FLORDELIZA DILAO, fondly known as Tia Ineng, passed away last night 11/08/2020 after watching the 9-pm mass on TV in the house of her nieces and nephews in Masbate City.
She was my teacher in Literature and English when I was in high school at Liceo De San Jacinto. She was the one who introduced me to poems like The Raven, The Christmas Carol, Invictus, Annabel Lee and many more. I would not have known William Shakespeare, Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, and Dylan Thomas at an early age without her. She encouraged me to read, read and read so that when I reached my second year I was already consuming loads and loads of books, mostly novels that centered on court trials thanks to my cousin Atty. Jojo Moya who passed on to me his Perry Mason discards. My interests later on expanded to include astronomy, politics, history, economics, etc.
She continued to teach and later on became Liceo’s Registrar, a position she occupied until her retirement 3 years ago. She was strict, meticulous, detailed, and thorough — characteristics that served her well in the discharge of her responsibilities. Her integrity, honesty and incorruptibility were renowned.
Her family is now making the necessary arrangements with the authorities for the transfer of Tia Ineng’s remains to our hometown, San Jacinto.
Tia Ineng, I will miss our animated conversations whenever I visit San Jacinto. I thank you for loving me. In God’s bosom, you may now eternally rest!