Smile Flower

by Arianne Santos

A smile is an expression of joy, happiness, and amusement. We smile at things that please us, at things that we love, at people we cherish, and at the things that we are passionate about. When we think of a smile, we think of things or people that we care about – that make us happy. A smile is a contagious light that can brighten up even the darkest halls in another person’s life, and that is exactly what Ms. Liza De Grano is—a smile.

Ms. Liza is the teacher that always smiles and is always warm. When we think of her, we not only think of the knowledge that she had imparted to us, her students, but also the memories that we have shared as a family. She taught us well and helped in shaping our views about a lot of things around us and, just like a gardener, she is passionate about grooming us, her flowers, into people that would someday help other people to bloom. She is one of those memorable lights that guided us into becoming who we are, as individuals, today. We should both be happy and thankful for the remembrance that she had left to us, and the memories with her that we will always remember.

Everyone smiles, anyone can smile, and everyone has their version of a pretty smile, but I think that Ms. Liza’s smile is the prettiest one I have ever seen and, just like a flower, she bloomed to become someone beautiful. Her smile is not only worth a thousand but rather, a million words. Her beauty shines the more she smiles, and the more she speaks and cares for everyone around her. In an interview with one of her former students and advisory class president, Riza Rebello, she said, “Miss Liza was a great teacher and mother figure to me and Copernicus, as well as everyone else she has handled and been with. Tahimik at pangiti - ngiti lang si Ms. Liza but no one knows how much she appreciates and cares for everyone and everything that her students do... May mga times nga na tatawagin niya lang ako sa room para magtanong kung kamusta ang Copernicus or kamusta yung isang certain student dahil lang hindi maganda ang mood or hindi maingay. She cared so much for Copernicus to the point that she helped prepare everything we need for Copecabana, ‘yung mga materials lagi niyang sinusuyo sakin na dalhin na habang maaga pa and even at the day of our resto talagang tumulong siya gumawa ng Buko Pandan. I'll never forget how we spoke in front of the van nung biyahe noong retreat. We talked about a few personal things that I'll always keep as a memory. “Thank you very much Riza 💙” is her last message to me. Paulit - ulit mong sinabi sa akin kung gano ka kathankful sa akin at sa Copernicus. These words are not enough to express how thankful and happy we are that we’ve been your students. You were there for us on our best and worst days in Grade 10, and it will be a memory that we will cherish forever. Thank you very much. Rest well in heaven, Miss Liza.”

As Dr. Seuss said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” We should always smile for the life that Ms. Liza had lived, and the memories we shared, as her students and as her colleagues. We should always remember her as a beautiful soul and as someone who had lived her life happily with us, her family. Thank you for everything you have left for us to cherish, Ms. Liza. We will always love and keep you in the deepest part of our hearts. May you finally find eternal happiness with the Lord.