Mahmood, Maliha Mendoza

Maliha Mendoza Mahmood loves the English language, even though it is her second language. She thinks in English about the names, properties, benefits and constituents of all kinds of plants in her surrounding and beyond. She was born in the Philippines and was taught by teachers trained in the American English language. At the time of the American occupation, all students learned and spoke English in school, including at Mahmood's alma mater, the Holy Spirit Academy in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Her first English teacher, Rosa Mendoza Bumagat taught her how to play Scrabble(r). It was her uncle,