Narito Ako

One would often see Professor Nanette Conception-Narito (not Naruto) walking by the hallways, calling in one of red angle’s phone booth every afternoon or dropping by the College of Education’s offices.  She would always leave the portrait, hoping not to be still like the campus walls. She’s almost everywhere.

Her students would sometimes be annoyed of her ‘narito way’ composed of energizing rituals- vigorous clapping, stretching, arms forward, shouting yells. But after a full semester of unfailing energizers, everyone will just take the routine as a part of their day.

She owes her life of routine and motion to her parents. As a daughter of a Brigadier General and a Principal, doubt nothing why she possesses such qualities. Her childhood days were a balance of enjoyment and disciple rather than stifling. When asked about her thoughts on whose path to take (mother or father), she readily replies, “Mother!” Prof. Narito stressed that she doesn’t want to cut the lineage of teachers in the family tree. Aspirations to the teaching career came at a less mature stage. She would be inspired when she witnessed her mother teaching to a point of childish mimicry.

 Being a daughter of a general and a principal is her edge. Their modes of discipline would catapult her to flying colors. She graduated Valedictorian at E. Rodriguez Elementary school with Presidential merits. While in High school, she finished the academic race as an honor student at the University of the Philippines Preparatory High School. Until she reached her doctoral studies, Prof. Narito consistently bagged a record of being a scholar and an academic achiever. But she didn’t miss the high school giggles,   “I was once UP Miss Alma Mater.”

Division of City Schools and Jose Abad Santos High School opened its doors; there she started to be a teacher and a coordinator as well. “It was a feeling of accomplishment.” She was overwhelmed upon reaching her dream.

In the 1980’s she got married to Mr. Aristeo C. Narito, a real estate broker. A hard facet of her life came in when she gave birth to her first born. She was torn in joggling her role as a teacher, mother and wife.  Initially, balancing took a laborious effort but she got used to it. The labor was brought to a higher level when she had twins while on her doctoral studies. “Imagine, tending three cribs.”  With a very supportive family she was able to hurdle these maternal challenges.

After finishing doctoral, her mother passed away. There was difficulty in accepting the loss of her great inspiration.  As a way of moving on, she focused on her rearing children. She would take doubled efforts to produce time for her responsibilities. Despite the time constraints, Prof. Narito faced the normal motherly duties such as mentoring her children. That’s why her family appreciates her as teacher and mother, at the same time. With this, she regards her profession as a ‘blessing.’

Who says it is impossible to serve two masters at the same time? Prof. Narito serves a living proof that you can serve two masters with proper management of constrained time.

Dr. Narito’s tale doesn’t speak epics, not even begging “narito ako” for recognition. It plainly stands out as an imprint of the many challenges in the education landscape. Family, especially children, takes a apposite consideration. When asked to choose what to prioritize, she answers “both.” She was able to show in her utterance that deep in her lies a willing soul of a teacher and a mother – unceasing and undying.  She would maintain the harmony of both duties without risking the other. As one of her students said, “Regardless of filling the semester with boom-claps or yahoos, it would always be happy to learn with Maam Narito.”

Dr. Narito is here, living and breathing, to show us that we can find ways to fulfill our duties. She is here to claim not accolade but the virtue of acceptance to every man’s struggle. In every struggle that we have, creativity must triumph. Whenever we are on drought, miserable or helpless, please remember this teacher saying, “Narito ako.”