To many of us, she was the teacher of petite stature, but of grand genius. She walked us through the Paleolithic Era up to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. It was she who made us watch Coronet films, read opinion columns and made us answer questions that really mattered in world history. She is Ma'am Val!

Evaline Rose Gerochi, born 2 Dec. 1943, entered the Philippine Science High School - Diliman in 1970, right after she graduated from the Central Philippine University. She has already taught 38 batches of PSHS Scholars, not withstanding a former Executive Director of the PSHS system and five generations of teachers; yep, I am a fourth generation student of Ma'am Val, my teacher in Physics had a teacher in Physics, who had a teacher who was Ma'am Val's student- and oh yes, we all were her students too! She also has taught second generation students, meaning students whose parents where her students too!

That's what 38 years in government service would add up to.

Back in our days, I looked up at Ma'am Val as the model teacher, effective, stern but very mild, very motherly. Now that I am too a teacher, and her colleague, she remains to be my model. My affection towards my students couldn't have well been gotten else apart from her, because, from her I learned that if there is anything that makes up Pisay, that'd be the gifted students who are in it. The major stakeholder of the school are the students, no less.

This morning, even if it wasn't the farewell party yet for her, (she's retiring this year as demanded of her by law), I could already have welled up in tears just to see her. Then, again I held them back because it was not the occasion yet.

Truly Ma'am Val is an inspiration to everyone of us her students! And for this I could propose a toast!

Cheers to Ma'am Val, and may she enjoy the next exciting stage in her life, her retirement!