A Tribute to our Teacher and Colleague, Prof. Gloria V.

Uri

It is an honor to pay tribute to Ma’am Uri—a friend, colleague, teacher,

confidante, family. In whatever role we knew her, from whatever vantage
point, she stood apart as someone special!

I first met Prof. Uri when I was a freshman in Mutyang Rural. She was my
teacher in Literature I. I was very afraid of her, although my fear of her
was a notch lower than that of Ma’am D. I thought she was a terror
teacher then, especially when her subject gave me one of my lowest
grades in high school. I was not really fond of Literature and all those
readings, so I owe Ma’am Uri an apology for not giving my best. Sorry po,
ma’am.

Fast forward to after nine years. I was hired as a Math Teacher of

Mutyang Rural in 1994 and that gave me the opportunity to become a
colleague of my former teachers, including Ma’am Uri. I got to know her
better and my fear of her before turned into something that is totally
opposite. I became very fond of her because she was one heck of a
woman.

She taught me a lot of things, maybe unknowingly, through her actions,

her thoughts, her opinions, her principles, her faith, her persistence, her
humility, her passion, her love for her family.

We got to work together on a proposal that we both think would raise

the standard of Mutyang Rural even to a new height, but unfortunately, it
wasn’t approved. Nevertheless, I saw how ma’am Uri took it graciously.
Although at first, of course, she was somewhat ferocious – the very
Ma’am Uri that we know when she couldn’t get what she wanted.
Also, being an English teacher, she would always proofread the minutes,
the write-ups, the proposals; and the funny thing with her, she would, for
a lot of times, edit the revisions she herself had made. And that is
coupled with critiquing her own words.

We will also remember Ma’am Uri as a very jolly person – always showing
her ear-to-ear smile. Her laugh is contagious and I could still hear it right
now… Very creepy indeed!

It was a privilege for me to have been a part of Ma’am Uri’s life. Hers was
a life well lived! Energy, commitment, integrity are the three words that
begin to capture my image of Ma’am Uri, especially the last one -
integrity. She taught me that as educators, we should always possess the
moral ascendancy to lead, to teach, and to inspire.

She was one of kind and will be sorely missed as a colleague, a teacher
and a friend . Prof. Gloria V. Uri --a caring and beloved family-oriented
lady, a cherished colleague, a critique and a friend-- will be missed by
many, but never will she be forgotten by those who were fortunate
enough to have known her! So long, Ma’am Uri. Till we meet again!