In Loving Memory of A Dear Friend : A Final Tribute

This posting  has been requested by Mrs. Elisea A. Bayle , who wrote this tribute to  her  former mentor and friend .

February , 2008  was our High School 60th Anniversary  and memories of yesteryears  prevailed in our minds  during those  celebration  days  . One of those memories is  the memory  of  Florangel Tandoc , our Home Economics teacher . She  was the only  surviving  teacher  of Class '48   when  we celebrated  our   Diamond  Anniversary  .

She was  then a  young , vibrant  teacher  who was more like a friend  and  sister to  her students . After our graduation  , we fondly called her Atsi Flor . My  bonding with her  was not only  as  a  student - teacher  relationship  but  more  like  an  older sister , whom I could  easily talk to and confide to , during  my teenage years . The fact that our fathers  belonged to the same  fraternity  made our bonding  closer .

After  graduating from high school , I lost  contact with her  until our  50th Anniversary  Celebration  which she attended . Since then , our communication  continued . She married  General Cicero Campos  who predeceased  her . In one of my trips to the Philippines  she invited  me to her place  in Mabilao, San Fabian . Her  palatial  house was built on top  of the   hill overlooking  the   blue  Pacific Ocean . A garden that abounds with  flowers and fruits  dominates the rambling  area around the house . She  offered  her place   as  the  next  venue of the  60th  Anniversary Celebration .

However , after so much  thought and  consultation  with the other organizers , we decided not  to go on  with  that   idea  .  She was already in her 90's and we did not want to  burden  her  . We ended up  at Leisure Coast  with  catered  lunch .

However , we did not forget about her . We planned to visit her on the third day of our celebration  and so we  did . A group of 13  went to  her place  called Casa  Tandoc . Atsi Flor and her sister  , Dr. Sixta Tandoc , welcomed us  joyfully and warmly . When  we toured the house , I was  surprised to see my  picture  ( in Indian costume  which won in a Halloween Party  contest )  in  a  shell surrounded  by  fresh Ilang -ilang . I was so elated and so touched  when she  told me " I have always been proud of you " . She loved her  home  and most of all , her  flower  garden  which  greeted her  every morning . She invited me to stay a week the next  time  I would visit the Philippines  so I could relax  and enjoy  the serenity and beauty of the place .   

A sumptuous  lunch  was prepared for  us  and  our desserts were fruits from  her  backyard  . What a treat ! ! Atsi Flor was a great person to know  and I have always  been  proud  of  her . In  fact , I  arranged  a meeting  of  Marie A. Junio and Atsi  Flor  before I left for Manila . Marie planned to see her  after the STCS  Alumni Homecoming  . Unfortunately , the meeting did not materialize . She passed away  on March 2nd , 2008 .

It is hard to believe that  February  18 , 2008  would be the last day we would see her alive . She was a picture of joy  and gladness  when we said our goodbyes . It grieves me  up to this day  her  passing on  but I could only offer  my prayers for her soul .

I was in Manila  when I heard about her death  and I dreamed   about her  saying to me again  how proud she was of  me . I decided to  go back to  pay my last respect . Inspite of the  difficulty  of  travelling , specially in a public  transit  , I was able to gather my strength  to  travel  by bus  and paid  my respect  and  said  my  final goodbye  to  a  great lady  at the San Fabian  chapel . I met  her  sister and  the rest of her family  during the wake .Their  warm  reception  for my presence  made my trip worth more than  I expected .

She is gone  but  my consolation  is she  is at   rest  and   at  peace  with Our Lord now . She is truly a remarkable lady  and my memories  with  her  will always linger on .

She may not be from Mangaldan  but she had been  a part of Mangaldan National High School  who  helped mold the minds of Mangaldan youngsters . She  was  a Mangaldanian  at heart .

Mrs. Florangel Tandoc  Campos is seated  at the middle ( in  red top )

   Some of the  members of Class'48  who visited   their former teacher , Mrs. Florangel  T. Campos .   

Mrs. Florangel T. Campos  remained standing making  sure  all her   former  students  were  being served  and entertained well .

Note : I would  have enjoyed  meeting this  remarkable woman  who made  a difference  in  her students'  lives  , but Our Lord  had  another plan  for her . It was time to call her by His side . God  bless  your soul , Mrs . Campos .   

Marie      

Comments

[Dr.Gloria Tandoc-Surot -New Jersey,USA]

I was really shocked when Mac Froilan,my son,called us all in New Jersey that Atchi Flor passed away.She is a great loss to our clan,"Tandoc" because being one of the oldest cousins,she had shared us her younger Tandoc cousins,her down to earth old fashioned christian virtues in life and her intelligent ideas.She is vibrant,a remarkable lady and an easy person to talk with and confide to.She is a picture of joy and gladness to all especially our family clan.

The last time I saw Atchi Flor was at my 75th birthday last March 28,2007 held at Leisure Coast Resort,Dagupan City.She joined the table of our relatives and great friends in San Fabian.Atchi Flor initiated having our yearly clan's re-union which started in Chicago,then in Lake Tahoe in California,Colorado Springs in Colorado and lately in San Francisco,California,had a cruise in San Francisco Bay(2007)with my son Mac Froilan.She scheduled our re-union comes 2009 in San Fabian at their mansion (Casa Tandoc)in the hilltop of Mabilao,but she did not make it.

For sure,Atchi Flor is now with the Lord Almighty as she shared a lot of worthy deeds to people,relatives and friends and had happy marriage with Breg.Gen.Cicero Campos.We,the family clan,especially my family convey our condolences.She is gone,but the memories of her,will forever be in our hearts.

May She Rest In Peace and Perpetual Light Shine Upon Her !

Dr.Gloria Tandoc-Surot
New Jersey,USA

[Philip Fabia]

Tita Flor was a very kind woman and a loving aunt. She was always happy and contented, devoid of any stresses and problems. She was inspiring and very motherly. She always made it a point to keep in touch either by visiting us in Mangaldan or inviting us often to her mansion atop the hill. She would always find time to send us letters or call by phone. In behalf of my mother Aida Tandoc Fabia (who is her first cousin) and my sisters, I convey our condolences. We recently learned of her passing from our relatives in San Fabian and we deeply mourn for her loss.

Tita Flor, may you rest in peace and be with the Lord Almighty God.

[Marie Aquino Junio]

My dear Atsi Ely ,

Thank you for the invitation to meet Mrs. Florangel T. Campus . It was very thoughtful of you to remember me and made arrangement for a visit with her . But I guess we were not meant to meet each other . But from what you wrote about her and what you personally told me about her , I felt like I knew her , too . You are lucky indeed to have known her and be your mentor as well as a friend . Your batchmates and all her former students are also lucky to have encountered such a nice teacher and friend . She deserves this special tribute to her .

Atsi Ely , thank you for sharing your feelings and experiences with me and all the readers , specially whose lives have been touched by Mrs. Tandoc Campos' generosity , thoughtfulness and friendliness .

MARIE

[Elisea A. Bayle]

Dear Marie,
I can't thank you enough for posting my article about Mrs.
Florangel Tandoc Campos. Being posted in Aliguas Mangaldan makes
me confident that it will be read worldwide. I wanted to share
my beautiful memories of her with some friends and relatives.
Though she maybe gone, may those memories will forever be in our
hearts.