A coin worth of millions

the best teacher ever, Chermed :) i  miss you cher!

It seemed to be a cold day. Every one of us enjoyed the very young atmosphere of the nearest commercial building in our university. All were full from eating too much of chickens and quenched a lot by variety of soft drinks. Till I remembered how much money I left in my pocket. I started counting it off and to my surprise, somebody quickly gave me a five-peso coin, simple yet taught me something.

I can’t forget this moment when I felt a bunch of hug in my heart. Never in my life was I taken in account by a mentor without anything heard form me. It’s always “ask and teach”. I should have said, she’s incredibly impressive that I’m lucky enough to be with her almost everyday.

Funny. Enthusiastic. Intelligent. Friendly. I heard a lot of compliments about her from many students. I could really see from their eyes the scenarios that this teacher was a big part of. Every word they said popped out a smile on my face, a beam full of amazement and curiosity. Later on, I heard a loud voice not maybe angry, but with strong conviction. I got intimidated and just told myself, “she's possibly a good teacher but I guess, she’s too far to be part of my reality”.

Years went by and I was already on the first day of my junior year. I again heard this voice that had caught my attention two years ago. There she was! The teacher I had long been curious about transferred to our department and soon to be my teacher as well. In fact, she is now the adviser of the school paper I was eager to join. I admit, I was very reluctant to face her not until she talked to me and said that I passed the editorial exam.

It was absurd. All my fears and impressions on her were counteracted by her true self. Imagine, a teacher would trust someone like me who was actually new to her. That was the introduction of the joy that hooked me up form being a lonely and nerd student.

A punch of joke from her every time we see each other is like a seed that triggers millions of happiness and satisfactions, her “okay” is the reflection of her considerate yet intolerable heart for all of us. And, if you would examine her much deeper, you would see a child whose desires in life are just a cup of fun and a basin of service to God. A child who’s always willing to play but with determination to win. She is an extraordinary life racer which would really convey that she has never been alone. Truly, that is the mere reason why people love to stay with her.

Perhaps, there are still some who can’t understand her despite all she has done. If only they see her cry they would say, she is the kind of person that is strong yet soft-heartened especially when those she loves most pull her tears down. Yes, she is very sensitive when it comes to the most important persons in her life and probably, her students belong to it. She also knows what pain is but she tries to hide it and stand still. Furthermore, there is still the humility that always lifts her up.

As we finish high school, it’s sad to think that we would be an inch far from her. The happy moments we spend together in Mcdo, the tireless walk along Central Avenue, her “libre” words, her “chakaness” and “imbyerna”, her solicitous glimpse to check us every time we’re in a rigid situation, her texts of “drama” and concerns, her “sermons” when things aren’t right, and above all, the CHER who spoils us with love and stands as our greatest mentor and special mother are enough to keep her engraved to us.

            No pen can write how her dedication to work goes on. Like the five peso coin she once gave me, she’s a visible beautiful lady with eternal invisible goodness. This is the success she taught me. That the reality defines triumph as how you treat others and what you do with your life that people will remember long when time went by.

            From Mindoro, on the red corner, she’s no other than Teacher Medem Fadriquela.