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JC Batch 2008-2009

They were the first advisory class I handled from June til March. The first IV-JC I had was originally IV-MD and was turned over to me after the first quarter of SY 1996-1997. The next was I-JC upon my returned from my stint in RECSAM, Penang, Malaysia, SY 2007-2008.


I am proud of my classes. I am proud of my students. With them, I was never called to the guidance office. I never had problems with them. Of course, there were times that these kids were amissed with their responsibilities. Things which people their age would normally take for granted.


Some of them would come late to class. Some would not even come with proper ID, or proper uniform, or assignment or project. Some would not even inform their parents about PTA meetings, about card giving, about school activities. Some would just come and do nothing at all.


There were originally 65 of them in the class. Unfortunately, despite my efforts to keep them whole and complete, I failed to make them hold on until the end. Four of them were not able to finish the schoolyear for various reasons. That made me sad. I was even thinking had I done my best to keep them in class?The best, I really tried my best for them.

It was my first advisory class after more than ten years of being a special teacher (that is, without an advisory class). Imagine to my horror the anguish I went through to convince myself that I was a class adviser. Certainly, there was pressure, fear and doubt. Would I make a good adviser? Things were on my mind. But I could not do anything. Every master teacher, of which I am one, should be a class adviser. So be it.


Days passed into weeks, into months, into a year. Time was flying faster than I could imagine. It was done. It was over.


Then there were goodbyes. The trouble with everything that transpired is having to say goodbye at the end. Could there be no goodbye? Because with every goodbye is a lingering pain that pricks into the very soul of your being. It was tremendously difficult. For a year, you had been a father to these kids and afterwards, they would just leave you like that.


Goodbye is a beginning of something beautiful. Goodbye carries with it the memories and lessons shared. Goodbye is a testament to the blessings of friendship and the gift of an amazing life.


My dear JC, there will be no goodbye.


Everything remains beautiful, cherished and treasured.


You go on and follow your dreams. Search your own place under the big blue sky. Whatever you may become and whoever you may be, forever etch in your heart the lovely days of life that is JC.

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