing style?

Mr. Ariel Diccion (1st year college Filipino literature --- 1st semester)

Let’s just say I wrote a piece about him for an essay writing competition in the newspaper. Oh yes, that’s how much I admire this guy.

I do not know where to begin to describe this man. I suppose I could start by saying how much he cared for each one of his students personally --- enough to take time to memorise us by our nick names rather than just call us Mr. /Ms. (Insert surname here), like many professors opt to. Or, perhaps, I could start by telling you of how he loves sharing his passions to his students. We truly enjoyed our class viewings of plays (as theatre was certainly a passion of his). Perhaps, I could start by saying that he was the most understanding, respectful professor I’ve had. He never tires of answering his students’ questions, not matter how mundane it is.

Perhaps, it’s this (and the fact that he’s admittedly cute) that made many of his female students have a crush on him (myself not included!).

Ms. Myrna Escoto (Literature)

We at the writers’ guild fondly call her Mama (pronounced the French way) for a reason. She is, after all, the number one encourager and (when needed) nagger for us to expand our creative wings. She’s always up to date with upcoming literary competitions or symposia, so we, her “children” could join them.
Just like a Mum, she also knows every single secret our guild members hide in the deepest chambers of her heart. She knows, for example, the man who’s the cause of the sudden de-sarcasm of my poetry. Haha! We trust her like that.

But please, Mama, why not just a gentle nudge than a nag? Haha!

Sir Winston de la Cruz (Copywriting)



In the past semester we’ve known him, he’s mentioned stepping out of the box probably hundreds of times already. That’s exactly who he is – unconventionally wonderful. I mean which other advertising teacher would assign his students to write love sonnets to unreachable objects of admiration?

Kudos to him for making writing fun.

Ms. Julie Manzon, Mr. Charlie Codizar, Ms. Alexa Aguipo, Ms. Jessah Princesa, Ms. Karen Pedroso, Ms. Fatima Rico, Ms. Michelle Jakosalem, and Ms. Gretchen Flores (BSEd – English)

They’re also known as my future teacher friends (as they’re secondary education majors)

I utterly enjoy every single minute of intelligent conversation with them –whether talking about the complexities of Shakespearean verse or discussing a poem one of them has written or simply talking about the day’s events. That’s the thing with hanging out or conversing with teachers, I suppose. You most certainly learn oh so much every time you’re simply with them --- whether in class or barraging their Multiply with comments.

Their big hearts full of passion also show whenever they talk of a certain inspiring student or a new idea on how to teach a topic. It’s very much encouraging, really. To see hearts so on fire about impacting their students makes you want to ignite that flame of purpose in what you do.

Oh, need I mention that they have the most rapier wits ever, so every “banatan portion” is extra hilarious?

God

I don’t think I need to expound on how amazing a teacher He is. He is, after all, Lord of All, including teaching. Enough said.

To all of you noble souls who use your lives, talents, and intelligence to impart wisdom, yes, you guys who mould us to be history makers, I greet you a very happy belated Teacher’s day!