In the lively kitchen laboratories of St. Mary's College of Baliuag, Inc.—where echoes of student chatters blend with the clanking of metal tools—lessons are not only learned, but memories are also made. 

At the heart of it all is one person: Mrs. Ma. Cristina Velayo Mendoza, a Technology and Livelihood Education teacher and one of the most beloved mentors of students and alumni. 

Yet, teaching was never our head chef’s first dream. Like a silly misread in a recipe—one mistake bore impacts on thousands of students for three decades.

"My first dream is to become a bank manager, not a teacher," Mrs. Mendoza shared. She was not allowed to study in Manila, with her godfather strict on the idea.

There was only one school she went for. However, a part of her wanting to reach and enroll elsewhere, as her heart and mind were set on taking accountancy—a familiar profession close to the hearts of her cousins and herself.  

When the calendar pages had been ripped off, a big red marker encircled the date of the entrance examinations. Mrs. Mendoza recalled the day she happened to overlook something that she never expected. "I thought I was taking just the entrance examination," she added.

"But I was not allowed, so I sort of rebelled," Mrs. Mendoza chuckled. 

"I went to my auntie in Rizal and lo and behold, in God's grace, I passed the entrance examination in BCAT." 

"And when I went there, I thought IE stands for industrial engineering," she admitted.

Mrs. Mendoza was content—fine with it. It was her mother’s desire to be in Industrial Engineering—allowing her to explore the overviews of factories and the like. However, in an unexpected turn of events, the one who conducted the interview and assessment revealed to her that "IE" didn't stand for industrial engineering—it stood for industrial education.

"So, lo and behold, I did not want to stop; I took that course." 

And thus, she continued on.

Mrs. Mendoza is what you would consider a good cook and baker, having years of experience bearing an apron and hairnet. Although, despite her current developed and honed speciality, during that time, she wasn’t even aware of how to cook something so simple as rice.

Eventually, Mrs. Mendoza wore her uniform and took on Food Technology as her major—soon developing a loving heart for her course and the work she did: cooking.

When she stepped foot into the ‘school we love’ and the blue gates of St. Mary's—then St. Mary's Academy (SMA)—welcomed her, fate seemed to have prepared an opportunity, served and perfectly plated on a golden platter for Mrs. Mendoza. 

During that time period, SMA was in search of a TLE teacher, and she didn’t hesitate to take on the challenge, marking the beginning of her recipe book filled with many years of service. 

During her teaching years, Mrs. Mendoza left the profession many times. But somehow, she always found herself coming back again, and again, and again—from private to public schools, then back to the familiar blue quadrangle of St. Mary’s Academy.

Mrs. Mendoza carried and wore many roles: prefect of discipline, class adviser, subject area coordinator, and many more. “Octopus” was how students called her. Like an octopus, Mrs. Mendoza was able to juggle so many responsibilities and weight all at once.

With the development, Mrs. Mendoza’s teaching philosophy evolved. Once known for granting her students complete recipes and instructions, she now trusts them to learn, explore, and experiment—always ready to help when they need. 

Her mantra as a TLE teacher is: "TLE is not just a subject. TLE is the be-all and it-all of one's life.”

Many of her students have since gone abroad, carrying Mrs. Mendoza’s teachings in a small part of their luggage and hearts—thanking her for equipping them with skills they continue to use. 

"They are so thankful they learned how to cook, how to mend and sew things because when they are now abroad, they are doing it," Mrs. Mendoza said. "And I am so pleased when they say that they learned it from me."

When asked what motivates her to keep teaching despite the challenges, she answered: "What more can I ask for?"

"Maliit man sweldo ko sa St. Mary's, masayang pumapasok sa St. Mary's. Why? Because of the trust, respect I gain from the people around."

“Where my students are almost the children of my former students. Ayan, na-motivate pa ako doon," she joked.

"What motivates me is the love I pour into teaching. I love sharing my skills, I love teaching my students how to bake, I love teaching my students how to cook. How to rationalize and how to be productive," Mrs. Mendoza shared heartwarmingly.

Her love for teaching blossoms to inspire students, with some chasing a profession linked to Mrs. Mendoza—chefs. Proudly, Mrs. Mendoza said, "They learned it from me."

That's what motivates her.

Her students echo the same sentiment: "D’yan ka lang Ma'am, kasi wala na kaming mababalikan, kapag umalis ka na d’yan."

Because she's the only one who remains in the teacher's seat, in the Home Economics laboratories, and in organized offices.

In the eyes of the students in today’s batch, there are many teachers sharing their love and passion for teaching. However, in the eyes of Mrs. Mendoza’s former students, she is the only one left. 

Her former students, already having their own families to take care of, are more than happy to see Mrs. Mendoza there—still doing what she loves, and loving what she does. Mrs. Mendoza’s simple presence around the campus corridors is a reassurance that there is still a familiar figure who will teach and guide their children like they have been guided when SMCB still bore the name St. Mary’s Academy.

To the people who aspire to be like Mrs. Mendoza, she leaves words for her fellow and future educators: "Love the teaching profession, money is secondary," she advised.

"In the teaching profession, you became a teacher not because of money. You become a teacher because you want to serve the young ones." She also added that, "If your values are more on numbers, if your values are more on how much, then you are not fit as a teacher."

To Mrs. Mendoza, happiness is that one puzzle piece to complete being a teacher. Even if walls are striking up to block you, watching your students become successful on their own from your own teachings and support triggers warmth—happiness. As well as manifesting the best of St. Mary’s faith, excellence, and service, students grow along with it—until they get old with time. 

"Ang kayamanan ko—ang estudyante ko," Mrs. Mendoza stated.

Deeply within her heart, Mrs. Mendoza treasures each experience and each student she encounters—always giving her best in lectures filled with adventure and real-life experiences. Even outside the school premises and off her work uniform, she was recognized by students who called out a nickname born from her maiden name, Velayo: “Ma’am Yhoe!”

Former students or her newest batch alike, they will always be in Mrs. Mendoza's treasury.

Even if the recipe was misread, Mrs. Ma. Cristina Velayo Mendoza still ended up with things that satisfied her. The respect and love from fellow teachers, and more importantly, the students who are grateful towards her—looking back with smiles on their faces—still with a hairnet or finally a mortarboard. 

Sending Mrs. Mendoza gifts and rewards for the skills and hard work they couldn’t earn without her guidance was her former students’ way of saying a warm “thank you”.

An unforeseen event turned Mrs. Mendoza into who she is today—the head chef of her classes, coordinator of her subject area, and a loving educator serving with passion. She is not only a mere guide and educator—she is someone worth remembering and revisiting to share jokes and catch up with. 

It may not have been Mrs. Mendoza’s first goal to check test papers instead of financial records—or to write on the blackboards instead of documents. But now, she is pleased and content with what surrounds her: to be respected, to be cherished, and lastly, to be remembered and come back to.