A beautiful way of saying goodbye...

Yesterday afternoon, we had an unexpected "despedida" party at the Faculty of Engineering in honor and in gratitude to Maam Belen Pereira who will be retiring at the end of this school year after more than 40 (tama ba 'to, I stand to be corrected...) years of committed service, and Engr. Fe Tabamo who will be leaving for Spain also at the end of this school year to attend to her daughter's children there.

A very lovely and touching party! I arrived at the Physic lab where the celebrants were enjoying themselves - faculty members as well as students singing and rendering songs for the two retirees. Upon arriving and greeting those present, I sat beside Maam Belen all throughout the affair conversing with her. I asked her of her plans after life in UST and she answered none, that is why she said she is hopeful that the administration will still allow her to teach. She further told me several faculty members who are now her colleagues were her former students, and they reminisced those days together in fun and laughter.

On her part, Engr. Fe, I was told, could not hold back her tears as those around her have rendered their numbers. She will surely miss the company of her friends, colleagues and students, the whole engineering faculty and life in UST as well. I hope she will be able to adjust herself soonest in her new environment in Spain, and of course learn to speak spanish fluently since her grandaughters could probably communicate with her only in spanish.

At the end, Maam Belen requested everyone to join her in thanksgiving prayer - in profound and humble gratitude to the Lord for those unforgettable years and everything given as graces and gifts especially of life experiences shared together in the classroom and at the Faculty; for the gift of education she said was privileged to contribute/impart on her students; for friendship with colleagues with whom she had learned so much as a person and as a professional, and they in turn hopefully could have learned from her.

Well, I should say that heroes never die, they just fade away. To Maam Belen and Engr. Fe, thank you very much for being a part of us! and good luck as you begin another chapter/adventure in your life... do not forget us when you are already in your kingdoms! ....three cheers!