by Sid Manalo
In the 55 years of my career as a teacher, I have taught in the 3 major academic levels in 7 different schools and in 6 different cities in the U.S. and Philippine Island. I started teaching in 1961 at the University of San Carlos (USC) Boys H.S. in Cebu. Later that year, Rev. Fr. Alphonse Lesage sent me to St. Mary Major Seminary at Techny, Illinois to do my Theology studies, and to take up a Doctorate in Philosophy at Loyola University in Chicago.
But in 1963, I dropped out from the seminary. I had to work at many odd jobs at the YMCA Hotel in Chicago for free board and lodging, while driving city taxi and bus at night, in order to proceed with my Doctorate studies.
Then, in 1965-67, I got a job, teaching English to the Spanish speaking children of immigrants from Mexico and Latin America in the Chicago public school system. Later, in1967-70, for better working conditions, I taught Latin and Spanish at Fenwick H.S. in Oak Park, Illinois, a prominent catholic school run by Dominican friars. Then, due to visa problems, since I only had a student’s visa, I had to move to Gary, Indiana, in order to have my visa changed in this small town.
I taught Spanish, and coached freshmen basketball at Andrean H.S.,(1970-74), a catholic school run by the Gary diocese. After I became an immigrant, and later, an American citizen, I went back to Chicago to teach Spanish and Philosophy at St. Patrick Boys H.S.(1974-93), a school run by La Salle Christian Brothers. I also coached the varsity tennis team, and directed the school choir. During summer, I worked as manager and instructor at the Morton Grove Tennis Academy.
Then, much later, I was offered Assistant Athletic Directorship, coach of both boys and girls varsity tennis teams, and a Spanish teaching job at Niles West H.S. in Niles, Illinois, which I gladly took (1993-1998), for better driving conditions, since the school was only 10 minutes from my house. There were times, when it would take me an hour to drive to St. Pat H.S. in Chicago from my house in Morton Grove, Illinois, when the road was packed with snow and ice during the winter season. Upon my retirement in 1999 at age 62, I decided to come back to Bohol, only to be asked to teach Spanish, English, and Philosophy at Holy Name University. College of Arts and Sciences, and to coach the men and women varsity tennis teams. This job lasted the longest in my storied career – 21 memorable years (1999-2020).
My teaching career ended abruptly, when the Covid-19 pandemic made classroom teaching impossible. Well, I was already 83 years old at that time. It was time to call it a career. I have had students who became teachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, architects, engineers, police and army officers, government officials, business people, and lots more.
I thank my Lord Jesus and His blessed Mother Mary for having given me near perfect health to last this long, and the much needed perseverance and fortitude, that enabled me to work for 35 years in a foreign country, far away from family and friends. In those days, cellphones and laptops did not exist as yet, and contact with family in the Philippines was done only via mail or the very sluggish and skimpy telegram.
In final analysis, my years of sacrifice and hard work in the U.S. was well worth it. My monthly Social Security checks are worth more than what some bank managers here are receiving every month. Now, I can just sit back, relax, and not worry about the future.
