It was a sentimental homecoming.  Tacloban City has been my world for my entire childhood and teenage years.  It is the place of San Juanico Bridge and MacArthur landing site.  I spent a big part of my formative years in the islands of Leyte and Samar.  I had my entire education from grade 1 to fourth year high school at Leyte Normal University (LNU).
 
I have lots of fond memories of this university.  I was enrolled here as it was an affordable public institution yet offers very high educational standards.  I was lucky as this was the best elementary and high school in the region. It was also convenient studying at LNU since my mother worked just across the street in a government office (GSIS).
 
Studying at LNU for ten years gave me a nurturing environment.  The bonds of friendships I developed gave me a rich memory.  The bases of my academic outlook in my latter life was due to the training I went through.  It was very good education with a lot of enjoyment doing schoolwork.  I learned about my talents in maths and science, drawing, writing, sports, and many more.  I honed my leadership skills through many group work, student officer positions, scouting and other extra-curricular activities.  The campus was always a good place to play games, do physical education, play football, perform field demonstrations, or just simply run around.
 
I came back to the same place 26 years after to celebrate its 90th year of founding.  It felt like everything was just a recent past.  I was in the university, then called Leyte State College, from 1975 to 1985 finishing Salutatorian in both elementary and high school.  During my whole stay LSC was under Dr Magdalena Ramo who was the first college President when it was converted from Leyte Normal School to Leyte State College in 1976. 
 
LNU was established in 1921 as the Leyte Provincial Normal School.  It took another 31 years when it was converted into the Leyte Normal School in 1952.  This was the time that my grandmother graduated in the same school with Elementary Teacher's Certificate (ETC) when teachers would only study for two years during the postwar to allow them to teach.  Other members of the family also studied here including my father, brothers and my sister. 
 
For nine decades, the university was under the helm of bright administrators who shepherded the university to what it is now.  Mrs Jesusa Brillo laid the ground during the first thirty years.  Mr Jose Ledesma followed during the war years and beyond.  Mrs Obdulia Cinco lead the university during the 1960s where she established the graduate programmes.  She eventually became the Mayor of Tacloban City.  When I left the university,  Dr Purificacion Flores became the President.  She used to be the head  of the elementary and secondary school when I was studying.  It was then Dr Cres Chan-Gonzaga who made the conversion of LSC to Leyte Normal University in 1995.  She became the first University President  followed by Dr Evelyn Cruzada in 2005.  The latter was my school paper advisor in high school.
 
During the anniversary celebration, many alumni came to partake in the revelry.  I met familiar faces from different batches.  It was hosted by elementary batch 82 and high school batch 86.  This was my very first alumni homecoming.  In enjoyed the performances, fireworks, games and other events prepared by the hosts and the university.  It was a fitting tribute to an institution proud of its achievements.
 
For 90 years the university has served Leyte and Samar well and provided the many teachers who have been teaching its population.   They have been a major partner in the development of the region.  They deserve the title of Centre of Excellence for Teacher Education and will continue to remain as such.  This is one reason why I continue helping the university because I believe in their noble goal of developing teachers with passion.  I look forward to its centennial anniversary in 2021.

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This article was originally printed in our monthly Munting Nayon News Magazine. (March 27, 2011, Issue MN249)
 
 
 

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine