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Vivian Ocampo was the original Drama Queen (and I mean that in a good way)!   Everything she did was bigger than life, everything she did was characterized by her infectious passion and enthusiasm.   She epitomized the drama queen long before it became an actual term.

I first met her as a high school freshman in Xavier, when my friends and I joined the English Drama Guild.   I still remember vividly our first day together, when she transfixed all of us with her dramatic personal life story.   I can still visualize her expressive eyes, her perpetually hoarse voice, her hands waving in the air.    My interest in theater and the arts became a passion because of Vivian’s inspiration.

Over the years, I have had the blessing to be taught by many truly excellent teachers, but Vivian is definitely one of the most memorable, the most unique, and the most captivating among them.  I was never actually a student in one of her English classes, but there is no doubt that she was a teacher, mentor, and friend to me.

Photos were so rare in the days we were in Xavier--- in the days before the telephone camera and the omnipresent selfies.   But I don’t need photos or even videos to remember Vivian.   I only need to close my eyes to remember the many sounds and images that I associate with her--- her singing and guitar playing of course (when I competed in the high school songfest, she played the guitar for me!), the clickety clack of her shoes as she walked down the corridor, her horn-rimmed glasses, her curly locks.  But more important than sounds and images are the emotions: and although there are many emotions that I associate with Vivian, there is one that rises above all:  love.  Her love for her work, her love for her family and for her students, and of course, our love for her.

Rudy Ang, XS '79

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Mrs. O was a dear teacher, mentor and friend. So many fond memories flood my mind now - English classes in Xavier, short story writing and Cachi, the main character who she enjoyed, speaking in Spanish, Shorthand Club, Carousel and falling onstage on opening night, her infectious laughter, her sweet voice, her unforgettable life stories and lessons, Greek mythology, The Learning Tree, going to alumni Masses together even on Zoom, our exchanges on FB, her deep love for family and her students.

I am grateful for all of these and more! She has been on my prayer list for some time. I thought and hoped she would beat CoVid. I will continue to pray for her. I believe she is now an angel looking after all of us.

May eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and may perpetual light shine on her.

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Mass in Celebration of the Life of Mrs.O

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Mass in Celebration of the Life of Mrs.O

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https://ateneo-edu.zoom.us/j/84969547338?pwd=Z2ovM2lKeFNxMU1aMVdGS2N2ajF0Zz09

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I remember the stories you have mentioned to us in our class from your childhood to your teaching career, interacting with various people and trying to make a world better in your view by your words. It must have been traumatizing but you keep moving on and making your life as colorful even when the events you have encountered have lots of sorrow. You have shown your strength in your vivid storytelling which I would never ever forget and would appreciate until today. How you get to speak multiple languages and have silly nicknames for us in our class. Every moment feels like I am watching a scene from a play. How I miss that. It's sad to hear that you are gone but I will never forget what you have taught us and I am happy that you have become one of my class advisors. Rest in Peace Mrs. Vivian Ocampo. I will surely miss you.

Jedric Lim XS 11 (She was my class advisor when I was in 2nd year. H2H)

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Rest In Peace Mrs. O. I remember being enthralled by the stories you shared. I would hang on to every word you say in rapt attention, captivated by the vividness and details of your stories. I was always ready to listen to your stories in fact I remember wanting to hear more of your adventures and wisdom about life.  You have inspired and touched the lives of many. Thank you for gracing our lives with your presence. Rest In Peace Mrs.O.      

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Rest In Peace Mrs. O. I remember being enthralled by the stories you shared. I would hang on to every word you say in rapt attention, captivated by the vividness and details of your stories. I was always ready to listen to your stories in fact I remember wanting to hear more of your adventures and wisdom about life.  You have inspired and touched the lives of many. Thank you for gracing our lives with your presence. Rest In Peace Mrs.O.      

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Lia Advincula

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I first met Vivian O as a high school student in Xavier School. There were so many special things about her--her passion for teaching and theater, her constant and infectious sense of wonder, her deep spirituality, her mischievous humor and hearty laughter. I have such fond memories of her as a student and later, as head of Xavier School.

She sang this profound song for us even when we were just wide-eyed high school kids back in 1978. She played her guitar and sang with characteristic intensity, to teach us one unforgettable truth: that vast mysteries--both good and evil--lay but a closing of an eyelid away.

Thank you for enriching our lives and for inspiring generations of Xavier students--and teachers! We love you, Mrs. O, and we'll miss you terribly!

- Fr. Johnny Go SJ

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Mrs. Vivian Ocampo, or Mommy O. as her fellow teachers in the English Department fondly and endearingly call her, was very welcoming to me when I first entered Xavier School. It was May 3, 1997 when we first met, and right away, I saw how kind, motherly, and jolly she was. I was fortunate to have handled H2 or second-year high school for many years since Mommy O. also taught the same year level. She was passionate about her teaching vocation and her principles as well, generously sharing her knowledge and wisdom to her colleagues, especially the younger teachers like me, and speaking candidly and fearlessly when she saw and felt that an injustice has been done. It is saddening that in just a short span of time, another one of our Mommies in the department has passed on. Mommy O., we shall certainly miss you. Thank you very much for all that you have done for us and shared with us! We have truly grown as better persons because of you. We are grateful to God for bringing you into our lives. Rest in peace now po. (Jonathan Lacson)

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Love you Mrs O. Will never forget how passionate you were about the things you loved—English literature, cats, fashion, dancing, your advanced students, teaching…I could go on. You burst with such energy and light and people around you were better for it.

Heaven gained another angel—a vivacious one! Have fun with your fellow angels, Mrs O!

Loida XS Teacher 2001-2006

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Thank you, Mrs. O, for all the lessons so passionately taught and the stories so vividly told. I am fortunate to have had you as a class adviser, English teacher, club moderator and mentor. Your light continues to shine through the lives you have touched - that includes mine! Sending my love from Switzerland, je t'embrasse! Michael Cu XS'05

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Mrs. O. You will always be one of my favorites. And I'll never forget your weird nickname for me. I forget the backstory now, but you used to call me Jacques, which you'd deliberately mispronounce as Ja-kee-wees.

We're all gonna miss you. Thank you for being such a light. One whom many of us will never forget.

-Jolly Estaris, XS '02

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Thank you Mrs Ocampo for sharing your knowledge with us! I especially enjoyed your short hand classes ♥️♥️♥️

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Mrs. Ocampo, I'll never forget your class attendance roll call. Perhaps you used it as an opportunity to match our names with our faces, but you also used it to inspire us one by one. When it was my turn to be called, you asked me what "De Leon" meant and I shrugged being a clueless youngster. You said, my name is Kyle of the Lion and that name says that I should be brave and courageous. You told me to be more like the lion and be proud of myself. Back then, as a boy, I found what you said funny, old fashioned and corny, as kids think about adults. But that has always stuck with me even now and I will never forget how you inspired me in your simple way.I'm sorry you didn't hear this from me yourself while you were still here. Though I read from the many messages left by so many others, you have touched so many lives in so many ways. And I am proof of that. Thank you for being my teacher.

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Mrs. Ocampo, I'll never forget your class attendance roll call. Perhaps you used it as an opportunity to match our names with our faces, but you also used it to inspire us one by one. When it was my turn to be called, you asked me what "De Leon" meant and I shrugged being a clueless youngster. You said, my name is Kyle of the Lion and that name says that I should be brave and courageous. You told me to be more like the lion and be proud of myself. Back then, as a boy, I found what you said funny, old fashioned and corny, as kids think about adults. But that has always stuck with me even now and I will never forget how you inspired me in your simple way.I'm sorry you didn't hear this from me yourself while you were still here. Though I read from the many messages left by so many others, you have touched so many lives in so many ways. And I am proof of that. Thank you for being my teacher.

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- Kyle de Leon, Xavier 06

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Just found out that my high school English teacher Mrs. Vivian Ocampo passed away.

Mrs. Ocampo wasn't just my English teacher, she was also involved with our school production of Camelot, which was what my comic "Cast" is based on. Mrs. Ocampo worked on costumes and on choreography. But more than that, she was one of my biggest cheerleaders in the play. She was always encouraging me, the newbie in the play among a cast who had worked together before. Even years later when I would see her at times at Xavier after I graduated, she would gush about our times at Camelot and always praise my performance. I remember her not only as a teacher but more as a supportive teammate from this wonderful theater production.

I was so moved by her I based one of the characters in my comic on her (designed by Elbert Or, illustrated by Stephen Segovia in the actual comic).

Rest in peace, Mrs. Ocampo. Know that I'll always remember you and you will always live on in these stories which your teaching helped empower me to write. Thank you for being a big part of that one brief shining moment in my life that was Camelot.

-Jaime Bautista XS '95

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My first 3 years as a Xavier teacher was Mrs O’s last 3 before she retired. We teach almost the same sections back then and our classes (Math and English) would always be one after another. I guess because of age (or the fact that I’m always standing in the corridor before or after her classes), she often forgets who I am and calls me “Mr Guidance Counselor” despite informing her several times that I was a Math teacher. And that would be our daily encounters: “How are you Mr Counselor?” or “The students are quite restless today Mr Counselor!” In the end, I gave up telling her who I really am and would just answer her questions or respond as if I was one. I never really got offended because her greetings were always warm and welcoming (never scary) even if I’m not sure if it was really meant for me. My only fear back then was if she eventually referred a student to me for counselling. 😰

Rest in peace, Mrs O. Thank you for helping make Xavier School a second home for me.

- Ferdie Aguila,
Math teacher aka Mr Counselor

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I will never forget your words: “Create opportunities for yourself; find your niche.” I found my place, and I have always reminded myself with those words. We love you!  (Eric Perez)

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I will never forget your words: “Create opportunities for yourself; find your niche.” I found my place, and I have always reminded myself with those words. We love you!  (Eric Perez)

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You've taught me so many things, but the one I'll remember the most is that age is truly just a number – we can keep our youth forever if our hearts remain pure and innocent.

I'll always keep close to my heart the moments when we would laugh until tears would be streaming down our faces. And now, as I experience the same (minus you and minus the laughter), I take comfort in the fact that you've gone ahead to join our Creator whom you always loved so dearly.

Rest in love, Mrs. O!

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Mrs. O was my first Spanish teacher. She was the most amazing teacher of full of vigor and life. We will miss you :(

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Best English teacher at The Learning Tree

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Mrs. O was probably the first person to take me under her wing when I first entered XS. That very early conversation we had on my first week at XS was a real eye-opener. Our shared loved of cats and interest in Japan are just some of the things that I will always treasure. Thank you for everything, Mommy O.

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Mrs. O is a caring and loving teacher in the HS English. She would always encourage and would never give up on you.

She used to teach us (HSPO girls) stenography. Although we were having a hard time understanding even our own handwriting she would always push and encourage us through her kind words and her lovely smile.

She is the life of the party…. She would sing and dance. I always remember her performances in our Facampa programs.

We will miss you Mrs O

Sarah

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I first knew Mrs. O back in Grade 4 since my mom enrolled me in this summer course for reading and comprehension. At first, we thought Mrs. O had the impression of a Ms. Minchin, since this was the era of Princess Sara and Prince Cedie circa 90s.

We were wrong. She knew how to interact with 10 year old boys, and we didn't have a choice since we were only 4 in the class. She would talk about living in Japan in between topics, and how her maid learned Nihonggo quite faster than she did just by watching Japanese soap operas.

Even if she did not become my teacher in High school, she was my teacher in shorthand writing, one of the clubs / alternate classes back in Xavier.

Fast forward to a couple of years, Mrs. O and I were able to catch up back in CCF Eastwood where she used to attend church back in around2012.. Her so, Joel, became a friend of mine and he reminded me so much of Mrs. O since he was very articulate and spoke highly of his upbringing.

You will surely be missed Mrs. O. English wasn't the only subject you taught, but also "life hacks" and the side stories you shared still retain in my memory to this very day.

Bask in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and His angels. You lived a good life, Mrs. O. Well done and faithful servant of the Lord indeed!

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Our last conversations this year.

She was one of my favorite teachers of all time, instilling a love of learning, social justice, and wit. She was my adviser and teacher for only one year, but I was blessed enough to be in her Spanish club and take extra-curricular lessons in shorthand during lunch break for fun and skills development. She was my fellow bossa nova aficionado and got Agot Isidro to sign my brother's copy of her album. She was the reason I got into - and still champion - human rights and, eventually, the UN SDGs.

She never half-mockingly called me nincompoop in class, but right now, I wish I could be your favorite nincompoop. For all eternity.

This is so heartbreaking. I am in mourning. 💔

Rest in peace, Señora. You are now in a place where all humans are living eternal, peaceful, and blessed lives. And you can now dance with Tom Jobim.🙏🏻

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Dear Mrs O,

I’m deeply saddened by the news of your passing today. In my treasured memories of the English Department, you've always had a special place as you were our mom, our idol in the classroom, and our inspiration with all of your stories, all told with vivacious openness.

In my first few years as a teacher, I told myself that you were the kind of teacher I aspired myself to be: always a delight to learn from as every time you spoke, you couldn’t help but listen—and I was always in awe of you because you were teaching the H4 Advanced English class—so I thought you must be the best, that’s why that class was given to you. I told myself, maybe I would be a Mrs O someday.

Maybe I am, right now, a Mrs O—as I am the most senior member of English department, also teaching probably the toughest curriculum in the department.

But to my mind, I still feel inadequate because I feel I could not measure up to what you have achieved as a teacher—all those students who were touched by your life and lessons because you were more than just a teacher--you were our mom and our friend.

To this day, you still have continued to inspire me.

I’ll miss your laughter. I'll miss your singing. I’ll miss your stories.

Rest in peace, Mommy O. We love you.
James

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Allow me to pay my respects to the first teacher who gave me the confidence to become a writer: Mrs. Vivian Ocampo.

I hadn’t heard anything from her since second or third year high school when she was our quirky English teacher at Xavier School. Sadly, I learned that she passed away from COVID this morning, and I regret that I never even got to thank her.

Back in high school, Mrs. Ocampo would regularly hand us some vocabulary homework wherein she would give us a list of unusual words, such as 'arsenic", to use in sentences, to be submitted the following day. I found it tedious, uninteresting and I hardly ever complied.

I spent most of those days sketching and drawing on LPs and scratch paper, instead of paying attention. I never really thought of myself as a writer considering I was in a class filled with students who were more articulate, wittier and had a far superior command of the language. Heck, I even remember being embarrassed once after I was unable to explain the word “arrogant” which I used during recitation thinking,  ironically, that I fully understood what it meant.

Towards the end of the quarter, I realized that I had not yet submitted a single shred of homework. So to make up for it, I took all of the words she had assigned that year and put them together in a short story about, oddly enough, a man chasing a serial killer in old London. It was a Hail Mary play to get past having slacked off for months. I handed it to her and sheepishly apologized for not having complied sooner.

The following day, Mrs. Ocampo started the class by pulling out the material I wrote and proceeded to announce that someone had tried a desperate move after failing to submit any homework that quarter.

Naturally, I thought I’d be shamed once again so I prepared myself for the humiliation.

Instead she read the story out loud, gleefully acting every line of every character. I can still see her gritting her teeth and sneering as she cackled the part that went, "'How about arsenic?' he told the bartender, 'that's better than the stuff you usually serve us.'"

Mrs. Ocampo ended the reading by praising both the story and its crafting, calling it a delightfully creative solution to the assignment. At that moment, for the first time ever, I felt validated as a writer.

She later took me aside, exclaimed that she really enjoyed the story, and suggested that I should try writing some more, before rewarding me with an A+. (Quite a rare grade for a slacker of a student like myself.)

Know that she didn’t even have to accept that submission as it was months overdue. But instead she chose to give me a chance and read it. In that moment she also taught me that it’s okay to take risks, and not to let limitations and rules limit one's creativity.

This story remains my earliest and strongest memory of positive reinforcement for anything I wrote.

(Not-so-humblebrag warning. Skip to next paragraph if too unbearable) Her words would put me on the path to becoming a. multi-awarded copywriter and advertising Creative. It covers a twenty plus year career that includes an evening when I literally won the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for copywriting at the Philippine Ad Congress. This was followed by multiple international  writing honors.  I sincerely apologize for the flex but it was necessary to demonstrate the level of impact Mrs. Ocampo had on the trajectory of a young, below-average student who didn’t even believe he could write.

Throughout my professional life, there were times when that memory would still energize me when I was faced with a blank page. Or whenever I found myself doubting my abilities.  It's fairly accurate to say that every script I ever put together, every line I ever spun, every article I ever got published, every copy ad I ever churned out, every single award I ever lucked into, can be traced back to that one teacher.

It’s a cliche to say that hearing someone believe in you can make a huge difference in your life. But there it is.

I won’t pretend to be close with her or her family, as I unfortunately lost touch with her shortly after. I deeply regret that I never took the time to even track her down to thank her in person, considering how much that one moment literally helped define the course of my life. I wanted her to know how she helped make me the person I am today.

Thank you, Mrs. Ocampo. I have never forgotten you, and I never will. May you find the peace you sought in life.

- Joe Dy, substandard student, above-average writer (thanks to Mrs. Ocampo)

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Here I am, almost in my sixties, wondering why the loss of Mrs Ocampo is so devastating. I go back to our little Drama Guild in high school, and how she transformed a room full of misfits into a world of possibilities. Under her, we were real theatre, our shorts and uniforms forgotten. And yes, I won scene stealer of the year award. She will always be woven in the fabric of my life.

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She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o’er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

- Lord Byron

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I remember Mrs. O always carrying a crumpled, brown ‘supot’ with her when she passes thru the Admin bldg. One time, out of curiosity, I stopped to greet her and casually asked her, “Mrs. O, what’s in the bag?” She pulled me aside and she slowly opened the bag. And there I discovered that she secretly carried a bottle of Coke everyday while in the campus.🤪 The school had banned the sale of softdrinks in the canteens and that’s why she had to hide this from her students.  Oh Mrs. O, indeed, Coke is life!

Rest in God’s eternal peace🙏🙏🙏 I will miss you😞 Because of this pandemic,  I didn’t even get my chance to see you in the XS ARC gatherings…

-Hope-

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Mommy O, thank you for gracing our lives with yours. I’ll never forget how you’ve made me feel so welcome and supported when I first came to XS as a fresh college graduate on her first teaching job. Being with you is like magic!  You are fun and brilliant in the classroom, vivacious in the workroom and ever so loving, sweet, talented, energetic... (the list goes on).

I remember your signature walk as you clutch your bag holding teaching accoutrements, including the ever-present bottle of coke.

I can still hear your voice … like a rockstar, you belt out tunes accompanied by the guitar.

And of course your graceful moves! -so infectious - napapasayaw pati ako.

And oh,  how I remember your stories! Your vivid description of walking in Coney Island with your kind Jewish friends always comes to my mind whenever I go to Brooklyn.

I appreciate your advocacy and passion for worthy causes.

Mommy O - you truly light up the room! When I grow up, I want to be like you. Thank you for being in my life. You can bet that I will tell my daughters and students about this powerhouse of a human being that is Vivian Climaco Ocampo. I love you dearly -  for always.

forever your fan,
Jo-Ann Grande

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We love  teaching, laughing, singing and praying with you at XS Mommy O!