A LIFE WELL-LIVED...

GRADE SCHOOL Grade III

Mrs Carmen Maisog Roa (Nang Mamie) The feeling was different. It was as if I was in my mother's classroom. Nang Mamie has always been like a mother to me. I grew up with her sons, and we love to play marbles at their front yard, and often times pick "tisa" fruit from their backyard. Jupe, her third son, was in our class. So was Viling Alas. One thing I won't forget is when it's PE (Physical Education) time, meaning dancing, Viling and I skip through the windows and run all the way to their house. And there, we will have ripe guavas (the biggest I have ever seen) and play marbles and "kuarta-kuarta", empty packs of cigarettes as money. Once a year, a class visitation takes place. That year it was Maular Elementary School's turn to pay Aloran Central School a visit. An elderly teacher, wearing glasses, graying hair led the delegation. Her name was Mrs Ramos. Romeo Ratilla, the smallest in our class sang a song that I'll never forget. Perhaps, neither Mrs Ramos, who was sobbing the whole time Romeo was singing, would have forgotten. In my recollection, here's how it goes. MY SANINA KO'NG GISI May sanina ko'ng gisi Sanglit usa'ng buok Ako'ng hinukasan Kang Nanay gipalabhan. Ako'ng gisuot Wala amirole Basta maka-abot sa escuelahan Timpo na'ng ting-uli Kuyog sa amigo Palit kalan-unon Ako nagatan-aw Sa ako'ng pagtan-aw Mora'g kahilakon Pobre si Nanay Wala'y ipabalon Below is the literal translation of the lyrics in English. I was ten years old then, seventy now, this song lyrics still changes my internal chemistry, every time I think of it.