Teachers

It was World Teachers' Day yesterday and I'd like to thank all my former teachers, whether in the formal classroom or the sports arena, for helping me become what I am today.

While I am forever grateful to some of my teachers like Miss Elizabeth Nacar (now Mrs. Sotto) in kindergarten, Miss Maria Theresa Soco (now Mrs. Syparrado) in Grade 3, Mrs. Fe Reyes my journalism teacher, Miss Carmen Bunagan my high school English teacher and a few more, there are two teachers, who also made a major impact on my life.

They were my Physical Education teachers in high school and college, Mr. Jovenal Sagario and Mrs. Annie Cabanda, respectively.

Mr. Sagario taught me to develop my love for sports and although his subject wasn't exactly something that most of the class took seriously, I enjoyed PE as much as I did my science subjects back in high school.

I actually learned much from PE that helped me in my career as a sports journalist.

In college, Mrs. Cabanda was our PE teacher, who made us enjoy the different sports being offered in the various classes.

It was, however, when I decided to take judo seriously that I got to know her more and realize that I had the ability to teach judo to others including the children, who took part in our free summer classes.

Before I became a journalism teacher, I was a judo teacher alongside my closest friends in college and it was an experience that allowed us to give back to the sport that had taught us much about life itself.

When it was my turn to become a teacher, I realized that the best reward for the job is when your students recognize what you've done to mold them into the person that they are today.

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The Ryder Cup proved to be very exciting despite the rains that altered the schedule of the competition.

The tournament between the American and the European professional golfers is one of the most anticipated events by the golf community worldwide.

The players did not play for money in that tournament, but they gave it their all.

To the non-golfer it might have been quite a challenge understanding what was happening and why the people cheered or groaned.

Two years from now, the Ryder Cup will be hosted by the United States.

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MILESTONES: I have a long list of belated greetings to friends and family, who turned a year older last Monday.

First on the list are my cousins Emily Iway-de la Vega and Lowell Belarmino. Belated greetings also go to CITOM Chairman Jack Jakosalem, Lt. Col. Mark Edwin Moro, Atty. Rose Olaño-Versoza, Hazel Tan, Sheelah Malicse, and the very dependable Chendrina Rosaroso of our production department.

Belated greetings also go to those who turned a year older yesterday like Cavalier Winston 'Arf' G. Arpon, Innah Garcia, Oliver de la Peña, karateka Oliver Rondez, and my Tao sister Ailenne Galicinao.

Today's greetings go to my mistah Gerard Magalona, Ma. Rowena Agapay-Medina, Alicia 'Xhang' Casiño, and Antonietta Fernandez.

More power to all of you!