In 1986, the Philippines had its first woman president. The following year, Letran (Manila) High School had its first woman principal in the person of Mrs Lucita Ablaza-Villegas. I was a freshman then. Prior to her appointment, she was assistant principal in the same department.
A few days before the Christmas break, two sections competed in raising gifts for a charitable institution in Tagaytay. My section won and, as previously agreed with Ms Edna Marco (our Religion teacher), would be bringing the gifts to Tagaytay. Ms Marco told my classmate Gary Ramos and I to see Mrs Villegas to consult her on what we should wear for our trip.
When Gary and I went into her office, she stood from her chair, walked, and sat near us. We felt at ease. When we asked her what she thought would be the appropriate attire, she asked us what we had in mind. I told her, "Well, Ma'am, you're the boss". She smiled and told us that we can wear non-uniform, but would prefer to have us wear our ID. Towards the end of our visit, she shook our hands and I took that chance to introduce myself as Larry Albano's nephew. She was delighted. (In a separate occasion, she told my classmates that my Lola Piling was her "ninang".)
That delight turned into dismay when, a few months later, she went into our classroom to check if all students were wearing their IDs. Her aim was to ensure that the department was consistent with its policy. She asked who was the class president so I came forward. When she instructed me to make a list of those without ID, I humbly admitted that I was one of them. She gave me a tongue-lashing. Indeed, I acted unbecoming of a class officer. From then on, I saw to it that I wore my ID while in school. As a teacher now, I could understand where she was coming from.
In my sophomore year, she became our Philippine History teacher for a quarter as our teacher was on leave. Every week, she would require us to write a reaction on the editorial of a national newspaper. Initially I was lazy to submit the work. Looking back, these assignments challenged me to read and think critically. She also encouraged us to prefer Filipino over imported goods. To demonstrate, she stood in class and proudly told us, while pointing at her flowery pair of shoes, "Itong sapatos ko, yari sa Marikina". Even though an expat living in the UK for 22 years, deep within me is a yearning to do something for the Philippines.
There was also a time when I interviewed her for an assignment on the use of the national language. I was shy to see her personally so I left a note with interview questions to her secretary. A few minutes later, a security guard came to our classroom to hand in my note with Ma'am's response. She wanted to see me. I complied and she personally gave me her views and feedback. Working in education can be a challenge especially with time management. For Ma'am, it is not having time, but making time that matters.
By the time I graduated, Mrs Villegas had already been appointed Director for Student Services. Still, she attended my graduation. As my name was called and walked past her on stage, I could hear her giving me a loud applause. Fast forward, when I had a chat with her in social media about fellow Letranite Fr Rufino "Jun" Sescon being named a bishop, she replied, "Yes Arriba Letran! I'm proud of him".
Mrs Villegas had one unforgettable quotation: "You are Letranites!" Letran was then getting ready for the NCAA games and to stave off any unruly behaviour typical of Letran students, she said these words to us. Season or out of season, her saying serves as a wake-up call.
You are Letranites! Whenever we despair or become presumptuous, let us put on hope on God who "has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and He has not hidden His face from him, but has heard, when he cried to Him..."(Ps 22:24).
You are Letranites! When we are tempted to be indifferent to the plight of the least, the last, and the lost in our country, let us, as one Letran song goes, "magkaisa't magdamayan".
You are Letranites! When we have lost our identity as such, let the examples of our patron St John the Baptist, as well as fellow Letranites such as St Vicente Liem de la Paz and Manuel Quezon inspire us to conquer new glories for our and Mrs Villegas' beloved Letran.
Mrs Villegas, thank you for your leadership and friendship. Your passing away came as a shock as we were just chatting about you going to the La Naval celebration and me asking you to give Our Lady a flying kiss on my behalf. Thank you for being true to yourself by being such a light to those around you. Thank you for your reminder that I am a Letranite wherever and whatever my circumstances are. May Jesus, the Light whom you strove to mirror, welcome you into His kingdom of peace and happiness.
To Coach Nemie, Mary Queen, and the rest of the Ablaza-Villegas family, my sincerest condolences.
