The rain started pouring, outdoor ice cream shops shut down, leaves are browning, your pencils are sharpened and the classroom awaits— Hate it or Love it, you are going back to school next week. You gotta wave bye to wet summer and welcome back a pile up of assignments and projects. School is now back in full-swing. Everything is shiny and new. New teachers, new friends, new shoes, new notebooks, and sometimes, a new school. And everyone is excited about.
Thinking of back to school season can be overwhelming, bringing back silly childhood memories. Where recess is my favorite subject and my daily "baon" (allowance) was just one peso and I could purchase "sopas" (soup) courtesy of Maam Fabula, my T.H.E. (Technology and Home Economics) teacher. I still remember my first grade teacher, Maam Dulay. It was in her classroom when one of my classmates peed in his school uniform. I remember she was very patient lining us up from smallest to tallest every morning during flag ceremony. I was always at the first line because I was the smallest among my classmates.
There were peer groups of athletes, nerds, and bullies. There were newbie’s either a heartthrob or somebody to be a subject of bullying from mean girls. Before the flag retreat we were all scattered in the school playground near the Acacia tree playing “patintero”, “habulan”, “Chinese garter”, and “sepak-takraw” taught by the retired Sir Arque.
Happy thoughts lingers on my mind as I look at Manong Primo’s picture on facebook, I noticed that the old and lonely Acacia tree is still standing there. Tall, strong and verdurous. Proud and beautiful. A silent witness of my elementary memories. I hope I could remember all of my fondest memories at this school. If not, I’m sure, with the carved names on its trunk, the old Acacia tree has a lot of stories to tell. I am very grateful, my core and foundation was built at my school, the New Guinlo Elementary School.
Twist and tear and boogie woogie
Twist and tear and boogie woogie
