“My Teacher, My Hero”

"No one saves us but we ourselves-no one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path, teachers merely show the way." Gone were the days when we spent our late nights indulging in comic books featuring our generation’s greatest heroes, sneaking past our bedtime to read Superman’s latest issue under the sheets while holding a flashlight, running around the house with our fists in the air and a cape zooming through our backs. Nowadays, all we have our noses stuck on are the not-so-thrilling sagas of Captain Algebra on Planet Geometry, Fantastic Physics and Heinous History, much to our dismay.
I never looked forward to closing in on my childhood and waking up to Algebra class in my first year of high school, nor did I find excitement in the then 25-year old Mr. Ongleo who came to class everyday to blab about my least-liked subject ever. He was a new teacher at the Caloocan City Science High School, and being a former disciplinarian in my best friend’s school at St. Mary’s Academy, he daily greeted us with Spartan orders. “Stand straight! Chin up! Hands on the side!” When the door opens to give way for him we had to be in this position already—mouths zipped and bodies stiff as a board. On some accounts he’d add “Be proud of yourself.”, and that would somehow make the corners of our lips slightly curl upward. He’d then check our room’s sanitation, and make remarks concerning it. He hated noise and dirt, and was highly irritated by even tiny pieces of paper. Add the fact that he taught Algebra, I exceptionally sucked in his class. I often got single-digit scores in the quizzes and even on assignments I had spent three hours answering.
The gent was truly strict, but beyond his stern frown were words that helped us through the adversities we faced in our mission to solve for the value of ‘x’.
One thing I found remarkable in his teaching though, was that he often said “If the answer is wrong, give 0.5 for the effort.” Must I confess, I am truly a lethargic individual, but these words made me change my ideals. Back then, I only took this statement literally, giving half a point for my classmate’s attempt of answering the problem. But as time went by, I realized that his words went far beyond the four corners of the classroom, and made me realize things within my own self. I found out that what we took for stringency was actually his way of preparing us for future hardships, disciplining us along the way.
“Should you find the need to copy your classmate’s assignment, learn from the experience so as not to be dependent upon them anymore in the future.” I grew up not asking for help from others, even from my own parents though with the exception of financial aspects, when it came to schoolwork. However, there were moments when it became hard on me and I felt like I would collapse any minute. Now, I’ve learnt to be more open regarding my situations, and realized that there are times when it’s necessary to seek out the guidance of others. As the saying goes, “No man is an island.” Luckily, he opened my eyes to the facts and showed me that such apothegms are not only meant to beautify the words of the speaker, but more importantly to educate the listener, and I for one am fortunate enough to have been part of his audience.
From then on, hesitations and such eluded my mind. I have started to take hold of the opportunities that come knocking on my door. There is no use to being shy and forlorn; as I transferred schools, his words never left my mind. I was no longer afraid of taking chances—chances of making friends, of meeting new people, and engaging in new activities. Truly, the height of the mountain’s peak does not matter, for the mere journey completes me. So as much as possible, I will exert great effort into doing things for my own development. However, since effort would only bring me halfway, then I must do things righteously to gain a hundred percent forward to my goals! And I have my hero to thank for this.
Many times over the past two years I’ve thought about the man of this piece and how much my life changed because of his influence. It is through him that I became an optimist, and saw things in a more positive view. Ah yes, as I’d look back to my freshmen lane I’d remember him not for the mathematical formulae, but for the life-transforming theorem he imparted unto me.
With the various monsters of rapid development of technology, various distracting issues and imprudent curiosity invading the youth’s minds, today’s quality of education has caused a crisis to the general publicity. Where are our heroes you ask? Why not look around your school? Who knows, that strict, nerdy professor of yours who sports the messy hair and specs might actually turn out to be your Superman. Your principal might be Wonder Woman, your school janitor is actually Batman, and the list goes on! The world needs someone who’ll teach us to look beyond the horizon and find our dreams. Anyone, whether an ordinary, average being is capable of being called a hero—for anyone can make a huge difference.
As I open my comic books, I see a different lineup of the Justice League—down the side where the fictional heroes used to be is my Math teacher, my hero, the 28-year old Reginald Ongleo—the man who showed me that Math isn’t all about numbers—along with all the world’s modern heroes with simple lives but extraordinary lines.