By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
A note from a student
Modern technology connected me to my former students from across million miles.
But, first – I have to thank my editor, my BFF Ardy, for giving me a page in the weekly newspaper: The Bohol Tribune. And now 10 years after, the newspaper is viewed worldwide thru this electronic device.
The curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Commerce I, was actually Secretarial Science in the first two years which included business machines and legislated courses like Spanish, basic English and mathematics.
From former students , like Vic Tan, who attended these classes and subjects and from dear friends, I got many reactions which I treasure up to this day.
At the University of the Philippines in Tacloban at that time in the late 70’s and 80’s, 80% of our students came from depressed families from Leyte and Samar.
Vic tan comes from a middle class family in the town of Burauen, Leyte. His father was a former vice mayor and into copra trading. It was on FB that we were re-connected.
I’ll give u a profile of some of my students:
1. Rc: He used to stay in the faculty room even at lunch time. I found out he and his brother lived in a coca cola movable stall just at the back of Cocoy Romualdez’ nipa hut near UP Tacloban. They took their bath at the UP dorm and for personal necessities at the UP campus.
After college, he became a writer and photographer. He died from kidney failure.
2. Ag: Now you see him and now you don’t. He was the one who came to class with napudpud nga smagol nga tsinelas. And weather beaten, at that. I could not just drop him from the rolls since he got good scores in exams. He ended up 8th placer in the CPA board exams. The reason for his absences? Nagtanum ug nag ani sa kabasakan.
SGV & Co. is a multidisciplinary firm that provides assurance, tax, strategy and consulting services to top corporations and businesses in the Philippines.
3. Nsr: The nephew of a known personality in Leyte. He was one who came to school with a personal bodyguard not to mention his Datsun or Mercedes Benz. I found him lonely. Spme children of the rich and famous are lonely. I don’t know what he liked in me since he opted to have me as his tutor. I understood his pains and now I’m happy to know that among the children, he is the only one whose family is intact. No changing of partners.
There are many stories to tell about the lives of my students whom I got connected thru the years: Their triumphs and their pains.
The note from Vic Tan, a former student truly makes my day every time I read and re-read his message to me. Making me a part of what he is now is something that gives me eternal joy. Honestly, it’s a nice feeling browsing over the words he wrote in his message.
I’m printing his note today.
“Estelita Telly Gonzaga Ocampo was my teacher in UP and my inspiration to become a CPA. We were the pioneer batch of the Bachelor in Business Administration and Accountancy (BBAA) program of UP Tacloban. After an arduous journey of 5 years (yes the program was good for 5 years), we finally finished our bachelor degree and I graduated with honors, cum laude, along with Jing Abocot. All the 12 or 13 students of the pioneer batch, passed the CPA Licensure Examination 100% and became trailblazers of the program. Mrs. Ocampo, as we call her then (Tita Telly nowadays), is the epitome of a dedicated, knowledgeable and successful teacher story. We always had fun in the classroom to ease the rigors and demands of the program. Mrs. Ocampo is pretty and regal in her ways (like Princess Diana), we do not get bored listening to her discussing topics on Mellon Bank (once one of the world’s largest money management firms); mergers and consolidations (became one of the foci in my career – an expertise); SGV (became my first employment) and of course, Martial Law, Marcos and Cory. The joy of being a student of Mrs. Ocampo!”
