Life Skills from Ma’am Cortes: A Tribute
by Ethel Ravena Langkay
For many of us in UPIS Batch ‘97, Prof. Selma Gonzalez-Cortes was a revered home economics teacher who taught us basic practical skills we carry to this day. More than that, she was the mother of a dear batchmate and friend, Lorenzo “Huggy” Cortes.
Ma’am Cortes was more than just a teacher to many of us; she was also a second mother whose home was always open whenever we would visit with Huggy.
We carry her lessons with us wherever we go, and will teach them to our children.
Paalam at salamat, Ma’am Cortes!
Prof. Selma Gonzalez-Cortes (1945-2022)
Life skills katulad ng pananahi, pagluluto at pagma-manage ng pamilya ang ilan lang sa mga hindi ko makakalimutan na natutunan ko kay Ma'am Cortes.
Tuwing may kailangan akong putulan sa mga pantalon ng mga anak ko, tuwing ako ay nahihirapan mag-budget at magluto parati po kitang naaalala at naiisip. Paano na lamang kung hindi ako marunong at hindi ninyo ako naturuan? Aasa at magbabayad na lamang ba ako?
Maraming salamat Ma'am Cortes. Mahal kita.
- ELLAINE CANTUBA NAPIZA
Ma’am Cortes with 5-Makiling, Batch ‘97
Ma’am Cortes was more than a teacher to me and my siblings. We would spend our summers at Huggy’s house in UP with her summer art and cooking classes. She has influenced me in my younger years to pursue a path in the food business.
She also taught me the importance of family and simple living. It's sad that I never got the chance to thank her for all these. Ma’am Cortes, thank you for not only being a great teacher but a wonderful human being.
- PAENG NATIVIDAD
Huggy and Ma’am Cortes
Grade 5 pa lang ay PA teacher ko na si Ma’am Cortes. Natutunan ko ang mga iba't ibang klase ng pagtahi sa mga puting tela na aming ginamit sa klase. Natutunan ko din ang paggawa ng meal plan at pagluluto at marami pang iba sa larangan ng home economics. Ang lahat ng ito ay naibahagi ko sa aking mga anak at ibang kapatid.
Isa sa pinakamahùhusay na guro si Ma’am na dapat parangalan. Isa rin siya sa naging loyal na customer namin ng ilang taon sa barbecue business noon sa pamamagitan ng aking pinsan hanggang si Huggy na nag-o-order sa akin.
Maraming, maraming salamat po sa lahat ng mga itinuro ninyo sa amin. Nakakalungkot na isa na namang magiting na guro ang kinuha na sa atin ngunit magpapatuloy ang kanyang mga naiwang alaala sa ating puso at isipan.
- CHERRY LOU BAGUNAS
She was outwardly strict but the glint in her eye belied a caring and humorous interior that made her students want to do well, do better, to be worthy of her teaching efforts and hopefully, praise.
She was my home economics teacher in grade school. Sadly, I don’t think my novice attempt at an omelet passed her discerning standards.
- ANNA MERCADO CLARK
I remember how my mom used to tell me the story of how as she was entering the lobby of Capitol Medical Center to give birth to me, Ma’am Cortes was exiting as she had just given birth to Huggy a few days before. Thirty-something years later, Huggy and I still unfailingly greet each other on our birthdays due to this “bond.”
I distinctly remember learning how to cross stitch from Ma’am Cortes back in Grade 5. She was a strict mother figure who provided a sense of security in the classroom.
Thank you for the lessons, Ma’am. We will remember you fondly.
- LIANNE MIRANO ROMERO
Bukod sa mga naituro at nabahaging kaalaman ni Ma’m Selma sa atin sa Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan, madalas akong napapagalitan at nasesermonan dahil sa kakulitan at kapilyuhan namin ng ibang kamag-aral.
Pero ngayong isang magulang na din ako, aking napagtanto na bukod sa pagiging guro, sila ay talagang mga pangalawang magulang natin na nagturo at nagtuwid sa atin nung mga bata pa tayo.
Nung huli kaming nagkita, nagpasalamat ako sa kanya dahil naging guro ko sya sa UPIS at naging pangalawang magulang siya para sa ating lahat. Rest in peace Ma’am Selma.
- ANGELO ASUNCION
