My Unforgettable Teacher
***Melchor F. Cichon.
October 5, 2014
Last Saturday, the world celebrated the Teacher’s Day.
And with that, I recalled my elementary days in Lezo Elementary School, now Lezo Integrated School. That was in the late 1950s.
I cannot remember all the names of my teachers from the elementary to college. And the minor incidents that I experienced inside the classrooms.
But there is one teacher I had that I could not forget. I mean his family name. Thanks to Mrs. Evelyn Nabor Revestir for giving me the first name of my industrial arts teacher in my elementary days.
His name is Mr. Eufrocino L. Revestir.
He was our teacher in an industrial art class in Lezo Elementary School in Lezo, Aklan.
In that class, one of our classmates was Arnold Revestir, his son.
One time, while Mr. Revestir was discussing something (I forgot the topic), Arnold raised his hand and said: "Tay, Tay, may I ask something?"
But instead of asking Arnold of what his question was all about, Mr. Revestir told Arnold: "When I am inside the classroom, do not call me Tatay!"
All of us laughed.
But truly, Tay Ofring was a very helpful teacher. He taught us, among others, how to make a Christmas tree out of abaca fiber.
And of course, I will always remember his write-up on the history of the church of Lezo. And his controvercial write-up on the history of Lezo wherein he states and I quote:
"Spurred by a strong spirit of independence, the prominent men and women of Lezo, under the leadership of Don Juan Legaspi and Benedicta Geronemo (Alias Tana Bectang), organized themselves in the year 1865 and petitioned the higher Spanish authorities to grant the creation of the municipality of Lezo independent from Kalibo.
"The petition was granted. To give a name to the town, many names were suggested. The Spanish authorities would like the name to be in Spanish. Incidentally a Spanish Naval Officer, by the name of Lezo, who was present during the negotiation, was given the honor to have the town bear his name. So the pueblo of Lezo was born. It was inaugurated on July 6, 1865, as per decree of March 21, 1865, issued by the Superior Spanish Civil Government. Don Anacleto Ramos was the first Capitan Basal as Don Juan Legaspi declined the appointment."
This statement of giving honor to a certain naval officer, Lezo, who was allegedly present during the negotiation is questionable. First, until recently, we did not know the first name of Lezo. Second, there is a town in Spain named Lezo, whose name was taken from the name of a certain Spanish Naval Officer who was successful in the a battle against the British forces.
Here is a short write-up about Blas de Lezo from wikipedia:
"Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta (3 February 1689 – 7 September 1741) was a Spanish admiral best remembered for the Battle of Cartagena de Indias (1741) in modern-day Colombia, where the Spaniards resisted a siege by a combined British force under the command of Admiral Vernon."
It is clear here that the Spanish naval officer died more than a century before the inauguration of the Municipality of Lezo, Aklan. And so it is not true that the name of Lezo, Aklan was based from the name of a certain Spanish naval officer who was present during the negotiation for the separation of Lezo, from the municipality of Kalibo.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blas_de_Lezo
1867-1967 Centenial Jubilee Anniverary; Separation & canonical Erection of the Parish of San Isidro Labrador Lezo, Aklan December 29-30, 1967. souvenir Program. Printed by Macar Enterprises, Kalibo, Aklan.
***Melchor F. Cichon.
October 5, 2014
Last Saturday, the world celebrated the Teacher’s Day.
And with that, I recalled my elementary days in Lezo Elementary School, now Lezo Integrated School. That was in the late 1950s.
I cannot remember all the names of my teachers from the elementary to college. And the minor incidents that I experienced inside the classrooms.
But there is one teacher I had that I could not forget. I mean his family name. Thanks to Mrs. Evelyn Nabor Revestir for giving me the first name of my industrial arts teacher in my elementary days.
His name is Mr. Eufrocino L. Revestir.
He was our teacher in an industrial art class in Lezo Elementary School in Lezo, Aklan.
In that class, one of our classmates was Arnold Revestir, his son.
One time, while Mr. Revestir was discussing something (I forgot the topic), Arnold raised his hand and said: "Tay, Tay, may I ask something?"
But instead of asking Arnold of what his question was all about, Mr. Revestir told Arnold: "When I am inside the classroom, do not call me Tatay!"
All of us laughed.
But truly, Tay Ofring was a very helpful teacher. He taught us, among others, how to make a Christmas tree out of abaca fiber.
And of course, I will always remember his write-up on the history of the church of Lezo. And his controvercial write-up on the history of Lezo wherein he states and I quote:
"Spurred by a strong spirit of independence, the prominent men and women of Lezo, under the leadership of Don Juan Legaspi and Benedicta Geronemo (Alias Tana Bectang), organized themselves in the year 1865 and petitioned the higher Spanish authorities to grant the creation of the municipality of Lezo independent from Kalibo.
"The petition was granted. To give a name to the town, many names were suggested. The Spanish authorities would like the name to be in Spanish. Incidentally a Spanish Naval Officer, by the name of Lezo, who was present during the negotiation, was given the honor to have the town bear his name. So the pueblo of Lezo was born. It was inaugurated on July 6, 1865, as per decree of March 21, 1865, issued by the Superior Spanish Civil Government. Don Anacleto Ramos was the first Capitan Basal as Don Juan Legaspi declined the appointment."
This statement of giving honor to a certain naval officer, Lezo, who was allegedly present during the negotiation is questionable. First, until recently, we did not know the first name of Lezo. Second, there is a town in Spain named Lezo, whose name was taken from the name of a certain Spanish Naval Officer who was successful in the a battle against the British forces.
Here is a short write-up about Blas de Lezo from wikipedia:
"Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta (3 February 1689 – 7 September 1741) was a Spanish admiral best remembered for the Battle of Cartagena de Indias (1741) in modern-day Colombia, where the Spaniards resisted a siege by a combined British force under the command of Admiral Vernon."
It is clear here that the Spanish naval officer died more than a century before the inauguration of the Municipality of Lezo, Aklan. And so it is not true that the name of Lezo, Aklan was based from the name of a certain Spanish naval officer who was present during the negotiation for the separation of Lezo, from the municipality of Kalibo.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blas_de_Lezo
1867-1967 Centenial Jubilee Anniverary; Separation & canonical Erection of the Parish of San Isidro Labrador Lezo, Aklan December 29-30, 1967. souvenir Program. Printed by Macar Enterprises, Kalibo, Aklan.
