Sunday with Soriano*
I went to The Block today to meet Ma'am Soriano for dinner. Totally spontaneous. I was just Facebooking on my bed when she asked me if I wanted to go out. Being the spontaneous person that I am, I said yes.
She is perhaps my most favourite high school teacher, even though she never handled our class. She was just my adviser in the school paper, so it was beyond what can just be graded simply in the classroom.
She's just a few years older than me, that's why it was easy for me to get close to her. She graduated from UP, BA Journ, and she always expressed her support for me in all my activities in UP--- from debate, to the NUS experience, to the acads.
She was looking for any Korean restaurant, but I didn't know where to go since I have never tried Korean food more so in a decent restaurant. I suggested to just go to Trinoma, but she preferred The Block for the simple reason that "maraming mapagpanggap sa Trinoma". I laughed at her excuse since we were at The Block, SM's counterpart of Trinoma. A few minutes later, I realised that she was right.
We ended up eating in Teriyaki Boy, just because she wanted to use chopsticks. I also miss eating with chopsticks. Just a year ago, I was in Singapore where I learned how to use chopsticks correctly.
We talked about the past. We talked about my editorial staff way back in high school, and we talked about my classmates. We talked about the screening process for the paper, something that she really hated because of the grade school applicants. I used to love those activities since they got me excused from class; it was only now that I've really realised that it comes at the expense of the patience, or the lack of it, of my adviser.
We talked about the present. She told me that the high school paper is on the verge of dying, so she is being offered a position in DPS to just handle the paper and the yearbook, no teaching load. I laughed at her. I judged her as a sellout, since she told me before how much she hated the DPS admin that she doesn't want to go back anymore. She just laughed, and she said she's not even sure yet. But she said she's considering it, because she wants the impact that she can make to high school students.
We talked about the future. She knows that I have graduated already, so she asked me what my future plans are. I said I applied in UP, and she asked me why I'm not willing to teach in high school. "I don't like to invest my emotions on competitive children", I responded with a laugh. She laughed back and said, "Magugutom ka sa UP". I've always known this for a fact, but it hit me differently this time around.
She asked me if I really want to teach. I said yes, but in college. I said I'm also looking for opportunities abroad, but most likely, I'll start with my master's in UP first. She wants to continue her master's in UPD too, but she doesn't have the time since she's working. I asked myself why I never thought about work vis-a-vis master's; I didn't arrive at an answer.
After eating, she volunteered to pay for the bill. Of course, she insisted. And we were just laughing and laughing while waiting for the change.
It arrived, and we had to leave. She said "hahanapin ka na ng nanay mo". I was surprised, since you all know that I've got the most liberal parents in the world when it comes to asking for their permission. Until I realised that way back in high school, she even used to take me home through cab almost every night that we extended in the computer lab, just laying out the school paper. It happened more than 10 times, that's why she knows my Mum. Something I have already forgotten.
We went out of Teriyaki Boy, and we went to the Middle Part (the Grepa part) of SM. I asked where the CDR King is, because I wanted to buy CDs since I'll be reformatting my laptop this week. She told me to just go straight ahead until I reach the Annex. She took the elevator down and waved bye.
While taking the long walk to the Annex, I wondered where I'll be five years from now.
Just when I thought that I am old enough since I have finished school already, I begin to realise how young and naive I am.
*futile attempt at a Tuesdays with Morrie rip off.
She is perhaps my most favourite high school teacher, even though she never handled our class. She was just my adviser in the school paper, so it was beyond what can just be graded simply in the classroom.
She's just a few years older than me, that's why it was easy for me to get close to her. She graduated from UP, BA Journ, and she always expressed her support for me in all my activities in UP--- from debate, to the NUS experience, to the acads.
She was looking for any Korean restaurant, but I didn't know where to go since I have never tried Korean food more so in a decent restaurant. I suggested to just go to Trinoma, but she preferred The Block for the simple reason that "maraming mapagpanggap sa Trinoma". I laughed at her excuse since we were at The Block, SM's counterpart of Trinoma. A few minutes later, I realised that she was right.
We ended up eating in Teriyaki Boy, just because she wanted to use chopsticks. I also miss eating with chopsticks. Just a year ago, I was in Singapore where I learned how to use chopsticks correctly.
We talked about the past. We talked about my editorial staff way back in high school, and we talked about my classmates. We talked about the screening process for the paper, something that she really hated because of the grade school applicants. I used to love those activities since they got me excused from class; it was only now that I've really realised that it comes at the expense of the patience, or the lack of it, of my adviser.
We talked about the present. She told me that the high school paper is on the verge of dying, so she is being offered a position in DPS to just handle the paper and the yearbook, no teaching load. I laughed at her. I judged her as a sellout, since she told me before how much she hated the DPS admin that she doesn't want to go back anymore. She just laughed, and she said she's not even sure yet. But she said she's considering it, because she wants the impact that she can make to high school students.
We talked about the future. She knows that I have graduated already, so she asked me what my future plans are. I said I applied in UP, and she asked me why I'm not willing to teach in high school. "I don't like to invest my emotions on competitive children", I responded with a laugh. She laughed back and said, "Magugutom ka sa UP". I've always known this for a fact, but it hit me differently this time around.
She asked me if I really want to teach. I said yes, but in college. I said I'm also looking for opportunities abroad, but most likely, I'll start with my master's in UP first. She wants to continue her master's in UPD too, but she doesn't have the time since she's working. I asked myself why I never thought about work vis-a-vis master's; I didn't arrive at an answer.
After eating, she volunteered to pay for the bill. Of course, she insisted. And we were just laughing and laughing while waiting for the change.
It arrived, and we had to leave. She said "hahanapin ka na ng nanay mo". I was surprised, since you all know that I've got the most liberal parents in the world when it comes to asking for their permission. Until I realised that way back in high school, she even used to take me home through cab almost every night that we extended in the computer lab, just laying out the school paper. It happened more than 10 times, that's why she knows my Mum. Something I have already forgotten.
We went out of Teriyaki Boy, and we went to the Middle Part (the Grepa part) of SM. I asked where the CDR King is, because I wanted to buy CDs since I'll be reformatting my laptop this week. She told me to just go straight ahead until I reach the Annex. She took the elevator down and waved bye.
While taking the long walk to the Annex, I wondered where I'll be five years from now.
Just when I thought that I am old enough since I have finished school already, I begin to realise how young and naive I am.
*futile attempt at a Tuesdays with Morrie rip off.