The Terror Had a Heart

                                             
                                          The Terror Had a Heart

         The lines, "But O for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still." express Alfred Tennyson's great longing for his friend. In these lines, too, my grief found voice with the death of someone whom I consider my Mathematics Guru, Sir Hermoso "Boboy" Meñez.

         It was three days before the tragic 9/11 terrorist attack when the news broke and filled the the college community. When informed about this, I had to keep a steady stance and control the outburst of emotions to keep my self composed. But I was not able to hide what I felt when tears warmed my eyes and started to fall.

         Why did I cry? Was the death of someone who was tagged terror worth consecrating tears? Those tears expressed an intensely felt grief with the death of someone who had touched and influenced my life. I was deeply saddened with the reality that one of the first two who had taken notice of my "Mathematical Giftedness" was lost.

         While it was true that his name spurred hatred and acerbity to students he failed, engaged in a word war with, or uttered stinging and biting words to, it could not be denied that he was loved because of his encouragement, support, advice and constructive criticism which he inured us every time we complain during the quizzes and examinations, our most trying times with him.

         He really exuded a different charisma as a mentor. His words, though essentially unassertive, would thwart inattentiveness, attract attention, demand respect and dictate desirable action. His words seeped into my interior and made me realize that there is no easy way living one's life.

         More than these, he also took part in watching the seed of confidence within me grow and drawing out the best in me. He was also influential when I imbibed the conviction not to be contented with mediocrity.

         He might have acquired an epithet of being terror but by being such made him one of the best Mathematics teachers. He was a terror for a purpose the reason why he will always be in my heart and in the hearts of those whom he touched.

         As the lines from Cymbelline go: "Fear no more the heat o' the sun, Nor the furious winter's rages; Thou, thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages."