I was still feeling light headed (for not having taken a good night rest) when my hand phone signaled that a message is waiting for me. The current Chairman of the Physics Department knew that I am already home in the Philippines by June 02. True enough it was his message telling me that my former Physics 21 student is waiting to complete the INC grade incurred. I knew that when I left the Philippine a year ago, I had accomplished everything in relation to my students. This should be one of those students who did not verify his status after taking the removal exam.

There are some students who act like that. After taking the removal exam, they would not care whether they passed or not. They simply disappear. This type of student exasperates me. Some of them believe that it is the duty of their teacher to follow them up after they took the removal exam. It should have been the other way around.

I was about to grumble. But I told myself that there is nothing I could do until I get back to the MSU campus. All communication pertaining students should be put on hold. But I could not help thinking about students now that a dam filled with memories is about to overflow….

Talking about dams… I remembered Guelph during the long weekend for Victoria Day (May 17-19, 2008). It was memorable because I came in close contact with one of my former students way back in the 80’s. He was one of the many students I had. He was one of the many students I came to associate in the very church that we both belonged yet still he was one of the many students that I knew superficially! I simply knew how his mind works in relation to Physics. He plays the guitar too but in the 80’s I was surrounded with people whom I can depend on when it comes to music. He was too young then for me to consider dependable!

Reaching Canada, I was thrown into a situation that I knew no one in relation to guitar music. I need someone to accompany me with a guitar. Brother Tirso Dapar told me that Rolito Catingan could accompany me. That put me at ease. I heard Lito play the guitar before and I told myself “pwede na!” than having nothing at all!

But such judgment of “pwede na!” really embarrassed me when Lito started plucking the strings! What a transformation!!! He has grown a lot with his music, yet he remained humble! I was thrown again into a fit of memory recall. I remembered Calixto Inao, Shemei Postrero, Sosthenes Postrero, Lemuel Lecciones, Elson Lecciones, and Dodo Lecciones. The performance that Lito has done made him at par with those that I have known in the past.

Yes, he remained humble! After playing at Guelph Church he was approached by one of the church-goers and was asked whether he got his CDs produced. With the quality he showed in his performance I could say that I would love to have his CDs too. But Lito just responded with a smile.

And yes, he remained humble not only with his music but with his Physics performance too. While traveling to church, he started narrating how the physics students performed in my classes before. He said that no one could beat Marcelo Rara because he topped the Physics 21 classes with a grade of 1.0. “Grabe kadto nga grado! Ang sunod ra ba adto nga grado kay 1.75! Pwerting layo-a!” Yes, I still remembered Marcelo Rara, his performance both in my classes and in the departmental examinations. But my thoughts were disrupted when everybody around me burst into laughing as Lito answered his own question: “Kabalo mo kun kinsa kadtong nakakuhag  1.75 nga grado? Ako to!!!”

Ahh, this guy is indeed something! Who would ever think that he could have that bubbly nature when his demeanor is telling me a different story.  He is calm. He is composed! He could be even strict! Yet, he could make people around him burst into laughter.

I am very glad what I have just witnessed in Canada. I have seen the growth taken by one of my students: Rolito Catingan. I love what I have seen in relation to his wife (Chato), his son (Carlo), his daughter (Sarah), his in-laws (the Maghiloms), and his church. What a life! What a man!

As I faced another semester and another set of students, I know something has been added to my own experience. “Thank you, Lito for accompanying me as I give my own brand of music to the world. Most of all, thank you, for accompanying me and guiding me through in making my own realizations! You, too, are a good teacher. Thank you for teaching me!”

Now I am missing the music and the laughter, and one of those people who made me sing and laugh…