Mrs. Loreta Fernandez (1922-1999)
Maraming makukulay na characters sa Torres High noong dekada 70: Ms. Yanguas, Mr. Pecatoste, Ms. Anatalio, Ms. Alejandro, Ms. de Ocampo a.k.a. Doris Van de Bogart, Mrs. Dagumboy (with her distinct way of looking at people - mala-Joseph Estrada), Mrs. Francisco of Social Studies III (remember the vanishing hair?) . . . at Mrs. Fernandez . Kung tawagin siya'y Kobang. (The other character in "Macs and Kobs", Macs being Mrs. Macam of "The Torres Torch".) Incidentally, mabait sila pareho kaya kinuha na ni Lord. Kung bakit siya tinaguriang Kobang ay isang tanong na mahirap masagot. Ang sabi ng mga naunang batch ng "Ang Sulo," nagmula daw ito sa buong pangalan na "Kobrina." The name Kobang had since been "institutionalized" . . . not just a funny name but a second name in itself. Hindi pa rin maubos maisip ni Rey Medenilla kung bakit ang paborito niyang sapatos ay yung may dekorasyong salamin na square. At di maintindihan ni Victor kung ano ang kahulugan ng ibinubulong niyang dasal na "Ave Maria Purissima" sa tuwing may dumadaang patay sa Juan Luna habang walang sawang pinugpugpog ng pukpok ang kandyang dibdib. Simple siya. Sa murang isip nami'y kanyang ipinunla ang kahulugan ng pagiging masinop, masipag at mapagmahal sa trabahong pampamahayagan. Dinadala niya kami sa Liwayway Publishing para mag-proof reading at manu-mano naming ineedit anf first draft ng dummy ng "Ang Sulo." (Remember, wala pang computer noon). Buong pagmamahal niya kaming ibinibili ng walang kamatayang siopao na ayong sa kanya ay complete meal. No doubt, relihiyosa siya. She was among those who pioneered the First Friday Mass in THS (together with Mr. Rafael, then principal and Ms. Nabong, former librarian). . .without realizing that twenty-three years later, this would be a monthly practice not only in Torres but in all schools in Manila (maybe in the entire Philippines). This is a lagacy which she started and is now widely-practiced. I'm sure, not everyone knows this. She also authored and co-authored various Filipino books for private schools' use. She was a staunch Legionarie of Mary until her death. She stayed for a while in the States after retirement until she was brought home to Manila because of some illness. I once visited her in her sickbed: she could not move her whole body. She was very, very sick. In June 1999, she left her earhtly abode to join her creator: the ultimate prize for a woman so simple, austere, prayerful . . . By then, Kobang has already become not just a monicker
. . . but a term of
|
