Date post: | 09-Mar-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | cesar-banaag |
View: | 232 times |
Download: | 5 times |
September 2012
Issue No. 5 Class '63 Digest
INSIDE
• Readers’ Forum • Quiz Contest Special Interest
Articles:
• Carlos Guanlao
• Gloria Ner-Intal • Carmelita Bay-
lon-de Guzman • Andres Aranda • Danilo Cunanan • Johnny Villanue-
va • Cesar Banaag
September Birthday
Celebrants:
• Alfredo de Jesus • Armando Vivar • Sr. Consolacion
Ducusin • Blondie Silang
Guest Editors
• Teo T. Antonio • Gilbert C. Dulay • Rosario de Jesus
V. MAPA HIGH SCHOOL
From the Editorial Team:
The Editorial Team
Cesar G. Banaag Juliet de Guzman-Blackwell
Josie Astorga-Campbell Evelyn Teodoro-Cowled
Erlinda Tablan-Fernandez Regie Lauzon
Juliet Mascarinas Racquel Magat-Sanchez
We are privileged to have
three contributing guest
editors grace this issue:
Teo T. Antonio,
batchmate and renowned
poet, shares with us his
thoughts in our Readers
Forum and ‘surprised’ us
with an article on Cesar
Banaag (“May Kabu-
luhan ang Paglayo”) who
left the country and re-
turned two decades after.
Teo says the article, in
beautiful poetic prose, is
his contribution and sup-
port to the Digest. We’re
deeply honored, Teo.
Corporate man Gilbert
C. Dulay, writes this time
about high school and
college buddy Danny DG
Cunanan, former banker
and financial man, who
believes life has taught
him well.
Another guest writer is
Rosario ‘Chato’ de Je-
sus, wife of September
birthday celebrant Fred-
die de Jesus. When
Freddie was too preoccu-
pied to write about him-
self, Chato came to the
rescue and emailed us a
well-written piece com-
plete with poetry that
comes straight from the
heart. She also wrote an-
other poem, a tribute to
our alma mater. Way to
go Chato!
For our other September
birthday celebrants,
Racquel Magat-Sanchez
writes about Sr Con-
solacion Ducusin,fsp, the
only batchmate we know
who became a nun and a
Daughter of Saint Paul,
spreading God’s Word
through the media, alt-
hough the good sister
would rather talk about her
congregation than herself.
Armando Vivar talks
about his journey through
life and how he found fun
and fulfillment in hobnob-
bing with showbiz person-
alities in his work as Nestle
Events Organizer.
Elusive Blondie G. Silang
completes our September
celebrants, filling us in on
the intriguing story about
his name and the pact of
lasting friendship between
two war heroes.
In other profiles: Carlos
Guanlao talks of volun-
teerism as a way of life and
tells us how he and his
family find life’s meaning
in being members of Red
Cross 143, reaching out to
victims of calamities and
other people in distress.
Andres ‘Boy’ Aranda, the
first of the military men in
our intended series on
Men in the Force, writes
about his exploits as a po-
lice officer and a muscle
man, before he took on the
challenging job of a US
postal carrier in a ‘tough’
Chicago suburb.
Josie Astorga-Campbell
writes about our dear
friend Gloria Ner-Intal, a
MedTech graduate who
found her niche in gov-
ernment and community
service; while Carmelita
Baylon-de Guzman writes
about the realities of life
we all need to face.
Johnny Villanueva shares
his grief and great loss at
his dear wife’s untimely
passing in 1983 – writing
like it was only yesterday.
Class ‘63 Digest
Page 2 of 16 Page 2 of 1
My life in high school was
not studded with academic
honors, though I can say I
was an above average stu-
dent.
After passing through the
portals of our Alma Mater,
I wanted to know and ex-
perience what life is all
about. At age 16, I sought
the blessings of my parents,
packed my belongings and
moved out of our house in
Sampaloc to start facing
the challenges of life alone.
I was thankful my Alma
Mater (Victorino Mapa
High School) did pre-
pare and equip me with the
knowledge, trained me in
discipline and yes, the
character I needed to face
life’s challenges while
learning the ropes of the
trades along the way. Mod-
esty aside, I was able to
compete with people who
were products of known
private schools because in
my heart MAPANS are no
pushovers. I was able to
get employment, pursued
higher education in engi-
neering and lived a com-
fortable life. Work has
brought me to different
places, local and overseas.
I sought every opportunity
to better myself.
But life is not all bed of
roses. It has its thorns too!
It is when you are at the
lowest ebb of life that you
look up to heaven to search
for your real purpose and
meaning. Booze and vices
have taken their toll. Does
having material things a
measurement of success?
Nay! Success is not the key
to happiness. Happiness is
the key to success. If you
love what you are doing,
you will be successful.
Looking around us, we find
people in abject poverty,
deprived of dignity and in
dire need of help, espe-
cially when disaster strikes.
The realization that we,
too, may become victims of
such disasters, was a wake
up call for me. And so with
this thought, I answered the
call of volunteerism to help
in alleviating the sufferings
of our fellowmen, in return
helping myself find mean-
ing in my life.
Volunteers come in all
forms. Some offer their
time, skills, talents and re-
sources. Others, out of in-
stinct offer brute strength
in responding to accidents,
which more often do more
damage to the victims be-
cause they are not trained
to handle such situations.
Having numerous safety
trainings while still em-
ployed, I volunteered with
the Philippine Red
Cross and joined their
community-based Red
Cross 143 program, a net-
work of trained and organ-
ized community volunteers
conducting mitigation and
disaster risk reduction
management in their re-
spective communities.
The Red Cross 143 volun-
teers are trained in disaster
management, basic life
support and CPR to act as
the first responders in their
communities.
Matt. 25:40 says, “I tell you
the truth, whatever you did
for one of the least of these
brothers of mine, you did
for Me”
I have now made volun-
teerism a way of life which
is shared by my family, my
friends and partner organi-
zations.
These things we do for the
glory of God, for service to
country and for giving our
fellow human beings the
dignity they deserve. We
seek every opportunity to
be an extension of God’s
love in reaching out to
people in need and in dis-
tress. By doing so, we gain
a more meaningful life.
TOWARDS A MEANINGFUL LIFE by Carlos J. Guanlao
At left: Caloy Guanlao gestures team instructions before going to action. Above: The Red Cross 143 Bagumbayani Team in action. Be-low: The QCRC Emergency Re-sponse Unit assigned to critical areas affected by the recent flood.
Page 3 of 16 Class ‘63 Digest
Gloria Ner-Intal, fondly
called Oyie by her friends,
was born on April 20, 1946
in Sta. Mesa, Manila. She
completed elementary edu-
cation at Burgos Elemen-
tary School. In high school
we remember Oyie as the
petite girl with a beautiful
smile and graceful stride.
After our graduation in
1963, Oyie was encouraged
by her father to pursue a
degree in Medical Tech-
nology. She enrolled at the
University of Santo Tomas.
To this day she has some
amusing anecdotes and
vivid memories of her time
as a young intern at the
Microbiology Department.
After Oyie was assigned to
assist in human autopsy,
she could no longer bring
herself to eat meat. It did
not help that the school
canteen was in the base-
ment where the morgue
was also located. In those
days her sustenance con-
sisted of banana-que every
day in school and fish and
veggies at home.
After Oyie received her
MedTech degree in 1967,
she worked in a medical
clinic laboratory. But her
profession as medical tech-
nologist was short-lived as
her conservative father be-
lieved women should not
work like men.
She got married in 1968, a
year after she graduated
from college, and decided
to take another job even if
it was far from the degree
she earned. She landed a
job at the Bureau of Print-
ing as photoengraving
helper. A family business
(Tagumpay Parts & Auto
Supply, Inc.) took her away
from this job. She helped
run the business in the ca-
pacity of both Secretary
and Treasurer until 1978
when she decided to join
the Bureau of Internal
Revenue as RTR Clerk. In
the same year she was
hired by GSIS where she
built a career that lasted 28
years, rising from the
ranks.
It was at the GSIS that she
decided on a career in Pub-
lic/Business Administra-
tion. This must have been
her true calling as success
came easy and she truly
enjoyed her new endeavor.
To improve her administra-
tion skills, she enrolled in
masteral courses at the
Polytechnic University of
the Philippines (Masters in
Public Administration) and
at the International Acad-
emy for Management and
Economics (Masters in
Business Administration).
She took examinations
given by the Career Execu-
tive Service Board and be-
came a Civil Service Eligi-
ble at the Professional
level.
Before her retirement, she
visited her sisters in Aus-
tralia. She enjoyed Syd-
ney, Canberra and other
beautiful places in Austra-
lia, but had to return to her
job after a month due to the
process of shifting to new
systems and procedures at
the GSIS. On December
30, 2006, Oyie retired with
the title of Department
Manager III.
Although GSIS provided
her with an immediate Pen-
sion Plan, Oyie soon found
herself restless so she
joined the Pamantasan ng
Lungsod Ng Muntinlupa as
Assistant Registrar from
2007 to 2008. Cultural
issues in the local govern-
ment, which she is not used
to, forced Oyie to full re-
tirement.
Oyie is married to Ferdi-
nand B. Intal who passed
away January of this year.
They were blessed with
four children: Glorifere,
also a UST graduate (BS
Commerce), now residing
in New Jersey, USA with
husband, Christian Flo-
rendo Castro and their two
sons aged 14 and 18; Sr.
Auralita, spc. (AB Reli-
gious Studies at St. Paul
College, QC), is a nun and
Directress for Postulants at
Our Lady of Chartres Con-
vent in Antipolo, Rizal;
Jennifer, another St. Paul
graduate (BS Psychology)
works with the Govern-
ment Service Insurance
System; and Ferdinand,
Jr. an Associate in Com-
puter Technology and
works with Fullblast Pro-
ductions.
A grandson from Jennifer
(8 y.o.) and another one
from Ferdinand, Jr. (1 y.o.)
complete Oyie’s role as a
grandmother.
Oyie and Ferdinand were
active members of the
Couples for Christ commu-
nity since 1993. After his
demise, Oyie busied herself
with her current ministries
four times a week. She is
an active member of the
Lector/Commentator
Guild, Divine Mercy Apos-
tolate Group, and the
Mother Butler Guild which
is a community of women
disciples inspired by
Mother Marie Joseph But-
ler, a religious group of the
Sacred Heart of Mary. His
Eminence, Rufino Cardinal
Santos decreed the creation
of this service guild
(Continued on page14)
Gloria Ner-Intal: ‘My Life's Blessings’ By Josie Astorga-Campbell
Class ‘63 Digest
Page 4 of 16 Page 2 of 1
Let’s face it! Living life
and living in order to sur-
vive are two distinct and
separate things in our lives.
When I first saw the light
of this world, perhaps, my
parents were all full of joy.
I was the only child in the
family, because my kuya,
our eldest, died before I
was born. I grew up think-
ing that happiness was for-
ever. I would get every-
thing I wished and every-
thing I liked. I was the dar-
ling of the family and of
everyone in our household.
Then came the others, two
girls, and two boys and
poof, I lost being the dar-
ling of all. Instead I had to
help take care of my sib-
lings. ‘
I had my first taste of
schooling at P. Burgos El-
ementary School in Sta
Mesa, Manila. It was quite
an experience. I was sur-
rounded by many friends.
My father, my mother and
even my aunt and uncle
would send and fetch me
from school. Playing
patintero, piko and even a
few escapades when my
parents were not aware,
were the thrills of my life.
My teachers gave me the
attention I thought would
last. Such was my child-
hood life. I had hoped and
wished that it would never
end. But then came my
graduation, and I was all in
tears after bidding goodbye
to all I had - my friends,
my teachers, the attention
and my beautiful memories
as an elementary pupil.
To assuage my sadness, my
father told me that the hap-
piest day in a student’s life
is in high school. But I
didn’t pay attention to what
he said. I enrolled at V.
Mapa High School, a place
far away from our home.
My father was right. It was
here that I encountered so
many experiences that
made high school exciting
and a joy. It was also here
that I began to understand
the meaning of obligations
and responsibilities and of
the realities that I was no
longer a child. I had to
walk fast during breaks to
be in class on time. I had to
prepare materials for our
experiments. My parents
were no longer around to
fetch me. I had to wait for
the speedy jeepney with the
signage “Liberator” other-
wise I would be late for
school. I had to eat hurried-
ly the pandesal with pansit
filling I bought from the
panaderia because I needed
to be in class immediately
after.
Little by little, I began to
understand the meaning of
life. It was an awakening
experience. I found out I
was no longer the baby I
used to be. The high school
life was really the most
exciting part of the stu-
dent’s life, as my father
had said but it was also that
part of life where I had to
shed my innocence about
life. I had to face the reality
of growing up to become a
woman with the responsi-
bility of an adult. I could
no longer play and do as I
please. I had to be demure
and be the lady people
would like me to be. I left
high school, after my grad-
uation facing up to the
challenges in the adult
world.
I enrolled at Far Eastern
University, hoping to be a
teacher someday. I got my
wish. After passing the Li-
censure Examination, then
called Civil Service Exam-
ination for teachers, I was
hired at T. Earnshaw Ele-
mentary School in Punta,
Sta. Ana, where I began
and ended my stint as a
teacher. I will not tell any-
more the different experi-
ences I had as a teacher
suffice it to say that I be-
came so completely im-
mersed in an adult life that
I had completely forgotten
my student days. Life has
to go on – growth will con-
tinue in us. And as we
grow older we leave behind
the memories of the past
but not the lessons we
learned and have to teach
the next generation. Let’s
face it, this is the way of
life.
Do I have any regrets in
my life? None, except that
I am growing old and soon
will be out of this world. I
have lived my life fully. I
have a husband and chil-
dren who love me. My four
grandchildren are my joy
and my comfort as I relax
on my rocking chair. I have
fulfilled my career, ending
up being a Master Teacher
and now enjoying the fruit
of what I had worked for-
my retirement pay. And
what I thought of as retire-
ment is actually not at all. I
met all of you, my class-
mates and batch mates,
giving news, stories of the
past, and reliving the expe-
riences we had.
Let’s face it. This is life.
We do not know where
exactly we are going and
for how long we shall be in
this world, and what is to
come is still a mystery. But
whatever that is, life will
always be there to confront
us, to give us new experi-
ences and to relive that ex-
periences no matter how
long it will take. Whatever
that is, friends, lets face it,
we shall be together as long
as it take. And as long as
we can, let us make our
togetherness a life of hap-
piness and joy, full of
hopes and dreams. Let no
tears be shed because we
part. Instead let the parting
be a joy because we shall
meet again. Let’s face it,
this is our life so shall it be.
LET’S FACE IT By Carmelita Baylon-de Guzman
Page 5 of 16 Class ‘63 Digest
Growing up in a big family
of Mapa graduates, with
the exception of one sib-
ling, my relationship with
my Alma Mater becomes
more meaningful. Study-
ing in Mapa allowed me to
meet classmates and
friends who helped influ-
ence my life outside my
family. Both our parents
instilled in us belief and
faith in GOD.
My passion for a dangerous
yet unappreciated job of a
police officer may be
traced from my father, a
policeman himself who
showed me the ropes early
to acquire this noble pro-
fession.
My degree at the Philippine
College of Criminology in
1967essentially taught me
to have a strong sense of
discipline and resolve
which I readily embraced.
Needless to say, I encoun-
tered several “close calls”
while performing my duty
as a cop for 12 years. A
couple of situations literal-
ly saved me from being
blown up by a matter of
minutes! One of my unfor-
gettable moments hap-
pened at the Mendiola
Bridge where a large num-
ber of demonstrators pro-
testing before the Mala-
canang Palace. Rumors had
it that two of the empty bus
liners would be burned
down. I was right at the
front line at that time. From
what could be described as
an unexpected turn of
event, I suddenly remem-
bered my mother who was
in the States and her ad-
monition never to go hun-
gry while on duty. The
night was getting late so I
asked for replacement and
went home for dinner.
When I came back I was
shocked to find out that the
reliever-soldier who took
my post was killed, along
with three others thrown by
one of the demonstrators. I
could not stop thanking my
mother who I knew was
praying for me at that very
moment which was how I
survived. She always
prayed for all her children
and her 21 grandchildren
and 7 great grandchildren.
She passed away December
6, 2011 at the age of 94.
My reputation for standing
up to the gangs became
known in places where I
held duty. A PC Captain
once told me of an incident
where he responded to a
call about an impending
riot between two rival
gangs in Teresa, Santa Me-
sa. The captain was fully
armed to face the challenge
and when he arrived at the
scene someone shouted
“andiyan na si Boy Aran-
da”, and the two warring
gangs dispersed, and as he
put it: “It was as if Moses
had parted the Red Sea!”
In 1987, I accepted a new
assignment as an under-
cover (plain clothed) of-
ficer at the U.S. Embassy
Security where I had the
opportunity to meet and
rubbed shoulders with local
and international celebri-
ties. I met ambassadors,
senators and high govern-
ment officials and I was
truly proud to be of service
to them until 1990 when I
immigrated to the United
States with my family.
In Chicago, I found another
challenging career, as a
postal carrier in one of the
toughest suburbs called
Cabrini Green which could
be compared to that of Isla
Puting Bato in Tondo, Ma-
nila.
I enjoyed my work and the
years passed by until an-
other challenge came into
my life, when I was diag-
nosed with brain tumor in
2008. Immediately, I went
under the knife, and had to
undergo another operation
when some complications
developed two months af-
ter. But I thank God that
one month after my second
surgery, I was back to work
and have been working
since. My doctor told me if
I had a weak heart I
couldn’t have survived. So
my second life is a gift
from God and I am forever
grateful for His love for me
(continued on page 14)
Men in the Force – Part I Living with Faith and Courage
By Andres ‘Boy’ Aranda
Above: Andy in a casual US postal outfit. Right: The winning double bicep pose which won for Andy the 2ndd runner-up trophy for Mr. YMCA and as finalist for Mr. Philippinest in 1978.
Class ‘63 Digest
Page 6 of 16 Page 2 of 1
Danny Cunanan vividly
remembers the time spent
with high school buddies
after graduation. While
pursuing college studies,
Emilio Covacha, Voltaire
Domingo, Castor Silvestre,
Danny, and I,
often met at a
popular Chi-
nese restaurant
across Stella
Maris College
in Cubao, QC.
At times Ma-
nuel Tupaz
would meet up
with them and
reminisce old
times at Vol-
taire’s place on 20th Street
in New Manila, Quezon
City. It was during our ear-
ly days at UP in 1963 that
Danny acquired his driving
skills with Emilio as his
driving instructor (assisted
by back seat drivers – Vol-
taire and myself). The wide
roads in the UP Campus
and Project 7 served as his
driving course.
In 1966, Danny transferred
to PSBA while Emilio and
I continued on at UP. Vol-
taire was summoned by his
mom to join her at Univer-
sity of Manila, where she
was dean of arts and sci-
ences. We all became
members of the Beta Sigma
Fraternity in our respective
schools.
Danny graduated with an
accounting degree and
joined MERALCO in
1970. He supervised power
billing and cost accounting.
He left two years later to
join Manila Bank where he
managed credit accounts
(mostly
checking)
and became
the go-to
guy resolv-
ing bank
clearing is-
sues. The
day’s work
ends with
Danny sign-
ing-off on
the general
ledger report.
In 1976, with significant
experience in commercial
bank accounting, Danny
was invited by friends to
join the Industrial Finance
Corporation in an entirely
new field – assisting the
management of IFC’s criti-
cal reserve fund monitored
by the Central Bank to en-
sure that a safe and ade-
quate level is maintained at
all times.
In this office building
owned by the Yuchengcos
(RCBC) along Buendia
Ave., in Makati City, Dan-
ny and Juliet de Guzman,
(who worked at House of
Investments, Inc., a sister
company of RCBC-IFC)
reacquainted and remi-
nisced their Mapa days and
later called each other
“pinsan,” because Danny’s
middle name is also de
Guzman
Danny, however, couldn’t
resist the lure of a more
lucrative paying job with
the newly established In-
ternational Corporate Bank,
(spin-off of Continental
Bank and Allied Bank) led
by Rey Orosa (chairman).
His previous bank account-
ing and reserve fund man-
agement expertise catapult-
ed him to a dream job in
1978 becoming one of the
best dealers in Philippine
treasury bonds at that time.
His clients were mostly
institutional investors and
quick-profiting but rich
individuals. This became
the highlight of his Philip-
pine professional experi-
ence, where he was on a
first name basis with no
less than Rey David who
was then Interbank’s presi-
dent and was his boss and
mentor. Rey David became
DBP chairman during Pres
Arroyo’s presidency. It was
also during this time, that
he became friends (until
today), with Eldon Cruz,
the husband of Balsy
Aquino, P-Noy’s sister).
Danny thought then that it
was possible to “influence
the daily bank-to-bank loan
rate” and believed that the
bank rate and bond inter-
est/yield may easily be sub-
ject to “manipulation.” It
was in those days that
Danny brought huge eco-
nomic returns to Interbank
and therefore was recog-
nized for his significant
profit contributions, which
resulted in owning his first
and very charming home in
Merville, Paranaque. .
Danny migrated to the
USA in 1983 to give him-
self and his family a new
perspective while entrust-
ing his pawnshop business
to his elder sister. He ad-
justed well to his new
American environment,
and managed the culture
shock quite easily, but he
missed the excitement of
his daily grind at Interbank.
He returned to Manila in
1984 establishing a quasi-
engineering company do-
ing repair and construction
of Caltex gas stations
around Manila but it did
not prosper as planned. So
in 1986, he finally decided
to stay permanently in Chi-
no Hills, California to re-
join his family. Danny spe-
cialized in American cost
accounting system and be-
came a senior accountant at
one of California’s largest
furniture manufacturers (JR
Industries, Inc.) until his
recent retirement.
Danny has opted to be the
best day-care manager for
his growing brood of
grandchildren. Twice a
year, he shuttles between
California and Paranaque
to oversee the operation of
their janitorial and man-
power business in Makati
where he is Chairman of
the Board and CEO.
Danny is married to Verna
Jusay, whom he met at
PSBA during a joint Beta
Sigma Fraternity- Sigma
Beta Sorority celebratory
(Continued on page 14)
Danilo DG Cunanan By Gilbert C. Dulay
Page 7 of 16 Class ‘63 Digest
Every year as our nation
commemorates the death of
Benigno Aquino on August
21, I also commemorate
my wife’s untimely death
every August 20, a day be-
fore Ninoy Aquino was
assassinated at the Manila
International Airport in
1983.
Exactly a month after my
two months holiday in the
Philippines, I received a
telegram in my ARAMCO
office in Saudi Arabia in-
forming me that my wife
was in critical condition
due to ectopic pregnancy
and that I had to go home.
My elder sister requested
Aramco’s recruitment
agency (IPAMS) in Manila
not to reveal the truth that
my wife Annie had died.
She was afraid I would
have a heart attack in Saudi
if I received such news.
I fervently prayed to God
for my wife’s safety. I was
not a very religious man
but I had developed a very
deep personal relationship
with God while being away
from my beloved family.
The direct flight from from
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia to
Manila took nine gruelling
hours. I wished every mo-
ment I could reach Manila
in a wink of an eye so I
could reach Annie in time.
It was pure mental torture.
When I reached the Manila
International Airport on
August 22, 1983, the air-
port was in a big mess be-
cause of the previous day’s
assassination of Ninoy
Aquino. My elder brother
and two nephews were at
the airport to receive me.
My brother was hesitant to
answer my question about
my wife and when I in-
sisted, he told me “Johnny,
I am sorry, Annie could not
wait for you.” I have never
wept in my whole life, but
for almost one hour I was
weeping uncontrollably
like a child from the airport
to our residence in Sampa-
loc, Manila. It was as if my
world had just exploded!
Annie was a very stoic
woman and it was one of
her sterling qualities I truly
admire and love. My eldest
daughter who was only 8
years old then recollected
that it was Monday when
her mother started having
pain and Annie would ask
her to prepare hot tea to
ease the pain. By Friday
she still attended a program
at the Moises Salvador
Elementary School where
she taught. My elder sister
who was also a teacher in
the same school and a niece
brought her to the hospital
as she could no longer bear
the pain.
When I reached the funeral
chapel in Q.C., I was like a
mad man seeing her inside
the coffin. I could not be-
lieve she was dead because
she was very healthy and
was smiling at me the last
time I saw her at the airport
when she saw me off.
For a while I felt guilty
about her death. I regretted
losing the chance to serve
her in her last moments and
was not even able to thank
her for being such an ideal
wife. I felt so bad for being
a useless husband as she
died alone in the hospital
while I was so far away. I
also thought maybe I had
been an evil man that was
why God gave me such
terrible punishment.
As Annie was being buried,
I also wanted to be buried
with her. But then God
gave me the wisdom to ask
myself what about my two
little daughters? I could not
delegate my responsibility
to my other siblings who
also have their own fami-
lies. From then on, I quit
thinking of myself and I
started living only for my
two motherless daughters. I
was only existing because
of them.
It was not easy to be both
father and mother to two
little girls, maybe if they
were boys, it would have
been easier for me. It was
terrible but I had to accept
my fate with open heart.
God knows what is best for
me. And I am very thankful
to God for having given me
the wisdom and the moral
strength to pass God’s most
difficult test in my life.
Annie was a very devoted
grade school teacher from
1967 to 1983. She was
loved by everyone in her
school for being very
friendly, loving and peace-
ful. She was like a real
mother to her pupils. It was
so nice to see during An-
nie’s funeral some of her
loyal first pupils in 1967
with their respective fami-
lies in Loyola Memorial
Park in Sucat, Paranaque
City.
(Continued on page 14)
Annie, My Angel in Heaven By Johnny Villanueva
The Villanuevas: Johnny with wife Annie and the two kids.
Class ‘63 Digest
Page 8 of 16 Page 2 of 1
As I approach
my “twilight
years”, I look
back at the life
I have shared
with my hus-
band of 42
years, Freddie,
and cannot
help but think,
what would
have I done
differently
where I to re-
live my life
again? The
answer, abso-
lutely nothing!
Life was not a
“bed of roses”
for us, don’t
get me wrong,
we’ve had so much chal-
lenges and setbacks to
overcome throughout our
married life that I think
having to go through them
together, has made us
stronger as a couple, in-
stead of splitting us. Love
does overcome all obsta-
cles they say, I believe it.
One of our life’s greatest
challenges was simply sur-
viving. As a young married
couple in the Philippines,
on one income (albeit
Freddie was a Systems and
Programming Manager),
with a growing family, life
was hard. Freddie decided
that the best thing to do
was to immigrate, it didn’t
matter where to - Australia,
Canada or God willing, to
the USA. Not so easy to do
though, we soon found out
hahaha.
We were so excited when
our immigrant visa to Aus-
tralia was approved with
Freddie’s three years pro-
gramming experience. We
had visions of a wonderful
life awaiting us in Austral-
ia, with our own house, a
car and even a white picket
fence.
They processed our papers
then we were interviewed
and were given information
on life in Australia! We
only had to wait for our
schedule for medicals, then
Australia here we come!
The kids learned to answer
to the question “Where are
you going?” “Aulalia” my
3 yr. old used to say. Then
bam! We received a letter
informing us that unfortu-
nately, they raised their
programming requirements
to five years experience, so
that, Freddie did not quali-
fy anymore. That was a
very sad day in 1981.
However, because of that
single experience, our faith
that God’s hand guides our
life became stronger. If He
does not deem for you to
get something, it’s because
He has something better in
store for you. True enough,
a few months after, Freddie
was offered a consultancy
position in Canada and
from there, another posi-
tion in the US, and as they
say, the rest is history.
Life in the US definitely
allows you to have good
food, a decent roof over
your heads
and the little
extra for rec-
reation. But it
has also its
own chal-
lenges, one of
which is rais-
ing your kids
on your own,
with no ex-
tended family
to provide
you with
moral sup-
port, living in
a different
culture and,
of course, no
maids. Re-
member, this
was during
the time before magic jack,
Skype, Facebook, cell
phones and calling to the
Philippines would cost you
an arm and a leg. We had
to rely on writing letters
that took almost a month
just to get to the Philip-
pines. It was very lonely
those first months.
BUT, we survived those
few hard months, and then
the years went flying until
we found ourselves with
grown up children ready
for college. Now, that’s
another challenge! Sending
one is hard, sending three
at one point, is extremely
hard! Somehow we did it,
we scraped, pinched, and
Freddie and Chato took on life’s challenges together and reaped ‘a shower of blessings’.
September Birthday Celebrants
Our Life Together By Rosario ‘Chato’ de Jesus
Page 9 of 16 Class ‘63 Digest
worked hard. The day our
youngest graduated, as the
graduates tossed up their
caps, we felt like dancing
the jig!
However, we soon found
out that college graduation
was not the end of the ex-
pense trail for our daugh-
ters. Next came WED-
DINGS! Yes, if you are
lucky enough to have a
daughter in America, you
better believe that you will
be doing all the spending
for that dream wedding
your daughter wants. We
have three daughters. First
instinct is to tell them to
marry Pinoys because the
groom spends for the wed-
dings in the Philippines,
right? That is, if your
daughters listen to you or if
they know any Filipino
men who can be prospec-
tive husbands. That was too
much to hope for, because
my daughters didn’t.
So, our three daughters,
Jennifer, Tiffany and
Rhona, married Caucasian
men, and now, we would
not have it any other way.
My daughters married
wonderful men who are
loving, responsible,
thoughtful, educated, and
with great personalities.
We could not have wished
for better sons-in-law. We
all get along so well that
we go on vacations togeth-
er (yes, even to the Philip-
pines!) and just generally,
have a great time together!
Literally, we are one, big,
happy family.
My eldest daughter Jen-
nifer (40 yrs. old), an artist
by education and vocation,
is a full time house-
wife/mom with two ener-
getic boys, eight year old
Jarrett Jr. and five year old
Jordan. The kids keep her
on her toes but she still
manages to accept painting
or mural commissions
aside from her business of
one of a kind jewelry and
making custom cakes. Her
husband Jarrett travels a lot
in his position of being the
National Operations Man-
ager for a big logistics
company here in the US.
Our second daughter Tiffa-
ny (34 yrs. old), like Fred-
die, is an IT (Information
Technology) professional,
she is a consultant and un-
der contract as a Senior
Business Analyst for Bank
of America. She has a
daughter, 2 year old Bren-
na, and a dog. Her husband
Cody, works at the HQ of a
big grocery chain as a Price
Analyst. They both love the
Philippines and hope to
retire there someday.
Our youngest daughter
Rhonna, (33 yrs. old), has a
son Ronan (4 yrs. old), a
daughter Rosabel (2 yrs.
old), and a dog. Rhonna is
working from home. She is
also an IT professional
has a Masters degree in IT
focused on IT Security, she
holds an administrative
position at a federal agency
(DVA) in their IT Security
department. Her husband
Ryan, works with one of
the biggest banks in the US
as a Business Analyst.
Freddie still works as an IT
consultant but hopes to re-
tire late next year.
Throughout the years, he
has proven himself to be a
good husband, a good fa-
ther and a good provider.
He has pushed himself so
hard to achieve his goals in
life and has also achieved
the pinnacle of his profes-
sion. I was just lucky to be
hanging on for the ride. I
retired six years ago from
being an RN. I would say I
am now a full time wife, a
part time babysitter (on
emergency only!), and a
part-time traveler. We truly
cannot ask for more. We
have been showered by
blessings and only hope we
can be on this earth a little
longer to enjoy our family,
our grand children and es-
pecially our retirement.
God is good.
Class ‘63 Digest
Page 10 of 16 Page 2 of 1
“What’s in a name?” the
great Bard once asked.
“A pact of lasting friend-
ship”, if you ask Blondie
Silang, whose name may
raise some eyebrows. The
friendship was between
two soldiers of war fighting
in the same front: Benja-
min Silang, Blondie’s fa-
ther, and Tyron Fordson,
an American soldier who
fought in the country dur-
ing the Japanese invasion,
and whose life Benjamin
had saved. They made a
pact: their first born after
the war will have the same
name and will be called
‘Blondie’, as a tribute to a
lasting friendship born out
of a war that ravaged the
country.
And so the war came to an
end and true to their words,
the two war heroes (in my
dictionary, every soldier
who fought for his country
and its honor is a war hero)
named their first born child
after the war ‘Blondie’. It
didn’t matter that Benjamin
had a son, he was a man of
his words, and he had a
pact to honor. Blondie’s
counterpart, as they would
find out later, was a woman
living in Daly City in Cali-
fornia and they have not
only stayed connected, but
her family has visited the
country several times and
never failed to visit the
Silang family.
Thus post-war baby Blon-
die Silang was born in
Balic-balic, Sampaloc,
Manila on September 18,
1946. Few may have
known it, but in his bap-
tismal certificate his com-
plete first name was Mario
Blondie, but as history
would attest, Mario was
dropped out of his academ-
ic records and he felt com-
fortable and complete with
the name that was left be-
hind.
He went to Legarda Ele-
mentary School and re-
members among his class-
mates were Emilio
Covacha and Benjamin
Bartolome (a first year
Mapan who was recruited
to the first batch of the
Manila Science High
School). In Mapa, he first
went to Lipa Annex with
Romulo Tolentino, Johnny
Villanueva and Mandy
Vivar, among his class-
mates.
Blondie is a proud Mapan
and when asked what was
high school days like, “ec-
stasy” was the first thing
that came to his mind, “a
transition from ‘crayons to
perfume’ and ‘biting nails
are gone’ quoting “To Sir
with Love”, the song of our
era.
After high school, Blondie
went to UST, working his
way through college as li-
brary helper where he
earned his BS degree in
commerce, major in Ac-
counting. Years later, he
finished his MBA in the
same university on scholar-
ship from Emilio
Aguinaldo College. A Cer-
tified Public Accountant,
Blondie has earned several
units in Ph.D. but is no
longer enthusiastic in pur-
suing the course.
Blondie worked with the
Manila Broadcasting Co.
(the former ABS-CBN) as
accountant and with the
Philippine Air Lines as Ac-
counts Analyst. His work
experience includes a stint
in Saudi Arabia where he
consecutively worked as
Finance Manager in a Sau-
di travel agency, as Audit
Manager in McGlady’s
International and as Finan-
cial Analyst in US-based
Lucent Technologies, Intl.
Blondie also taught Ac-
counting and Auditing at
St. Paul College, Manila,
Philippine Women’s Uni-
versity, San Sebastian Col-
lege, and at the Emilio
Aguinaldo College. He has
received citations and
awards in teaching, one
of which was the Out-
standing Faculty Mem-
ber Award in PWU in
1988. He used to com-
mute two hours daily
from his residence in
Dasmarinas, Cavite, the
house that Saudi built, to
Manila. He has retired from
teaching and is currently on
consultancy basis as Bud-
get Officer of Emilio
Aguinaldo College.
“Teaching may not have
the financial benefits one
gets from the corporate
world, but it is a very re-
warding profession if you
consider the hundreds of
business graduates, a num-
ber of whom may have be-
come CPAs, who may have
contributed to the devel-
opment of our economy.”
Blondie recalls his growing
(continued on page 14)
Blondie Silang: Rising Above the Name By Cesar G. Banaag
Blondie with daughter Rocheelle and grandchildren:
John Vincent and Johanna Mae.
Page 11 of 16 Class ‘63 Digest
September born Sr
Consolacion is a woman
on a mission: To share with
the world the teachings of
Jesus Christ as modeled by
the Apostle Paul, aptly de-
scribed by modern theolo-
gians as “a man of grace
and grit”.
The eldest among 5 girls
with her only brother as the
firstborn, Consolacion
Ducusin was born on Sep-
tember 13, 1946 in San
Fernando, La Union. Soon
after, the family moved to
Manila where she grew up,
graduated from Mapa High
School in 1963.
She finished her degree in
Banking and Finance at the
University of the East in
1968 but apparently dis-
missed the possibility of
joining the business sector
and instead followed her
real apostolic calling to
spread God’s Word.
Her conviction to follow
Christ grew deeper and was
manifested on February 2,
1969 when she declared
her calling before the
Daughters of St. Paul con-
gregation, an international
religious order with pres-
ence in 51 countries, dedi-
cated to spreading God’s
Words through the media.
Consequently she received
the Aspirantship status in
1970, the entry level to
joining the congregation
The following year, she
was promoted to
Postulancy, a stage where
she was taught to sharpen
her spiritual gifts at the
same time identify her
limitations in establishing a
personal relationship with
God.
After successfully reaching
the Novitiate program held
in Lipa City in 1972, she
pressed on to the next
course called First Profes-
sion in 1974 when she took
the vows of poverty, chasti-
ty and obedience.
Joining this divine sorority
is not something that most
women would entertain as
a life option because of its
intense level of faith and
commitment. But Sister
Consolacion’s fervent pur-
suit of righteousness has
remarkably taken her to
many places yet her cher-
ished reward came on Jan-
uary 25, 1999 – the day
she celebrated her Silver
Jubilee as a servant of
Christ.
Today, the Daughters of St.
Paul has extended an out-
reach program through ed-
ucation and social network-
ing which involves an or-
ganization called the Paul-
ine Institute of Communi-
cation in Asia. Its mission
is “to communicate Faith
through Media” that offers
programs to both clergy
and lay people using dif-
ferent communication plat-
forms such print, broadcast,
digital, mobile and social
mediums.
Sr Consolacion’s vocation
has been devoted to a
life-long commitment to
serving Christ and the
church.
In her own words: “My
journey for 42 years in re-
ligious life has been very
beautiful and challenging
despite the struggles, limi-
tations and weaknesses
along the way. God’s love
and faithfulness is always
there to sustain me. I pray
for the rest of my life, I
will continue to persevere
in serving the Lord believ-
ing that it is only through
this that my life can have
meaning.” To learn more about the
Daughters of St. Paul, visit
www.paulines.ph and
www.picafsp.org.
Sr Consolacion Ducusin, fsp: Communicating Christ By Racquel Magat-Sanchez
Sr Consolacion with Juliet de Guzman-Blackwell, in the bookshop
of the Daughters of Saint Paul in Pasay City.
Class ‘63 Digest
Page 12 of 16 Page 2 of 1
September Birthdays
Sr. Consolacion
Ducusin - Sept. 13
Blondie Silang – Sept. 18
Mandy Vivar - Sept. 23
Freddie de Jesus - Sept. 25 Quiz Contest
(Courtesy of Juliet de Guzman-Blackwell)
The correct answers will be published in the next
issue. Surprise gifts await lucky winners. The
first one to submit the correct answers posted on
our website gets the prize. Prizes will be pre-
sented at our batch63 outing in Loreland after our
Golden Jubilee.
Unscramble the following jumblers, one letter to
each line, to form four ordinary words.
EWELH - __ __ __ __ __
CTBHA - __ __ __ __ __
RIHNKS - __ __ __ __ __ __
WSRPAL - __ __ __ __ __ __
Rearrange the letters on red lines to complete
the following sentence:
CELEBRITY BATTLES CAN SOMETIMES
TURN INTO: __ __ __ __ __ __ __
__
Happy Birthday and Hello! August birthday celebrants Eddie Eusebio and Josie Astorga-Campbell (right,) jointly celebrated their birthdays with a welcome treat to Caloy Ollero (back of right row) visiting the US from Saudi Arabia. Others in photo from left: Juliet Mascarinas, Linda Tablan-Fernandez, Racquel-Magat-Sanchez and Gilbert Dulay. Photo taken at the Vegas Seafood Buffet in Glendale, Cali-fornia.
Page 13 of 16 Class ‘63 Digest
My journey through life
may be compared to climb-
ing a steep mountain, not
easy, with all the burdens
that go with it. I was born
to a poor family but this
did not hinder me from
pursuing my dreams, one
of which is to finish my
college studies. Being the
eldest among five siblings,
I had greater responsibili-
ties and sometimes sacri-
fices.
One day, my Dad had a
heart-to-heart talk with me
and regretfully informed
me that, much as he wanted
to, he wouldn't be able to
send me to college due to
financial constraints. Right
after high school gradua-
tion in 1963, I was left with
no choice but to find a job
to earn and save some
money for my tuition fees.
With my intense desire to
attain my goal, bearing in
mind that there is no room
to be choosy, I grabbed any
opportunity that came my
way. I worked as a laborer,
scraping rusted drums in an
open field under the hot
sun; a janitor in a tertiary
hotel; and a factory worker
in a drug company, to men-
tion a few odd jobs I had to
do to earn a living. Eventu-
ally, while employed in a
Chinese firm, and after 10
years after graduating from
high school, I was able to
enrol in a B. S. Marketing
course at San Sebastian
College, Manila. I had to
take evening classes so I
could continue my daytime
job, budgeting my income
between my expenses in
studying and helping my
parents pay the monthly
bills and other monthly
household expenses.
Indeed, it was an answered
prayer when I was granted
a San Miguel Corporation
(SMC) Scholarship, be-
came a Dean's Lister and
graduated as "Most Out-
standing Marketing Stu-
dent", receiving a Gold
Medal awarded by the Phil-
ippine Marketing Associa-
tion (PMA) in 1977. GOD
is good, HIS blessings
came pouring... job oppor-
tunities were within my
reach. I followed my par-
ents' advice and accepted
SMC's offer to be Con-
sumer Services Assistant in
its Public Relations Office,
a position I kept for 18
years until I opted for early
retirement and then joined
SMC's subsidiary, the
Magnolia Corporation as
Paralegal in its Legal De-
partment.
In 1996, Magnolia was ab-
sorbed by Nestle Phils. Inc.
(NPI) and I was re-
assigned to the Ice Cream
Division's Marketing &
(continued on page 14)
Reaching My Goal
By Mandy Vivar
My Life in Nestle
By Mandy Vivar
Being a part of the NESTLE Family is one of the hap-
piest experiences in my life. Actually, I never consid-
ered it as a job because I was enjoying the activities
while I was earning a living. Not in my wildest dreams
would I have the opportunities to meet and work with
such famous movie/TV personalities, thanks to
NESTLE. It also gave me the opportunity to travel and
see places within the country as a result of all the pro-
vincial events and activities I handled and supervised in
my 10 years with the company.
Mandy with showbiz personalities from top left: Richard Gomez, Sharon Cuneta, Piolo Pascual, the young John Lloyd Cruza, and the candidates for Miss Earth Beauty Pageant.
Class ‘63 Digest
Page 14 of 16 Page 2 of 1
(continued from page 10)
up years: “I was the bread-
winner of the family and
that kept me aware of my
responsibilities to the fami-
ly. That made me strong in
facing life’s challenges
which brought about ‘suc-
cess’. We were three sib-
lings in the family. My
youngest brother died at an
early age. My eldest sister,
Adelaida, got married
when she was 18, so I was
left alone to take care of
my mother and father. My
being single is God’s gift to
my parents as I was able to
provide them my undivided
attention.” His father died
in 1995 while his mother,
Josefa, passed away in De-
cember of 2008.
In college, Blondie recalls
“madalas makasama ang
name ko sa list of girls and
when I get called like Miss
Silang, the class would
erupt in laughter. But they
stopped laughing and took
me seriously when in one
class discussion, I asked for
an extension to finish what
I have to say which made a
good impression on my
classmates.”
Blondie said he didn’t have
difficulties getting a job
after college as “My tran-
script speaks louder of my
achievement than my
name.”
Blondie is a single parent.
His biological daughter,
Rocheelle, is now 25, mar-
ried with two children: Jo-
hanna Mae, 10, and John
Vincent, 9 years old. “It is
nice to have your own fam-
ily. You have a true sense
of belongingness. They are
my wealth.”
(Continued from page 5)
and I trust Him with all my
heart.
I am now physically and
spiritually equipped to face
almost all tough challenges
in life. After all, I know in
my heart that my mother’s
unceasing prayers were
answered. My unwavering
faith in God has taken me
to several places that I
dreamed of. I also thor-
oughly enjoy the frequent
reunions with my siblings,
seven sisters and a brother
who is a head pastor at a
large Baptist church in Zi-
on, Illinois.
Looking back, there’s one
quite interesting part of my
life that very few people
know. I was a serious
bodybuilder and I used to
join contests, including Mr.
Philippines where I was a
finalist in 1978. I was also
once a 2nd
runner up in Mr.
YMCA.
That’s one memory I will
always remember with
fondness, so that to this
day, every time I’d look at
the mirror, I’d still see
those muscular biceps and
abs a few women swooned
over.
∞
(continued from page 3)
organized on the parochial
level by Catholic lay
women as a means for their
sanctification. Their main
concern is to take care of
priestly vestments and altar
linens, as well as to ensure
the cleanliness and beauti-
fication of their respective
parish churches. During
summer, Oyie is also a
Catechist. She continues to
attend seminars and meet-
ings for her spiritual
growth.
Today, Gloria Ner-Intal is
very happy with all her
spiritual activities. She is
thankful to God for calling
her daughter to serve Him
through people in need of
physical, mental and spiri-
tual guidance. A visit to
her eldest daughter’s fam-
ily in New Jersey, U.S.A. is
in her future plans.
(Continued from page 13 )
Promotions Department as
Events Specialist until my
retirement in 2006, after
which, I had a short stint
with Trivecs Marketing
Services, Inc. as Executive
Assistant to the CEO and
HR Manager. With these
past experiences, I realized
that everything happens for
a purpose.
Now, I'm proud and happy
to serve VMHS Alumni
Class '63 as Public Rela-
tions Officer of the Philip-
pine Chapter.
"In GOD's time, whatever
we ask for, will be granted,
but it may not be in the
exact package we wanted
it, but it will be what GOD
thinks is best for us. To
GOD be all the Glory!"
(continued from page 6)
have four grown-up chil-
dren, with one still com-
pleting his studies while
directly managing the day-
to-day operation of their
growing service enterprise
in the Philippines.
Danny believes life has
taught him well; that one
cannot control other peo-
ple, nor remake or change
one’s friends; that to be
good looking is no longer
important in adult life.
Danny divides his time into
somewhat “artificial phas-
es” to be able to handle
“crucial decisions” in busi-
ness and in life, and says
“I’m a happier person
now.”
(Continued from page 7)
Annie is gone only physi-
cally but in my heart she
remains alive and is always
smiling at me. I could al-
most feel her physical
presence whenever I re-
member her. Although I am
not a regular church-goer,
in my heart, I have that
blessed assurance that An-
nie and I will be reunited
someday in heaven in
God’s time.
Andy Aranda ….
Blondie Silang
Annie, My Angel….
Danny Cunanan.
Gloria Ner-Intal
Mandy Vivar
Page 15 of 16 Class ‘63 Digest
Sa opisina ng pahayagang
pangkampus ng UE (‘The
Weekly DAWN’) ko unang
nakita si Cesar Banaag
makaraan ang maraming
taon mula ng magtapos
kami sa Mapa. Napagala-
man kong dati rin pala si-
yang “Dawner.” Kilala
kong taga-Mapa si Cesar
pero hindi ko siya naging
kabarkada sa hayskul. Ka-
hit lumipat na kami sa
Main Building sa kalye San
Rafael.
Pero sino nga ba si Cesar
Banaag? Kailangang salik-
sikin pa ang mga lumang
isyu ng aming pahayagang
pangkampus at basahin ang
mga naisulat niya para
lubusang siyang makilala.
Wala na ako sa Dawn nang
muli kong makausap si Ce-
sar, naikuwento niya sa
isang pagtatagpo naming
mga taga-Mapa (2010 yata)
nang dumating sina Eddie
Eusebio at Danilo Morales
mula US, at nagsalo-salo
ang mga ka-batch sa
McDo, Galeria 4, Green
Belt, Makati. Nagyaya si
Danilo Morales ng dinner
sa isang Chinese Resto
pagkaraan ng "mini reun-
ion" o kumustahan sa Mc-
Do. Dalawa pang Danilo
ang narooon, bukod kay
Morales, sina Caceres, at
Belonia. Nakilala ko rin si
Gerry Limbo at ang esposa
pala ni Dan Morales ay
taga-Malolos, Bulakan, at
ako nama'y taga-Bulakan,
Bulakan. Nasa kaliwa ko si
Robert Jacinto at sa kanan
ay si Eddie Eusebio, katabi
naman si Cesar. Bilog ang
malaking mesa kaya ma-
sarap ang usapan. Dito
kami nagkakuwentuhan ni
Cesar nang magkapalit-
palit na nang upuan.
"Editor ka pala noon sa
Dawn," masayang simula
ni Cesar. "Oo, sa Pilipino
section, "ang nakangiti
kong sagot. "Sino ba ang
editor in chief ninyo
noon?" tanong ko sa kanya.
Nagsimula na siyang mag-
kuwento, "Si Caloy Llorin
ang editor namin.
Makaraan ang panahon
niya ay namasukan siya sa
isang kilalang advertising
agency bilang PR Director
at kinuha niya akong PR
Assistant na nagsusulat at
gumagawa ng mga publica-
tion ng mga multi-national
clients, mga 1972 ito.”
“Working student" ako sa
edad na 17, kaya medyo
nagtagal akong kinuha ang
AB English sa UE. Isa
kong clerk sa isang banko
sa Escolta, bale hanggang
1970 ‘yon.”
Sa kanyang Facebook na-
pagalaman kong nag-MA
in Journalism pala si Cesar
sa UP, “habang staff writer
ako non sa ‘Times Journal’.
Noong 1980 nagpasya
akong pumunta sa Vienna
na nung panahon na yon ay
hindi kailangan ang visa sa
pagpunta sa Europe.
"Madali akong nakapasok
sa UN. Nagsimula ako bi
lang Training Assistant sa
Computer Section ng Inter-
national Atomic Energy
Agency. Nagtrabaho ako sa
UN hanggang 2002 noong
nagpasya akong magretiro
sa edad na 56. Ang aga
yata ano?" nangiti ako sa
sinabi ni Cesar.
Ang aking huling trabaho
ay Senior Documentation
Specialist sa Safeguards
Dept. "Ang aming depar-
tamento ang na namama-
hala sa kaligtasan sa pan-
gangalaga ng nuclear en-
ergy sa buong mundo.
Nuong 2005 tumanggap
ang aming Ahensiya ng
Nobel Peace Prize at binig-
yan lahat ng staff ng Nobel
citation.
Maganda ang kuwento ni
Cesar tungkol sa kanyang
karanasan sa ibang bansa
bilang isang Filipino. Sa
kanyang paglayo ay nara-
ramdaman niya na lalo si-
yang napalapit sa sariling
bayan at lalong tumingkad
ang pagiging Filipino lalo
na sa kanyang pagbabalik
matapos magretiro sa UN.
Ganito ang damdamin ng
isang Filipinong nalayo sa
kanyang lupang tinubuan:
"Ang paninirahan sa ibang
bansa ay lalong nagpating-
kad sa aking pigiging isang
Filipino. Aktibo ako sa
komunidad ng mga Filipino
na pinapanatili ang ating
kultura sa banyagang
bansa. Gumawa din ako ng
mga newsletters at isang
coffeetable book para sa
kommunidad ng Filipino.
Nag contribute din ako sa
“Filipinos Abroad” maga-
zine na base sa London.
Hinahanap ko ang puta-
heng Filipino at anumang
bagay na katutubong atin.
kaya't lagi akong umuuwi
kapag buwan ng Disyem-
bre upang maranasan ang
May Kabuluhan ang Paglayo
Ni Teo T. Antonio
"Paano makalalapit ang isang tao nang di lumalayo."
- Khalil Gibran
Sa bakuran ni Cesar sa Vienna kung saan buong summer ang hardin ay puno ng mga rosas.
Class ‘63 Digest
Page 16 of 16 Page 2 of 1
init ng pagmamahalan ng
pamilya at kaibigan."
Itinuturing ni Cesar ang
pagtira niya sa Vienna at
ang kanyang pagiging
isang "international civil
servant" na may diplomatic
status na isang pribilehio.
"Ang Austria ay napaka-
gandang bansa na may Old
World Charm. Ang na-mis
ko sa lahat ay ang aking
antigong bahay, na di kala-
yuan sa opisina ng UN,
may maluwang na hardin,
at maraming namumulak-
lak na halaman at mga
punong namumunga. Kaya
pag summer ang mga kai-
bigang Pinoy at kasamahan
sa opisina ay nag-iihaw ng
barbecue. Alam naming
hindi dapat aksayahin ang
tag-araw dahil mabilis
itong matatapos."
"Ang magtrabaho bilang
international civil servant
sa loob ng mahigit dala-
wang dekada ay nagbibigay
ng habambuhay na alaala.
Naalpasan ng pagkakaibi-
gan ang anumang hang-
gahang pangkultura.”
Pero nangibabaw kay Cesar
sa mahabang pagkakalayo
sa sariling bayan ang pani-
indigan na manatili ang
pagiging Filipino sa kan-
yang pagbabalik. "Ang
pagiging Austrian o pagi-
ging mamamayan ng Euro-
pean Union, ay nakatu-
tukso pero nanindigan
akong panatilihin ang aking
pagiging Filipino.
Nagbalik si Cesar na gi-
nugunita ang kinalakhang
lugar, "Ipinanganak ako sa
boundary ng Mandaluyong
at Sta. Ana, Manila. Nag-
aral ako sa T. Earnshaw
Elementary School sa
Punta, Sta. Ana (kasama ko
sina Juliet Mascarinas,
Evelyn Teodoro, Meny
Segura, Marieta Bautista,
Erlinda Yuzon, Elena Re-
goso at Wilfredo Neis.)
Ang aming bahay ay isang
bloke ang layo sa ilog
Pasig (ang ilog na nagpa-
paalala sa aking kamus-
musan hanggang grade
six.) Dito ako unang natu
tong lumangoy at patawid-
tawid. Minsa'y lulundag
kami sa tulay Lambingan
sa Sta. Ana at lalangoy ka-
sabay ng malakas na agos.
Pag tag-araw ang maalat na
tubig mula sa Manila Bay
ay hahalo sa ilog at magi-
ging alat."
Ang paghahalo ng tubig-
alat at tubig-tabang sa ilog
Pasig ay isang maalamat na
simbolo sa buhay ni Cesar
Banaag ang batang-
Mandaluyong at Sta. Ana.
Ipinadpad ng alon ng ka-
palaran sa Vienna, Austria.
Sinagap ang banyagang
hangin at karanasan sa
banyagang lupain upang
muling magbalik at lalong
umibig sa nilakhang ilog.
Maunawaang walang pi-
nagkaiba ang ibang lahi sa
mundo pagdating sa
pakikipagkapwa-tao, pag-
ibig, paninindigan at pag-
mamahal sa sariling pagka-
tao at sariling bayan.
Ang makabuluhang pag-
layo ay makabuluhan ding
pagbabalik sa Lupang
Tinubuan. Inihahatid ng
alon ang tula ng Dakilang
Supremo at Anak-Dalita,
ang hinabi niyang:
"Aling pag-ibig pa ang hi-
higit kaya/sa pagkadalisay
at pagkadakila./Gaya ng
pagibig sa tinubuanglupa/
aling pag-ibig pa, wala na
nga,wala./
Lumayo ang isang Filipi-
nong tulad ni Cesar Banaag
upang mabanaagan at higit
na mapalapit sa Lupang
Sinilangan.
READERS’ FORUM
Katatapos ko lang basahing ang 2 isyu ng Digest 63. Iba
ka talaga at ang grupo. Naririto ang propesyunalismo sa
pamamahayag. Muling nanariwa ang maraming alaala
sa mga kaklase tulad ni Evelyn Teodoro na kaklase ko
noong 1st year sa Rizal Annex na maganda ang naging
karanasan sa Nauru. Kayo pala nina Victor ang nasa
patnugutan ng Mapazette ayon kay Moreno David. Sina
Josie Astorga, Erlinda Tablan, at Raquel Magat ay
kaklase ko sa II-2.
Gayundin sina Precioso Domingo, Regie Lauzon,
Benjie Andres at Gil Abadines. Sina Eddie at
Carlos O. ay kaklase ko sa III-3 sa Main Building na ito.
Sina Juanito Villanueva at Carlos Guanlao ay kaklase
ko sa 4th year. Sana nga ay nasa glossy paper ito at
maipamahagi natin sa mga ka-batch 63.
Sinasaluduhan ko ang grupo ninyo Cesar hindi sa
dahilang halos lahat ay kaklase ko. Pakisabi kay Eddie
na ikumusta ako kina Josie, Erlinda, at Carlos na
UNICEF Awardee pala, ang batang Quiapo. Napaka-
raming impormasyon, pati si Gilbert Dulay ay taga
Mapa pala. Sana makakuha tayo ng isponsor para ma-
imprenta ang Digest 63.
Isang pagpupugay,
TEO T. ANTONIO