MA’AM FRANCIE
December 5, 2008 by champoyupee
Carl Jamie Simple S. Bordeos
December 03, 2008
I call her ‘Ma’am Francie’ not because she was my teacher during my student days, but because she deserves more to be called that way. Not because she is one of the pillars of the institution and one of the big bosses that we had at CKC, but because to me, she is really a teacher, not an ordinary one, and together her husband, Sir Pio Obong Santos, teachers of good values.
Few days ago (November 29), I was sitting at table 25 in the reception at Frs. David and Leopold Memorial Auditorium as an invited guest during her and Sir Pio’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. Everyone invited were in their formal attire. By the way, earlier to the reception, we were at the CKC Chapel for the Eucharistic Celebration with the Gomez Orkestra (the name I call for the CKC Jose C. Gomez Orchestra) doing the choir service.
Days before I was given the invitation, I had planned to be home on the week end days to spend that little time with my family. But I was not able to because I had to attend her wedding anniversary. Honestly, I have not been in a ceremony like that even in my family since my grandfather died in the year 70’s, so it would be very impossible to experience such event. So, I would say that that 50th Wedding Anniversary of Dr. Pio and Dr. Francisca Palermo-Santos was very memorable to me, aside from attending the wedding because of the Gomez Orkestra.
I hope that everyone who attended especially those who are employees of the college have learned much from that event. Ma’am Francie and Sir Pio taught us loyalty. Why? Just imagine that after 50 years, the couple had decided to have their wedding at a very small chapel that is CKC Chapel, wherein they could have chosen a better one in the city, the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral but they did not. That Eucharistic celebration in the chapel was followed with a reception in the college auditorium. As of this date, the couple made history at CKC: the first and only Golden Wedding that was held at the chapel; the first and only couple in the college to have celebrated a golden anniversary; and the first and only couple to hire the services of CKC’s Gomez Orkestra to sing in one of their special occasions. Isn’t that historical?
But the thing I admired most of the couple is that they used their special day to help CKC in one of its programs that is extension services. The couple’s intelligent and beautiful grand daughter, Miss Zytel Joyce Marie G. Santos, explained as to where the guests’ gifts will go. Instead of gifts, she encouraged everyone to give at least two kilos of rice for the feeding of the malnourished children. Miss Zytel did a very good job in presenting the symbolisms of rice. So, during Ma’am Francie and Sir Pio’s anniversary, rice was the highlight. To quote her, rice is a ‘symbol of power’ (in Japan), ‘of fertility and joy’ (in Roman), ‘of steadfastness and dedication’ (in Hindu worship), ‘of devotion, affection, generosity, and respect’ (in Nepal), ‘of long life, happiness, abundance, prosperity and good fortune’ (in the Philippines), and more importantly, a symbol ‘of peace’ (in the US) citing the incident wherein US President Bush was sent rice grains by his people for the Iraqi people. She added that rice is a gesture of direct aid and a reminder that people of faith want peace.
To Ma’am Francie and Sir Pio, two of the few pillars of the institution, Happy 50th Anniversary! We thank you for the lessons we have learned and we wish you more blessings so that you will be able to extend more generous acts for Calbayognons! And to Ma’am Francie, who is celebrating her birthday today, just in time I am writing this article, Happy, Happy Birthday!
thank goodness i finally managed to open this blog! hehe! that’s the thing with friendster blog - it takes a decade before you get to be ‘in it’. that’s why i seldom open mine. anyway that’s a heart-warming article you have there. you even put my name in it..gosh!(laughs) it’s also flattering that you chose to witness the affair over your brief vacation in your place…thank you!!(smiles) you see, i felt the same way that you did when i took part in the anniversary. it was my first time to walk down the aisle as a ‘grown-up’. the last time i did was when i was in pre-school i think…as a flower girl on our neighbor’s wedding. it was getting into me. same faces showed up - teachers, the ckc employees. i have seen most of them as i was growing up, and it kind of moved me when i again saw them there, taking part at one of the most important days of my grandparents’ lives as a couple. i do hope they keep their loyalty to nanay and tatay even when they’re no longer at the institution. ckc is like a family to them already. they’ve been on service since i don’t know when. and yes, there have been times that we didn’t agree with their decisions, especially nanay’s, coz she’s over the retirement age!! but…what can we do?? she still seems to be enjoying her profession.
i do hope that the people found something valuable out of the occasion last nov. 29. it wasn’t for the purpose of shouting to all that they made it to 50 years of marriage, but to let them know instead that love and marriage under God’s blessing still work, and that we can manage to serve our fellowmen even in our own little ways. this has to be the “in” thing right now.