I do not know whether words alone are enough to make one believe. Trustingly, however I am expressing some lines, each with a life of thought that may serve to make one know this person, Jovita ,better. I wish to relive on the pages of the passing time some series of events in her life which have been left under the care of the years behind; fragments of her life that echoed her joys and pains ,her adventures and misadventures as a teacher and as a person as a whole.
This lady celebrates her birthday in the month of February, the advent of spring season , the time when the birds begin to sing their love songs. Being born under the sign of Aquarius, the strength of her character is like the current of water. She is very firm in her convictions, very original in her ideas, very determined and not easily swayed by others. As her name denotes, she is affable, jolly and good-natured, maybe by sheer coincidence or by destiny.
But Jovita is a neglected name in the calendar of promoted teachers. By irony of fate, she was not accorded with a distinguishing rank of a master in the arts of teaching, but I personally pay tribute to her great concern for the education of the children who had been entrusted under her tutelage. I did not have a chance to interview her lately, but then ten years or so of being with her in one school are more than enough for me to be able to stand witness to her quality as a teacher
In a classroom packed with more or less 55 pupils, that come in different shapes and sizes_ two sets of twins that keep on exchanging seats to confuse the teacher, a retarded who keeps popping her saliva, making her seatmate complain to the teacher from time to time about the droplets of saliva sprinkling her face, the over aged bully who poisoned her goldfish in the aquarium with pepper (katumbal koritot), the truant who skinned the electric wire of her electric fan, the non- reader who urinates in his seat, and the deaf mute who brings his pet snake (managwati) ,tied on the neck inside the classroom and ties it on the leg of his chair, causing screams and shrieks of his classmates, _ there ,in their midst, stands Jovita ,sturdy as a narra tree ,in her unswerving advocacy to deliver the young from ignorance.
I have seen how she patiently coached her weak pupils individually during the hours when she was supposed to be free and relaxed. I have heard her from the adjacent room which is my own classroom, how she tirelessly reviewed the past lessons over and over until they gained permanence in the children’s slow-reacting minds. As a matter of fact, I tried to imitate her repetitive instruction because I envied her great capacity for patience and perseverance.
Jovita also possesses an inherent talent to transfer words into action, making her the best trainer for English declamation in the school. Many pupils love and admire her as a teacher. They remember her as a very proficient teacher. She has indeed left tracks of her unselfish services in the school where she spent the best years of her life.
As a person, Jovita is very hard-working, frugal, honest, practical and sensible. As a friend, she is sincere, loyal and frank. She is very thoughtful, caring and helpful .Once she is your friend, you have found a treasure to keep because she will love ,like and defend you all the way. But once you happen to be her enemy, she will be your worst nightmare. Daw nakaku-ot kaw kang linti sa pasok! You will curse the day your paths have crossed.
At one time someone remarked: “Idol mo gid si Vita bah!” I answered, “Yes! because I likened her to ‘the little boat that refused to sink ‘, in spite of being beaten and battered by the raging storm and turmoil in the rough seas of life. At the face of crises, she is the kind of person who could remain stoic as a Spartan mother.”
In the field of teaching, those who know her very well, can justly say that “Jovita Tangente” is a name to be highly regarded.
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