IRIGA CITY --- "Please tell Dr. Remedios 'Wawa' R. Alfelor that I have come to Iriga City to honor her valuable contribution to the formation and education of many generations of Filipinos in this part of our country," said Vice President Noli "Kabayan" de Castro, in his speech during the 61st commencement exercises of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) here recently.
As De Castro lauded the Alfelor matriarch as "an epitome of the sterling qualities of a Filipino teacher - dedicated, determined and persevering,"
the country's vice president also cited the great sacrifice and the untiring support of the parents of the graduates.
"Destiny is indeed a matter of choice.... Life is all about making choices, and we, the elders, parents and teachers, must also respect those choices," De Castro said referring to the graduates' choices of their chosen fields of profession.
Wawa to her loved ones and friends, at 94 years old, continues to serve as a fountain of inspiration to the members of UNEP's community. Her living legacy, lovingly etched in every nook of the university, serves as an endless source of optimism to UNEP's administrators, faculty, employees, and students.
Citing Wawa's continuing strong "presence" in the University, De Castro said that it's not the longevity of the Alfelor Matriarch that he wishes to allude to but "her decision to be an educator many, many decades ago, to dedicate her life to teaching the young people of the Rinconada Area and the rest of the Bikolandia."
Wawa, the First Lady of the late Camarines Sur Governor Felix O. Alfelor Sr., as De Castro correctly puts it, is indeed a shining example of an outstanding teacher. While teaching could be one of the noblest professions, it could also be one of the most difficult and challenging vocations. But for Wawa who is a staunch believer of quality education, nothing could be more dignified and venerable than molding young minds into becoming respected members of the society, proud of their roots and education.