CIRILO DUMOTAN ( one of the greatest teachers who ever lived)

Okey, so he is my paternal Grandfather :-)
And he helped raise me with my Grandmother.
But it is with no bias that i hail him as one of the greatest teachers who ever lived.
At the time when the mode of transportation was to hitch a ride on logging trucks and jeepney schedule was few and , very, far between. And to have a horse is an expense not easily raised.
My Lolo walked to the schools, yes schools, where he taught.
He would spend certain days in certain far flung villages to teach reading and writing and whatever else he can fit in his schedule. I remember my Mamalola would say that he would wake up at 1am when the moon is full and he would start walking to wherever he needs to be.
He started the Plantation Elementary School in Camp Phillips del Monte under tents. He walked the wilds and trails of Siloo, Abyawan and other places that even up 'til now are not that easily accessible.
I believe it was the school in Siloo that won an award for being a great school (i have to look this up in my Auntie's records). Some big wigs on the education dep't went to visit the school. From my father's account, they have to cross the same river a few times (Tagoloan River). And that made the award even more special.
A few years ago, someone reminded my Dad that there is still that piece of property that is reserved by the people for the Maestro (meaning teacher, and was what they used to call my Lolo) in Siloo.
Maybe this coming summer i can make a trip over there.
It's times like this that i really wish i have a lot of money :-) I am already thinking of maybe building a small reading center on that property. Of course, named after my Lolo.
Though, i don't think he's going to like that very much. He was always unassuming. Very hardworking.
My greatest shame is when i once saw him walking all the way to Manolo from Lingion with a load of firewood on his back, and i remember being ashamed of him. I thought that if he keeps doing that,  no one would ever think that he is a teacher. My young mind could not quite grasp the greatness of the man who raised me.
And i wish he knows how much he has influenced all the things i do today.
It's strange to cry for feelings that i felt when i was a teen-ager. But that is what's happening now.
I love you, Lolo.
I hope that you can look at all of us, your apos, now.
And be proud of us.
And may we continue to make you and Mamalola proud.