My first teaching assignment was in the far barrio of Naile, Ibajay. I was advised to go to the district office to see the district supervisor, Mr. Bartolome Carillo, who interviewed me on his capacity as the school supervisor in the western part of Aklan.
Mr. Carrillo offered me two places to teach: one in Buruanga and another one in Ibajay. He told me both principals were also graduates of the then famous and prestigious teacher training school of the country, the Philippine Normal School. Both principal and teachers are all single, emphasizing their talents and physical self.
When he mentioned, Mr. Beato dela Cruz, as one of the school heads I have to choose from, I recalled this name when I was studying Art (Drawing & Design) from Miss Carter, my teacher. She was always proud of showing us the fine artistic work of this student and she encouraged us to do the same project or even more.
This was a big coincidence in my application for a teaching job: to be able to meet this talented teacher, artist and journalist. I had to ask some friends to guide me to where Mr. Dela Cruz lives.
Upon seeing him, I was too naive to notice how this teacher principal does his first request. When he gave me some instructions on how to go to Naile – some 15 kilometers from the Ibajay town center, he further requested me to hand carry a letter to his girlfriend from Malinao, which I gladly did.
Upon receiving this letter, this friend of my teacher principal said, “Oh! You are his new teacher. He is a very strict man but he is good and can be trusted upon. He will take good care of you.”
I, an eighteen-year-old new teacher, had so much apprehension on how to adapt to a new kind of environment, away from home and away from my cousins, who were like sisters to me. This new job, under a strict and talented, young twenty-four year old school principal, is different.
There were four teachers in our school. I was assigned to teach Grade 3. Two of us were single, one is married and our principal teacher.
We worked as a team. We promised to each other to show the best we can to produce the best grade school pupils. Upon the end of the year, our Division Superintendent Mr. Aguilar gave our Grade 4 class an evaluation test. Luckily, the level of three of our Grade 4 pupils in arithmetic and reading is second year high school. The community had a celebration after the announcement. In the town fiesta of Ibajay, there were several academic and skills competitions. Naile got the first and second prizes in all events. It was our banner year. We depended mostly on the support of the community of Naile.
The Parents-Teachers Association (P.T.A.) President, Mr. Roque Sombilon and all members were always ready for any assistance we needed. Such relationship was not only for duty but mostly on friendship.