The alarm clock buzzed to life at exactly 4:45 AM.
Mr. Emman blinked at the dark ceiling, groggy for a second, then reached out and silenced it. For a moment, he lay still, listening. The early hum of crickets slowly gave way to the distant crowing of a rooster—one, then another, then a whole chorus. Morning in the province always had its own rhythm.
He sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and stretched. "First day," he muttered to himself, eyes still adjusting to the dim light creeping through the window. It wasn't just any first day—it was his first as an official EIM (Electrical Installation and Maintenance) teacher, finally assigned to Grade 10 after years of handling lower levels and floating between subjects.
By 5:00 AM, Emman had already swept the front yard, fed the chickens, and watered his Nanay's garden. Breakfast was a simple affair—fried rice, dried fish, and a hot cup of instant coffee. As he ate, he mentally ran through the day's plan, flipping open his worn-out lesson plan book filled with yellow highlighter and scribbled notes.
At 6:20 AM, he slung his black backpack over his shoulder, double-checked his USB (his lifeline of PowerPoints and modules), and stepped outside into the rising sun. The walk to school was only ten minutes, but today it felt symbolic. Today, he wasn't just another teacher filling in—he was Mr. Emman, Grade 10 EIM teacher, assigned room and all.
Period 1 – Grade 7: "TLE Foundations"
The Grade 7 classroom was already buzzing when he entered, a mixture of nervous giggles and sharpened pencils. It was their first encounter with a TLE subject, and most of them had no idea what to expect.
He smiled, standing tall in front of the chalkboard. "Good morning, class! I'm Mr. Emman, and I'll be your TLE teacher this year."
One hand shot up. "Sir, ano po 'yung TLE?"
Emman chuckled. "Good question. TLE stands for Technology and Livelihood Education. I'll teach you skills that are useful in real life—cooking, farming, and even wiring a house!"
The room buzzed. He showed them a few electrical tools he brought from home—side-cutters, a multimeter, even an old light bulb—and their eyes lit up.
Before the bell rang, he had them form small groups and build towers out of straws and masking tape. "Teamwork is key," he said. "Even electricians don't work alone."
They laughed, argued over tape, and somehow one group made a tower that leaned like the Tower of Pisa.
"You've got the spark," Emman told them, giving a thumbs-up before dismissing the class.
Periods 2 to 5 – Grade 10: "The Circuit Begins"
By the time 9:00 AM struck, Emman was in his real domain—Grade 10 Electrical Installation and Maintenance.
The classroom was different: linemen posters on the wall, neatly arranged pliers and screwdrivers on the side, and rows of students who looked part excited, part skeptical.
"Alright," Emman said, clapping once. "Welcome to your future."
A few chuckled. One student at the back whispered, "Future daw, eh wala pa nga kaming extension cord sa bahay."
He grinned. "That's exactly why we're here."
He launched into the first topic: Basic Concepts of Electricity. He pulled out a whiteboard marker and drew a simple house circuit.
"What happens if this switch doesn't work?" he asked.
"We get electrocuted?" a girl joked.
"Not if we wire it right," he said. "That's what we'll learn. This year, you'll understand the wires behind your walls, the safety protocols that keep electricians alive, and maybe—if you're lucky—you'll install your first real switch."
He handed each of them a starter kit: a mini breadboard, a strip of wire, and a small bulb.
Their eyes widened. "Sir, may ganito agad?"
"I believe in hands-on learning. You'll work in pairs. Learn by doing. Start by identifying the parts."
By lunch, half the class had already wired their first functional bulb. Emman watched with pride as a group screamed when theirs lit up for the first time. It was small—just a flicker—but to him, it was magic.
Noon Break – Reflection Under the Tree
At lunch, he found himself sitting under the old mango tree behind the building. He took a bite of his packed lunch, rice with egg and tomato, and looked out over the field.
He thought of his old high school TLE teacher, Sir Ramon, who taught him how to hold a soldering iron without fear.
"This is it, Sir," Emman whispered to the breeze. "This is me passing the current on."
The bell rang again.
Time for another class, another wire to connect, another young mind to spark.