Last Friday was Teachers’ Day. We teachers were infuriated because the program for the said event has been cancelled. It was just so annoying to know that they have pushed through all the programs, quiz bees and yes, even the running event they have for teachers - - - they want to have an event for everything except Teachers’ Day.

So what my wily imagination did was to conjure up a plan. I am quite pissed off with the administration so I told the other teachers that we should wear black shirts and have some insignia placed on them as a sign of silent protest.

Yes, folks. I am the leader of the "Marxist Movement," and that was contrary to what they believe in.hehe.

Nevertheless, I did not think that the other teachers wil actually take it seriously. They actually wore black! Students were asking us what’s up with the "All-Black Movement." I said nothing. But I know that they know why, especially my advisory section. It was quite funny when the principal came into the faculty and commented about the all-black get up of every single high school teacher. No one actually bothered to talk to her. She also said that we should already go to our respective rooms, because the students were already getting quite unruly. She didn’t even greet us "Happy Teachers’ Day," for goodness’ sake. I am appalled… No, wait… I take it back. I am not quite appalled, because that is expected of the her. I am just enraged.

…

Anyway, yes, the buzz is all about the third floor, where the high school kids were. Justin, one of my students told me that I should not (?) come inside the room not unless one of them tells me to. Talk about being demanding… Turned out that they have a surprise for me. I already smelled something fishy last Thursday when they tried to borrow a pair of scissors and a copy of our class picture from me. I was thinking what was the rationale behind that, and the only thing that I could think of was that they were planning a surprise for me for teachers’ day. I didn’t want to hope that much, so I just let go of that idea. And besides, why in the world will they plan a surprise for me, anyway? I’ve just been with them for only seven months. I don’t think that I have touched their lives that much…

And well, what do you know… I’ve had the wrong idea.

I was already supposed to go to the faculty room because the principal had nagged us to, but unfortunately, the "guards" of our room didn’t let me come and instead, they blindfolded me. I was quite embarrassed of what was happening because our D-Head just arrived, and she saw me being blindfolded by one of my students. She remarked that we still have to conduct regular classes, and I said yes, I know… I just had to know what my students were up to. I was getting quite impatient with what was happening until one of my students, Norlhyza, finally led me to the room. I could not hear a thing except my voice. They were probably suppressing their laughter and all because I asked them, "Nasan na ba ako? Nasa room na ba ako?" and they replied that I was led to the boy’s cr. And then, somebody took off the blindfold and it turned out that I was facing the blackboard. A loud "Happy Teacher’s Day" boomed into my ears as a couple of my students fired a party pooper thingy which popped with much excitement and bright confetti of different colors exploded. In the blackboard, my students have drawn a big "Happy Teachers’ Day, We love you Ms. Anne" and with a face of a bespectacled girl with a ponytail was also drawn.

One word:

AWWWWW (god, it’s not even a word).

I was really surprised. Two students even sang a number (funny as it may seem, it was "Wind Beneath my Wings") in front of the class. Then, they gave me a handmade scrapbook which had our class picture pasted in it, plus some messages written INDIVIDUALLY by everyone in class (god, I am having a fuzzy feeling plus goosebumps as I am typing this). I was in the verge of crying, (just like that last day in Sencor) and they were teasing me, and good thing that I didn’t give in. It was just so overwhelming to see that these kids had actually appreciated my efforts more than my employer does. I told them that I never expected that they would prepare that sort of tribute for me since I have only been with them for such a short while. I guess that even though that they are one of the rowdiest group in high school, the way that I had shown them that I actually care for them paid off. I even thought they hated me, and I don’t even know why I thought of that. Perhaps that I am just WAY TOO DENSE.

There’s that fuzzy feeling again…

The other adviser from the other section was given a cake, three pairs (?) of boxer shorts (haha) and a cap. The other teachers from the other levels were given a cake. But what I received, in my opinion, was the greatest one of all. I know that the kids have prepared their letters with all their hearts (?), and that is what makes the gift really special.

Hmm…

During the day, several letters still came from other sections, and it gave me that fuzzy feeling again. Just imagining that I have touched the lives of these young people makes me smile perpetually…

Oh yeah… about the running event that our principal wanted to push through… We did run, all right… run towards the gate, to the tricycle and went home. The nerve of the principal to pursue that running/exercise even without even having a celebration for Teachers’ Day… Tumakbo siyang mag-isa niya.

hehe…

And I bet she did.

To end this blog entry, let me share you one of the quotes that my student shared in his message: “You might not see that the people in front of you, while you give them knowledge, you give them more than that. You give them love, and you just don’t know it.”

Again?

AWWWWW….