Archiving Culture

I remember how my final college year was spent researching on the impact of tourism to the rice wine production of Sagada. Almost five years passed and I believe I can see the validation of my findings. I cannot be happier with the grade I got in exchange for the fervor that I have spent on the research. I am happiest however with the fact that I was on the right track on thinking that at some point in time, the rice wine production will be split into the type that is palatable to tourism and the type that will adhere to the traditional taste. Afraid though that the findings might imply the possibility of a traditional practice of wine making being forgotten in exchange for commercial acceptance.

I fear that a commercially driven production might harm the traditional identity of the rice wine. I fear that the children of tomorrow might not know the authentic taste and value of tapey and will just be relying on what is commercially available as a reference. I hope that these fears will not be validated soon.

Maybe the reason why I wanted to write this blog was to give a warning of the possibilities that we will likely face should we trade tradition with profit and convenience. Some might ask why I am so strong on safeguarding tradition and identity, for what are we without them? Today it might be case of the wine and tomorrow it might be our whole identity.

I went home  recently and saw some tell-tale of these happening. For example, I was dismayed at the quality of the nilapet being sold these days. I was expecting a larger piece with some sweet nut fillings- I got a lousy excuse of a kakanin. That may be harsh but what does that reflect of the community distinguished at priding this delicacy? The only solution I can think of is the active participation of today's generation in the documentation and preservation of these practices.

My Best Friend's Weeding

Behind every bride is that best friend who has been with them throughout the way and who is as excited as the bride.  We may not call each other that way these days but I hope I was on that level once upon a time. The mixed emotions of joy and sadness also grip me.We both made plans of her wedding day and I would love to see her walk the aisle into the love of her life. But unlike all those bestfriends, I will not be seated in front for I am not sure if I am welcome. 

Whatever happened to us?

We've been friends since forever. Despite all the rifts that we had in the past, we remained close and acted as support for each other. We boosted each others morale during those times when our careers were just gaining momentum and comforted each other during the trying times. I have always viewed the friendship as the closest I ever had but I guess we do not share opinions.

Imagine having a friend whom you can lean on in times of pain and celebrate with in times of joy, won't you place your full trust in them? I guess I have been unfair in treating our friendship that way.  I see friendship as few but deep relationships while you view it as a party. Nevertheless, looking back at the years of friendship I have no regrets but pure gratitude for standing by me despite all those insecurities I have. Whatever your intentions maybe or whether you were completely honest or not are all water under the bridge now. 

We have separated ways and have not talked for a long time. A lot of our common friends are asking whatever happened to the duo who seemed tight once upon a time. I offered no answers until now. We have finally arrived at the same definition of friendship where there is no space for assumptions. We now have a clear view of how we stand in our lives and there are no more ill feelings for the shortcomings of a friend.

I hope that on your wedding day you too weed out all the hate you have towards me. While I wish you the best in life, I ask for your forgiveness for the years that I lacked the courage and enthusiasm to give our friendship a chance.I hope that you have picked up something when our roads met in this highway called life.

Even The Mountains Need Some Rest

While some of my town folks are sulking at the fact that the rainy season signals the decline in the tourist traffic in our town, here I am rejoicing. I really should thank the rainy season for making the trails and roads less appealing with the mud and the increased difficulty to travel. While some might hate the rains for pulling down their sales and sources of income, I think nature deserves this opportunity to breathe after getting battered.

Having witnessed first hand how tourists of all sorts flocked to a small town, I cringe at the thought of how exhausted Mother Earth must be for accommodating so much. Use a machine continuously and the life span will surely decrease. What more for the elements in our environment that take time to rejuvenate? Unlike machines, both biotic and abiotic components lack the luxury of immediate replacement when damaged.

I am hoping that even when the establishments and individuals directly depending on the tourism for income source are saddened by the rains, they will still appreciate the fact that Mother Nature needs this break. I am also hoping that the local government in partnership with private groups initiate an assessment of the areas that are critically affected and impose closure of these areas to facilitate self-healing. I believe these make our approach to tourism more systematic and sustainable.

The key to not losing the place we call home to tourism is active local community involvement and scientific approach in managing the demons that come with it. Let us not be blinded by the short term gains that we currently enjoy- there is no greater gain in life than seeing the future generation enjoy and enrich what you have enjoyed in your time. Taking care of the environment does not require more than that desire to stop being selfish and care for humanity as a whole. Adi tako bukudan nan gawis.  

Minsan sa May Kalayaan

I remember how ten years ago in the summer of 2005, me and my sister set foot in UP Diliman for the enrollment- her for her last year in the university and me as a clueless freshman. I am not sure if I was the only freshman with no parents in tow- just a sister who was also busy collecting her class cards in preparation for her enrollment. Excitement overpowered that fear of entering the university for I have heard a lot of inspiring stories from my sister. How students go to class with the clothes they wore last night, with how cheap the things are, with the type of exams, with the brilliance of the other students and with the beauty of living inside a dorm.

Indeed the university dorm life made my stay in the university bearable and fun. I have acquired friends who remain to be my friends to this day and some inspiring acquaintances who are nice to run into now that we are in the corporate world. Living in a dorm offered an opportunity for a balance of the pressures of the academics and the demands of the soul for social interaction. I will never regret living in a dorm all my college years.

A month ago I attended a launch of a program aiming at raising funds for the rehabilitation of the dorms. I met a lot of old faces at the event- some of those remember me and maybe more cannot. But who cares, it is still extremely inspiring to look at these people and see how far they have gone in life. Although it saddens me not see some of my residents when I had a brief stint as a Resident Assistant at the Kalayan Residence Hall, looking at all these familliar faces and spaces is more than enough. I cannot ask more for I have seen my sweet college professor, my former dorm managers, my sisters in crime and have even visited my old rooms.

I know a lot of successful people (including my room mates hahahahha) who have stayed at the dorms in UP. I hope and pray they will help the university in preserving these structures that served as a home during our college days and now a memorial of those memories that have lead us to where we are now.

photo from http://upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/apr15/articles/balikUPDormGallery.html

photo from http://upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/apr15/articles/balikUPDormGallery.html

Coming Home

I have literally flown all the way home for the homecoming early this month. I have boarded a plane from Surigao, boarded a bus to Baguio in Cubao upon arrival, and finally boarded the bus to Sagada. On top of those, I have boarded a banca and a lot of taxis in between. I have braved all those in the name of the homecoming 2015.

For most, homecomings are intended to rekindle the past by meeting the old faces and reminiscing all those silly moments. For some including me, it is our way of showing our gratitude of our roots. If the former would have been my primary reason, it was a disappointment for only I showed for our batch. I am aware of some batch mates who settled in the locality yet failed to show at the event. I understand them for they have their reasons.Seeing old faces those of my generation and beyond is already a rewarding experience. How many of these old faces have inspired me into what I am today? The list is endless.

For how can I not attend an event if I have practically grown with the school? The school is the very reason why we are now residing in Sagada. My father hails from Sabangan and my mother from Tadian making us "dayos" on where we now call home. Ever since I was a child, my mother would bring me occasionally to school. I remember playing with those potted plants-sipping the sweet nectar and popping their buds. I remember playing with the stapler and getting my hands stapled. Along the way some of our students became our kuyas/ates.

Growing older I have constantly witnessed school affairs through my mother. Some of my projects during my elementary days had their inspirations from the works of my mother's students. Then it was time for me to be in high school and I attended school here. Graduating from it's portals, I am proud to say that I am a product of a quality public education institution.

So you see I cannot blame those other batch mates of mine if they have not shown up during the event. Among all of us, I am the most expected to be there for I have spent a longer part of my life there. I have attended not just for myself but also for my siblings who have gone through the same way as I did. We will always treasure the school because it was the reason why we have belonged to the community. Even if my mother does not teach there anymore or that me and my siblings rarely come home, the school and the community occupy a permanent slot in our hearts.

Live long Bangaan High.

Please Do Not Come to Sagada

I am personally making this appeal to my friends who intend to visit Sagada- please do not. Not that I am not proud of where I came from but the recent realizations when I recently went home pushed me to clamor for your support. If you are expecting to find a quaint town where life is quiet and simple, you are up for a disappointment. Traffic, noise and the crowd tarnished the image of the town.

I cannot think of any better feasible action than to ask support from my well traveled friends whose words of recommendation are credible. I am hoping that the desire to see Sagada will not prevail over the desire to preserve the environment. If you are aware of the concept of carrying capacity, then I hope you will agree with me. At present, figures show how the in-traffic far exceeds the number of people that can be conveniently accommodated by the town. I am gripped by fear having seen what tourism did to once quiet towns turned tourist havens. What you will currently see is not Sagada- at least not my version of home.

You may say that you are as environmental as I am and that you are very much aware of the ways to preserve the environment. I know that you all are- but waste generation is directly  proportional to the number of people (whether we like it or not). You might have pocketed your candy wrappers and have used the water sparingly but what about the waste generated by the restaurants that prepared your food? What about those resources used to accommodate you? How about the human wastes generated in the absence of proper sewage treatment?

I hope you find it in your hearts to heed me. Please do not come to Sagada and tell others to do that too. Please come when things are better- when the government has devised a way of regulating tourism and solving all those perpetual problems that come with it. While waiting for that, please let my stories be your virtual tour to the town.

Thank you!

Stepping Out of the Funny Zone

People will never see me as smart. They will always see me as funny, friendly, entertaining... adjectives on this side only. I have gone through a lot of team building activities where the facilitator asks everyone to tape a paper on their back and ask everyone to write an impression of each person- I have never gotten smart among those descriptions but funny and entertaining always made an appearance.

Even in conferences that I have attended, they will always ask me to do the hosting when things go boring and not when things go intellectual. More often than not I do the ice breakers than deliver the meat of the conference. If I will ask some of my classmates before or my colleagues from my past jobs, I might get the same answer as those derived from the "paper on the back" activity. I am afraid to do that and will just settle to this delusion that somehow a small fraction of those who know me find me witty together with being funny and friendly.

I have struggled with this when I have tried to teach at a tertiary institution. I was not confident whether the students will view me as a credible teacher or just a comical one. Will the two never point to the same direction? I have often heard that comics are witty people but with how I think people perceive me, I do not find consolation in that popular belief.

I long for the day when I can be regarded as a credible expert on things. That when I share what I know, people will not wait for the punchline thinking that it was some kind of a joke in the making. I have often blamed the way I carry myself with how I am perceived but I cannot change it- it is who I am. Self-expression really comes at a cost but maybe someday things will fall to place. 

The Next Station

Of late, there are few things that make me ponder about moving on and getting on with life. I have been used to moving on and closing the chapter behind but as I age I come across inspirational people who will likely be open pages in my life. Not that I do not want them to move on and get on with life, but I want to remember them at the state where they have inspired me most.

Few days to go and a mentor will move with her professional life. I have nothing else to say but express my deepest gratitude for it is with her that I have found recognition and acceptance in a place where it is scarce. She have seen me as a different person but I actually consider her as one of my best mentors especially that I have transitioned to this career path. It is not those numerous times that she stuck her neck for me that I most grateful of but rather of the fact that I feel I have fulfilled my mission for this particular place and I can finally move on. Almost a year ago, I arrived on tears and fear but I can say that I can now move on knowing that the likes of me can now trod these grounds being regarded and recognized for what they really are capable of. For this I am truly grateful to her. 

An acquaintance asked me recently why I have not figured on the wedding entourage of someone who used to be so close to me. Even pressed further by questioning why our hilarious wedding plans were not put to reality.  I declined to answer for I might say the wrong words and send the wrong message.  I could have just said that both of us just moved on and have outgrown that friendship, but that could be misconstrued. There was no falling out whatsoever, there was only this mutual decision of moving on and we did. I have always regarded her as a sister could not have gone through college easily without her companionship. Our friendship may have been the casualty of the choices we made in life but hey- we made new friends and a have this opportunity to apply the learnings we derived from our lost connection. 

Whether  we move on with happy thoughts or sad ones, what is important is we look back and treasure those things that we have learned from the recent past. Look into the future with optimism- paparating na sa susunod na istasyon. Ang susunod na istasyon ay...

An Open Letter to My Former Residents

Dear Former Residents,

Since open house ng Kalai ngayon at uso naman ang mga open letters, pagbigyan niyo na ito.

Kuya Kim, Madamme Kim, Madam, Donya Kim ... and all those titles given behind my back might be the name you remember me. Siguro ilan sa inyo di niyo na ako maalala bilang naging bahagi ng masalimuot na buhay ninyo sa unibersidad. When I decided to be an RA at Kalayaan, I never thought that it would be a great responsibility. May mga magulang na sobrang makapamper sa mga anak ang pinagkatiwala ang mga anak sa amin na bantayan at arugain bilang mga tunay na kapatid. May mga ilan din namang mga magulang ang wala masyadong pakialam at siguroy iniisip na may taong gagabay sa anak na iniwan nila sa isang pang freshmang dorm sa UP. Naway napunan ko ng kahit na kaunti ang responsibilidad na naiatang noon.

Looking back, my stay as an RA sa Kalai is one of the most colorful pages in my college life. Sana pag nagbabalik tanaw kayo sa inyong freshman year, sana hindi ang aking mga paghihigpit sa bedcheck, pagtataray sa corridor meeting, pag oorganize ng mga walang kuwentang activities, pagkanta ng malakas sa shower o madalas na pangookray hindi lamang sa inyo kundi sa kung sino mang mapadaan ang maalala ninyo sa akin. Given na maalala ninyo ako. hahahha

Sana maalala ninyo ako gaya ng pagkain sa Glorias na kahit di naman kasarapan ay naitawid kayo sa gutom at nabigyan din ng sustansiya. Sana makita ninyo na sa kahit gabundok na basurang pinauso ko ay may kaunting aral na mapupulot. I will always remember each and everyone of you with fondness for I have given it my all. Whether you like it or not, you have taken a part of me when you stayed under my wing for a sem or two . I hope you saw right through the comedian and saw someone credible and a potential source of inspiration. If hindi talaga pasok ang inspiration, a warning perhaps haha #charot.

Ilang taon na nga ba ang nakalipas noong kayo ay freshmen? Ilang taon na nga ba noong huli tayong magkita? Ilan sa inyo ay nakakasalubong ko pa paminsan. Ilan sa inyo ay di ko na makita matapos mag check out sa Kalai. Hindi ko man batid whatever happened to you in life, I wish you all the best in life. Entitled or not, I always feel proud at what you achieve. Sabi nga ni Maricel Soriano sa  pelikulang Bahay Kubo, "lahat kayo magkakapatid, lahat kayo mga anak ko. Galing kayong lahat sa puso ko". #award

Missing you,

Kuya Kim

Sperm Donors Anyone??

I suddenly wanted to have my own child. How to do that is still a question I cannot answer as of this writing.

We were doing a set with the songs from the movie Mama Mia and I was tasked to sing the song “Slipping Through My Fingers”. As I am relatively young, I am not familiar with the ABBA songs aside from Winner Takes it All and the all-time videoke favorite Dancing Queen. I needed to listen to the song for half a day before becoming confident that I can sing it in front of a crowd.

The Slipping Through My Fingers song is one of those sounds that you wish today’s generation of music can produce. It has some depth and real emotions to it. It is not just about the storytelling but it is more of the fact that all the lyrics were perhaps carefully thought to carry meaning on it’s own.

I cannot help but feel emotional after realizing what the song is all about. I initially thought it is all about a broken love and the art of letting go but it is much more than that. The song is all about those parents who watch their children mature and go on their own. Almost all my siblings are gone out of the house and pursuing our separate lives. Only two remain and are bound to follow suit after finishing college.

I never realized that parenting could be that emotionally taxing- raising someone and then watch him or her go sometimes without even the simplest gesture of gratitude. It is never an excuse that my mother is a teacher and that she is used to nurturing people and then watch them go.  No amount of preparation will ever make one ready.

I believe what matters most will not be that feeling of pain of getting left behind but more the feeling of fulfillment and pride of having raised a child. What more if those kids accomplished a lot in life. I will not pretend to be aware of the intensity of that feeling of pride. No pain and no gain it maybe but the rewards far outweigh the necessary disadvantages. For that I am willing to take the risk and explore the happiness brought about by parenthood. 

Those Days

These days I am swamped with a lot of things to do. Extreme is the condition that I sometimes skip my meals. Old me would find that unthinkable. Swamped with the workload and seeing no relief in the near future. Must have been the pay I thought but the level of stress keeps reminding me how such stress can never be compensated. They say getting stressed is a choice but I am getting paid to make that choice.

It is on tough days that I recall the days when I was earning very little above the minimum. I wonder how an ambitious and idealistic fresh graduate settled for that-of course I know pretty well why. Food and accommodation then were minimal, transportation not an issue, the workplace looks up to you as if you are a prized genius and to top it all- you get to work with awesome people.

Where can you find  a place where lunch can go down to a peso? or that the groceries get a fixed discount much larger than those offered by the bonus brand? What work will allow you to be yourself and say things as you see it? What office will you go to and do not feel at work but at home? But I love the work not just for the perks it gave but mostly because of the lessons of self worth I learned from it.

Of course there were numerous times that were difficult but I can easily trade those to the countless memories of laughter and friendship. Some of those I worked with might not remember me at all but all that matters is there are those few gems who do. I admit that I miss that easy life when I come across these difficulties. I ask myself what could have been the present me should I have opted to stay. I can only guess. I may have these regrets and fits of "what ifs"but what would matter is I met all those wonderful people and hopefully made a memory in their lives. Those were the days.

Emulate

I must thank my professor for instilling in me how it is to be grateful of what you have and be the primary fan of your own achievements. He further said that we must however always counter our self-directed fanaticism with the reality. Without these words, I might have found myself pitiful a long time ago.

Just recently, an interviewer asked whether I find myself successful and I said yes. He asked for reasons why I said so and I mentioned that most of the plans I have plotted were realized and I see that the near future plans are currently on the works. He then asked if someone else appreciates that fact and that question stuck for at that moment I do not have an answer.

There was a time when I have eagerly waited for invitations to make inspirational talks-graduations maybe or career orientations or practicums. Nothing came and I just though that I might have been too young to be seen as a likely model of success. I waited some more with this secret wish that invitations will come. Nothing came but it was ok.

It was in my MBA class for Personality development that our professor taught me words that have changed how I view success. I have stopped seeing it using the expectation of others as a yardstick whether I reached my goals or I fell short. For success rooted at the expectations of others are other people's success- they have succeeded in charting your course to their liking. Success must have sprouted from our personal desires. When you are happy and content at what you have, what others think just become secondary. Maybe in the future, invitations will come and I know pretty well what I will be sharing to inspire- that you must never mistake success with recognition.

First Honor

Para sa isang musmos, mistulang isang biyaya ang pagkakaroon ng mga karangalan habang ikaw ay nag-aaral pa. Sa iyong pagtanda at pagkatapos ng ilang taon mula sa pag-aaral, mararamdaman mong ang mga ito'y kalakip palang bigat. Minsan ito ang nagtutulak sa atin para magtagumpay ngunit may mga pagkakataon ding ito ang nagiging paala-ala sa ating mga kabiguan. 

Kung iyong aaalalahanin kung sino ang naging first honor noong nagtapos kayo noong elementarya o di kaya ay noong secondarya, ang malimit na tanong ay " Saan na kaya siya?', "Ano na kaya siya ngayon?". Iisiping kadalasan na maaring sila ay nagtagumapay sa kanilang buhay at karera sapagkat noong kayo ay mga mag-aaral pa lamang ay sila na ang tinitingala. Ngunit ganoon nga ba ang nangyayari?

Nagmula ako sa maliit na pamayanan kung saan ang mga nagiging kamag-aral mo sa elementarya ay siya ding magiging kamag-aral mo hanggang secondarya. Kilala ninyo ang bawat isa at maaring hanggang kolehiyo ay alam niyo pa din ang balita sa isa't-isa. Kung titignan ko lahat ang mga naging first honor mula sa aking maliit na paaralan, maari kong sabihin na sa kanilang mga klase, hindi sila ang naging pinakatagumpay.

Mula sa punto de bista ng isang ordinaryong kamag-aral maaring nakakainggit naman ang first honor na ito sapagkat sila ang mga may pagkakataong bigyan ng katupan ang pangarap sa mas malalaki at kilalang mga unibersidad. Maaring gamiting puhunan ang pagiging first honor para makapasok sa mas magagandang mga paaralan. Ngunit paano kaya ang sa punto de bista ng isang first honor? Hindi kaya masyadong mabigat kasi inaasahan nilang lahat na ikaw ay magtatagumpay? Ano kaya ang kahihinatnan kapag nasa loob ka na ng kilalang unibersidad kung saan ang galing mo at talino ay sa ordinaryo lamang? Ang mga first honor ay hindi sanay na bumabagsak kaya ano kayang bigat ng kabiguan ang tatama sa kanila sakaling ito ay kanilang mapagdaanan?

May mga kilala akong mga tao na ordinaryo lamang noong makatapos noong secondarya ngunit matatagumpay na ngayon. Ang ilan sa kanila ay karaniwang pakutyang linya ang "Nasaan na ba yung mga honor noon?". Mistulang may pagkaka utang o pagkakasala  ang first honor noon sa kanila? Kasalanan ba nila kung ninais na lamang nilang mamuhay ng payak at tahakin ang mas simpleng buhay? Ngunit ang hirap ipaliwanag na ang bawat tao ay may kanya-kanyang sukatan ng tagumpay. Kahit mga first honor ay tao lamang. 

Happy Valentines Ja

I am convinced that I am destined to love a J. Most if not all of my few love interests are J's. Now that I think of it, I am wondering whether  I have been conditioned to be so. That will not be a wonder though for in the alphabet K(im) stands closely to the J. Does it follow that K will always be after J? 

I should thank these few Js because they have been instrumental to my emotional maturity. My high school J inspired me to sail through academics and the surge of teeny emotions. He made me stoic. My college J remains to be my eternal crush. He inspired me to be faithful. Across those relationships, I have always been loyal to the memory of him. The post college J served as my mentor in getting through the idealism of fresh gradutes. He guided me by putting a little direction to my once messy plans in life.

These Js are not bad at all. In fact they are good players in their own game- smart, articulate, decisive and good looking if you may ask. They deserve only the best. Sad to say that the best of me can never be fit for them for they are mere mortals. My Jupiter might be waiting for this lady to be home in Olympus. Maybe just maybe. 

Discrimination Begins at Home

What hurts the most if you are gay is to find your immediate family discriminating you. I am ever grateful that my family is ever supportive of what I am and what I do. Having grown in a society where gays are frowned upon, I am thankful that I was spared from more painful memories. Not that I do not have my share of sad stories related to my gender but at least the support shown by my family cushioned it a lot.

I was reading through the anecdotes of the just concluded town fiesta of my hometown when I came across a post of some boys dancing with skirts on. Cross dressing is always a hit and I appreciate it that the presentations at the town gathering included such activities that normalize such practice. What infuriated me were the comments of some people I know. They mentioned names of gays at a very demeaning tone. Much more, these gays are even their relatives. Even if that was not me, it hurts to find the very people you expect to understand you the very people who initiates an avenue for ridicule. 

Let us not blame the remoteness of our town to the backwardness of our understanding towards gender.  As a tourist destination, we are exposed to an overdose of culture, personalities, practices, quirks and gender. We have long been connected to the mainstream media and that internet is not just a thing to imagine. What is stopping us from evolving from the culture of discrimination.

The comments of those few are not my only indicators of what I claim as a traditional discrimination of my kind. There are a lot more. Getting discriminated from a discriminated community doubles the pain. Will there be a time when we as a community can treat each other as equals? I hope I can see that in my lifetime- for I am definitely working my butt off to be at par with the best of the heterosexuals. Call it over compensation but for me it is just doing my part.  

Normale

As a teacher at one point in my career, I have grown to understand what teachers say as the higher sense of fulfillment upon seeing their students graduate and conquer the world outside. I cannot completely describe that feeling- fulfillment maybe, pride, joy or a mix of these emotions at proportions I cannot fully fathom. It must be very difficult for every teacher to see their "children" go much more to feel forgotten by them as they move on.

Late last year, the section that I have taught graduated. I only learned of it through pictures of their graduation day. Even if I have only been their teacher for 6 subjects and for only a year, I still feel pride at what they have achieved. Who would have thought that those unruly and childish brats can make it through college? I smile at the thought of those hours I have spent in sharing whatever little knowledge I have of the hospitality industry. It is every teachers desire to somehow inspire their students no matter how minute the degree may be.

I also learned through FB that some did not make it through- some just stopped on their junior year and opted to get married, some transferred while some shifted to other disciplines. Just by seeing them in their graduation attire is already rewarding.What more if they have made it through the industry they have chosen?

I am talking about those 50 students that I think I have helped in molding in what they have become. I am not sure if any of them ever remember me- hate me for I flunked a whole class or cherish the moments where I have shared jokes with them. If they do remember me, there are no indications. I fully understand those students for I was once like them. I have also been an ungrateful student who forgot his teachers.

Take time and remember all the teachers who have taught you. Be very vocal in your gratitude of whatever they have contributed in your life. No better reward for a teacher than a simple thank you and recognition from their students.