A bit on Dr. Esther Hufana

Among her many nicknames ( from her numerous nephews and nieces ) is Auntie Ting. She is shown here with her sis Miguelita Hufana Costes during her first trip to Toronto almost a decade ago.

You mentioned about Dr. Esther Hufana, your wife's sister. She's from Santa Maria de Pila. I know her since childhood. In fact, she was my English teacher in grade five in East Central School where I finished my elementary. She's a very good teacher and a strict disciplinarian. She deserved to pursue a higher status and more challenging level in her teaching profession. What I've gathered from a reliable source is that, she was a full time professor at Mountain State University (formerly Mountain State Agricultural College) in La Trinidad, Benguet until her retirement. But I'm not sure if she had an offer as a part time professor in Saint Louis University, Baguio City. By the way, did she obtain her PhD credentials in SLU? Few years ago, I had the chance to meet one of her colleagues in MSU, Tang Demy Somera. He fondly called her "Panang" during their tenure at the university. Your late brother-in-law, Dr. Teodomero Hufana (a physician) was married to my father's second cousin, Auntie Erling (formerly Erlinda Gascon). I've also learned that Auntie Erling was once an acting mayor in Isabela. You have another brother-in-law that I've met. He lives with his family in Northern California (bay area). He's Manong Mel. Am I right, sir? Regards to Ma'am Esther. Salamat po.

--an anonymous contributor to the Asingan Board

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Your thumbnail sketch is a very accurate description of her. She started as a classroom teacher in Sta. Maria de Pila then she moved on to Baguio City where she obtained her PhD credentials and she became very much in demand by students, both local and foreign because of her mastery in teaching her subjects of expertise. She retired sometime ago from MSAC but it seems that St. Louis U do not want to let her go. She is still handling Doctorate subjects as a part time professor. .

She travels around the Philippines a lot for the accreditation of various schools. She is a disciplinarian but at the same time she is very kind to her family members. She helped in the college education of many of her brothers and sisters ( my wife included ) and went on further to aid some of her nephews and nieces.

Her Asian students love her so much that two of them invited her one time during the opening of a University which they opened in their country. She was a guest speaker during the ceremony and all her expenses were paid for.

Dr. Teodomiro Hufana is the eldest brother in their family and he served as a physician in Quirino province until he died a few years back. He had also a very colorful career because he lived in the hinterlands where there was a constant activity between the Armed Forces and the NPA. So he treated the casualties on both sides and he never got in trouble from the military because his services were always in demand. Sometimes he would be picked up in the middle of the night when there is someone ( either from the military or from the New Peoples Army ) who needed medical attention.

Two younger brothers ( Melodio and Milfredo ) are now residing in Sunnyvale, California.------#