Editor's Note: I got a copy of my grandfather's diary from my aunt. (Thanks Tita Bing!) He wrote it in the mid-90's while he was doing security guard work around Tampa Bay and it's full of daily anecdotes and even more stories than the memoir that I'm working on now. This one is 304 handwritten pages and my brain goes a little numb and my fingers want to hide at the thought of transcribing it.
There are some good entries in here, and I plan to dip into it now and then to mix things up on the blog. He has very detailed remembrances of WWII in here and I plan to tackle those once I'm done with the memoir. For now, here's his side of the story going on right now from "Nanay" my grandmother's memoir that my sister is dutifully working on now.
One day while visiting Pat and her mother in a Boarding House opened by them in Azcarraga near UE (University of the East), I asked if she has already enrolled in school. She said "not yet because mother has not yet sold her sewing machine." I asked for her report card. She just finished 2nd year H.S. in the Nueva Vizcaya Vocational H.S. and she intended to enroll in the National Univ. H.S. Dept. in Sampaloc, Manila.
To my great amazement, I never saw a card like that before, which was full of 90+ grades with no grade below 85%. Her general average was around 95%. Almost perfect! She said she was correcting themes written by 3rd year students under Miss Veragara, her English teacher. I was surprised!
I told her that I will pay for her initial enrollment fees because it was just a few days when enrollment will be closed. Her mother agreed. The only amount needed was 5 pesos ($2.50) and she got enrolled. We were both very happy.
At that time in 1939 my girlfriend was Martha. My other girlfriends: Elay, Edith, Tonie and Olive had all graduated as nurses. I could no longer visit them in their hospital schools as before and we stopped communicating with each other.
God knows that my only interest in helping Pat was because of her high grades and I said: SAYANG if her intelligence will not be exploited. I could foresee that she would make good in school and have a bright future. And she was very eager to go to school!
On the first week of her schooling she took an exam for the H.S. Newsletter Editor-In-Chief. She was the first one who submitted her theme to the amazement of the aspirants, but hers was declared the winner by Leon O. Ty, a very famous newspaper writer.
This made Pat very popular considering the fact that nearly all the contestants were fourth year students. Her picture was in the papers as Editor-In-Chief! Her mother was very proud of her and all their boarders celebrated her victory. She was given scholarship benefits as a H.S. student and at the same time as a Normal School (College equivalent) student to become a teacher.
Many boys tried to date her. One of their boarders was after her. She told me all about her problems. I realized she would be in trouble and unable to continue her studies if she fell in love with somebody.
In the beginning I pretended to fall in love with her so that she would not fall in love with someone else. I tried to protect her future. She responded to my letters and ultimately we became sweethearts. Her beautifully written "Story of My Life" can better tell what actually happened, except the fact that I was just pretending to court her. God knows! JBS
Martha was a H.S. graduate and more beautiful than Pat. Although not as intelligent I suppose because she never answered my letters, nor encouraged me beyond the flick of her eyelashes and smile on her lips!
There was a point when I could pretend no longer. I gave up Martha and went full speed for PAT! This proves that LOVE can really grow. My favorite song was:
Love in bloom
This is the past dear,
A spark then a flame
The moon was to blame
The world was all in tune-
This is the present,
The flame still aglow
My darling and so-
I blame the stars and the moon
This is the future, you at my side
A groom and a bride,
A home for more than two
My beloved one, this is the past
The present and the future
I'm only living just
For you-
JBS
Our bundle of love letters from 1939 to 1941 can better tell the full love story between Pat and me. I've given each of my children copies of those same love letters.
Neither Pat or I had any objection to anybody seeing seeing these letters which are in the Abra Provincial Library as a part of my five volumes of the story of my life entitled "Anak Ti Abra." The Librarian, Mr. Bianes said that many read those love letters.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
History of My Life - Part B: Social Life
“History of My Life”
by Jose (Patrocinio) B. Sibayan
1990
B. Social
1. KOMEDIA
Komedia or “moro-moro” was then the BIG town entertainment. It took several weeks to prepare the actors, the stage, the PALCOs (grandstands), the clothes and props before the show went public. Most “comediantes” (actors) and “comedianteas” (actresses) were from the East side (TAGA DAYDAYA) of the town. Fina’s grandpa, Don Juan Valera (Angcuan Bai) was a script writer. Nana Maria Bosuego was the PONTADOR or prompter, Tata Lucas was the BOLBOLAGAO or clown, Tata Elias as the “emperador,” Tata Herman was the “Ari,” Manong Selmo was the “principe,” Manang Iyang was the princesa and young boys, including Isus Karasua and Gambal Tayab were soldiers. The show lasted three nights, usually held during Christmas vacation. We brought blankets to wrap ourselves in the cold open plaza. Our throats were hoarse with shouting or laughing. It was a colorful show.
2. Washington Day
Washington Day was the Town Fiesta on February 22nd of each year. The plaza was converted into a Provincial or Agricultural Fair where all sorts of local agricultural products were displayed and sold. Each town had a booth. There was a parade of school students and town representatives with beauty queens riding decorated floats. Kids, including myself, used home-made MASKARA or masks and threw confetti (KOMPITIS) on ladies’ hair. The best exhibits were awarded prizes. Lots of gambling tables were scattered around the plaza brought by out-of-town operators where dice, cards, etc were played. Athletic competitions such as volley ball, indoor baseball, tennis, horse racing, bicycle racing and Juego de Anilio. A game where you picked a hanging ring with a prize marked on an attached string with a pointed stick while riding a horse or a bicycle.
In the kiosks of the plaza were dances or programs for the entertainment of the crowd. This was the occasion to meet and see people from other towns like San Jose, Lagangilang, Villavisiosa, Dolores, San Juan, Bucay, etc wearing their native costumes. At that time, when I was a young boy, many people from distant towns were still non-Christians. They were almost naked, dressed with just g-strings and tapis, barefooted and all chewing MAMA.
The town fair lasted several days until all the exhibits were sold, given away, or exchanged for lack of money. People dressed their very best. We dressed in SEDA WASHINGTON, or Washington silk. Nana Alli, Pat’s mother, sewed our clothes for the town fiesta.
3. Cine
As early as 1923, when I was about five years old, we already had moving pictures called CINE HAWAII in Bangued. I used to ride the truck carrying the placards around the town beating a drum to attract the people. Small kids tried to clamber inside the truck but were shocked by electric current which ran in the metal parts of the truck. The movies were shown inside the store of Don Ciano Barcena just across from the convent. The movies were intended to attract attention to enlist workers for the sugar plantations in Hawaii.
Some silent movie scenes depicted the terrible earthquake in Japan. The movie crews were from Vigan. They boarded in our houses during their stay in Bangued. Later on, because of the big crowds, the show was held in the town plaza. Only ticketed movies were shown in the Store of Don Ciano. Later, movies were shown in the CINE TUAZON, a GI warehouse-like building near the creek on the road down to west side of the plaza.
The rooms in the store were rented to the FARMACIA VALERA and to a Chinese family that sold groceries from Vigan. The pharmacy was run by Manang Conchang Valera, later on Mrs. Purruganan. The Chinese store was run by the Chua family.
4. Store
The Store of Don Ciano was the meeting place of kids for playing games like TOUCHING, PIKO, KARA y KROS, rope jumping, etc. on it’s cemented sidewalk. All kinds of bets like TARKAS, BITTAOG, LASTIKO, coins, pictures of movie stars, etc. were used in the gambling games. It was the only cement playground where small children can play without soiling themselves. I just loved to read the comics in the Manila Tribune of the pharmacy instead of gambling or playing.
5. Kalsada
Roads were dusty and muddy. Only carabao sleds or cow-drawn carts could use them. Later on, during the administration of town mayor PRESIDENTE Bienvenido Valera, some streets became paved with stones from the Abra River. Then the road in front of the church down to the Caramanta Hill was paved with asphalt. During the road construction we loved to ride on the back of the steam roller, notwithstanding stepping on live coals falling down from the roller burner. Our feet got burned as we were all barefoot.
As late as 1932-33, when I was 2nd year H.S., I walked on the stone-paved road to the Abra High School near the cemetery. Roads connecting Bangued and Vigan via Narvacan were stony and dusty. As the trucks and buses tried to race against each other, passengers cheered the driver to run faster out of excitement from covering their faces with handkerchiefs as they all got covered with dust. At the Tangadan, especially that part which abruptly inclines toward Narvacan, everybody, except women with kids, had to get down to help push the truck up the stony, dusty road until it reached the top of the mountain. It took half a day to negotiate the trip between Vigan and Bangued because of the ferry at the site where the Quirino Bridge was later built across the Abra River.
Passengers had to bring BALON covered with banana leaves to be eaten on the way at the water fountain in Tangadan. At that water spot, outgoing and incoming vehicles stopped to put water in their radiators and refill their water cans while the passengers ate their BALON or meals and drank the cool refreshing water from the forest spring.
6. Balsa
Transportation in the early Twenties was by means of horseback, animal-drawn sled or cart, and bamboo raft down the Abra River. It took one day, from 6 to 6, to negotiate the distance between Bangued and Vigan. At daybreak, carts ferried passengers from Bangued to Nagtalabongan, where the passenger bamboo rafts were waiting. At the mouth of the Abra River in Vigan, cow-drawn carts and KILES (horse-drawn carriages) were waiting for passengers from the rafts. I saw the Quirino Bridge and the roads from both sides under construction. The people up there, seen from the Abra River, were as tiny as flies on the top-side of the high mountain. Later on, after the road between Bangued and Vigan was paved with asphalt, it took only a one hour trip, minus dust and rattled bones!
The trip by cart to Tagangilang from Bangued took more than a half-day’s time, from 6 to 12. After the bumpy ride, although the bamboo floor had hay matting, one’s body seemed like “longboy” shaken between two plates!
Those who had cars in the early days were Don Juan Valera, a dodge sedan driven by Manong Isong Bolante. Tata Binnong Benedito, Chief of Police, had a STUTZ, and later on had a Fargo bus. Tata Pepe Lizardo, foreman, had a STAR. Don Quentin Paredes had a BUICK. Don Julio Barbon, Don Virgilio Valera and Bernardino Torrijos had a Ford with a STARTER instead of a MANIKETA or crank to start the engine running. Tata Binnong also had a KILES or horse-drawn carriage driven by Alip for ferrying school teachers.
Manang Conchang Valera (mother of Fina) had a DURANT sports car with a rumble seat in the back in place of a baggage compartment. She was the only woman driver in Abra at that time in the early Thirties. I was her chaperon everywhere she went. At that time, ladies going out without a chaperone wee eyed with suspicion and out of place. Several “crazy,” “sick,” and envious people intentionally placed nails to puncture tires! To patch up and replace a tire then was a very hard job, taking almost half a day’s work!
The profession of a DRIVER then was an envied job as they drew good salaries and went places. The earliest bus drivers of Bangued were Angel Benas, Alip Benas, Milis Benes, Tata Castor Balobar and Meno Favorito of DARDAYA and SINAPANGAN. When they arrived from far away places like Manila, they had lots of unusual tales to tell eager youngsters who just loved to hear their unending, exciting experiences. I was one of them. I loved adventure!
Those who owned passenger buses were considered rich and were popular. They were the Beneditos, the Valeras, and the Favoritos. Their family names were painted in BIG letters on the sides of their buses.
A regular daily trip to Manila was made by the NORLUTRAN bus company. It’s arrival at night was met with lots of kids trying to help the passengers with their baggage or get their newspapers at the post office.
7. First Radio
Communication was by means of telephone, telegraph and mail. The telephones connected only to the Municipal town buildings. The telegraphs connected only to Provincial and City Post Offices. Mail, in the early days outside of Bangued, was delivered by horse back or by bamboo rafts to Pidigan, San Quentin and Vigan. Later on, when roads were opened, mail was carried by passenger buses.
The first one to own a radio receiving set in Bangued for public display was the P.C. Barracks, which was then west of the Plaza. Every night we went to hear the Ilocano Night Program. Then the Torrijo’s store near the church also had a radio for public hearing. The sound was distorted by lots of static!
8. Social Organizations
Clubs were organized for social and recreational purposes, such as the ANARAAR and the BARANGAY clubs. The former was organized by the men while the latter was organized by the ladies of Bangued. Most social activities, like dances, were held in the house of Don Juan Valera because it had a large dance hall, elegant dining room, good toilet and bath facilities, and a TOWER for entertainment purposes overlooking a large part of the town. The Bayguen Band provided the music. Ice for ice cream making came from Vigan. VIPs from Manila were always entertained with a dance party in the house of Tata Ancuan Bai (Don Juan Valera.)
The prominent ladies were Conchang Valera (Fina’s mother and only daughter of Don Juan), Alice Landeta Belisario, Nena and Lita Banes, the Vasquez sisters, Mg. Demi Colet, Mg. Trining Bravo, Mg. Soledad and Lourdes Valera, the de Leon Sisters (white cover) and later on the Valera Sisters (Mary and Pitang). The prominent men were the Valera brothers: Meling, Pacoy, Teling and Roding. Also well known were the Baula Brothers, Leocadio Talin, the Paredeses, Purugganans, Banes family, and the Torrijos brothers. Often times we had LINOBIAN parties too. Our favorite drink was SARSPARILLA.
9. Social Status Symbols
Social status symbols then were a PIANO, a CAR, a lot of servants, a BIG HOUSE and, of course, owning land. Government employees who received salaries belonged to the upper classes, together with large land owners. The middle classes were the artisans like carpenters, black smiths, shoe makers, merchants and tailors. The lower classes were the farmers, servants and beggars. The influence of Spanish culture was very strong. The priests and white people were looked upon with reverence, respect and adoration.
10. School Teachers
School teachers were looked upon with respect by the parents and with fear by their students. It was a part of their anatomy to hold a stick while teaching as a symbol of authority. They didn’t hesitate to apply it on the “seat” of learning for minor mischief or mistakes. Miss Ana Valera, our music teacher, related to us the story of one of her pupils who dumped the bamboo water carrier on the road and ran away as they were about to meet on the street. But a good and kind school teacher, Miss Fe Benito, at noon sang a lullaby for her students to take a nap in school.
In the market the vendors addressed every respectable person by the name of MESTRO or MESTRA. But the same words were also used with a different intonation and meaning for persons interfering in somebody’s business, especially their children or friends. Teachers were very well dressed; using high heels on dusty, stony roads and coat and tie in very hot weather, imitating the Americans.
11. School Children
School children from the West, South, East and North got integrated in the LONG BUILDING during the Primary grades and in the GABALDON BUILDING during the Elementary grades. Thus the sectionalism was more or less minimized. During my primary grades, most school children went to school barefooted, using KALSONCILLO, or drawers, and a KAMISETA, or underwear of cotton clothing. Girls didn’t wear panties then, including school teachers. Many young boys urinated or sheted in their drawers because often times the strings around the waistline got entangled and could not be untied in time before the personal necessity explodes!
by Jose (Patrocinio) B. Sibayan
1990
B. Social
1. KOMEDIA
Komedia or “moro-moro” was then the BIG town entertainment. It took several weeks to prepare the actors, the stage, the PALCOs (grandstands), the clothes and props before the show went public. Most “comediantes” (actors) and “comedianteas” (actresses) were from the East side (TAGA DAYDAYA) of the town. Fina’s grandpa, Don Juan Valera (Angcuan Bai) was a script writer. Nana Maria Bosuego was the PONTADOR or prompter, Tata Lucas was the BOLBOLAGAO or clown, Tata Elias as the “emperador,” Tata Herman was the “Ari,” Manong Selmo was the “principe,” Manang Iyang was the princesa and young boys, including Isus Karasua and Gambal Tayab were soldiers. The show lasted three nights, usually held during Christmas vacation. We brought blankets to wrap ourselves in the cold open plaza. Our throats were hoarse with shouting or laughing. It was a colorful show.
2. Washington Day
Washington Day was the Town Fiesta on February 22nd of each year. The plaza was converted into a Provincial or Agricultural Fair where all sorts of local agricultural products were displayed and sold. Each town had a booth. There was a parade of school students and town representatives with beauty queens riding decorated floats. Kids, including myself, used home-made MASKARA or masks and threw confetti (KOMPITIS) on ladies’ hair. The best exhibits were awarded prizes. Lots of gambling tables were scattered around the plaza brought by out-of-town operators where dice, cards, etc were played. Athletic competitions such as volley ball, indoor baseball, tennis, horse racing, bicycle racing and Juego de Anilio. A game where you picked a hanging ring with a prize marked on an attached string with a pointed stick while riding a horse or a bicycle.
In the kiosks of the plaza were dances or programs for the entertainment of the crowd. This was the occasion to meet and see people from other towns like San Jose, Lagangilang, Villavisiosa, Dolores, San Juan, Bucay, etc wearing their native costumes. At that time, when I was a young boy, many people from distant towns were still non-Christians. They were almost naked, dressed with just g-strings and tapis, barefooted and all chewing MAMA.
The town fair lasted several days until all the exhibits were sold, given away, or exchanged for lack of money. People dressed their very best. We dressed in SEDA WASHINGTON, or Washington silk. Nana Alli, Pat’s mother, sewed our clothes for the town fiesta.
3. Cine
As early as 1923, when I was about five years old, we already had moving pictures called CINE HAWAII in Bangued. I used to ride the truck carrying the placards around the town beating a drum to attract the people. Small kids tried to clamber inside the truck but were shocked by electric current which ran in the metal parts of the truck. The movies were shown inside the store of Don Ciano Barcena just across from the convent. The movies were intended to attract attention to enlist workers for the sugar plantations in Hawaii.
Some silent movie scenes depicted the terrible earthquake in Japan. The movie crews were from Vigan. They boarded in our houses during their stay in Bangued. Later on, because of the big crowds, the show was held in the town plaza. Only ticketed movies were shown in the Store of Don Ciano. Later, movies were shown in the CINE TUAZON, a GI warehouse-like building near the creek on the road down to west side of the plaza.
The rooms in the store were rented to the FARMACIA VALERA and to a Chinese family that sold groceries from Vigan. The pharmacy was run by Manang Conchang Valera, later on Mrs. Purruganan. The Chinese store was run by the Chua family.
4. Store
The Store of Don Ciano was the meeting place of kids for playing games like TOUCHING, PIKO, KARA y KROS, rope jumping, etc. on it’s cemented sidewalk. All kinds of bets like TARKAS, BITTAOG, LASTIKO, coins, pictures of movie stars, etc. were used in the gambling games. It was the only cement playground where small children can play without soiling themselves. I just loved to read the comics in the Manila Tribune of the pharmacy instead of gambling or playing.
5. Kalsada
Roads were dusty and muddy. Only carabao sleds or cow-drawn carts could use them. Later on, during the administration of town mayor PRESIDENTE Bienvenido Valera, some streets became paved with stones from the Abra River. Then the road in front of the church down to the Caramanta Hill was paved with asphalt. During the road construction we loved to ride on the back of the steam roller, notwithstanding stepping on live coals falling down from the roller burner. Our feet got burned as we were all barefoot.
As late as 1932-33, when I was 2nd year H.S., I walked on the stone-paved road to the Abra High School near the cemetery. Roads connecting Bangued and Vigan via Narvacan were stony and dusty. As the trucks and buses tried to race against each other, passengers cheered the driver to run faster out of excitement from covering their faces with handkerchiefs as they all got covered with dust. At the Tangadan, especially that part which abruptly inclines toward Narvacan, everybody, except women with kids, had to get down to help push the truck up the stony, dusty road until it reached the top of the mountain. It took half a day to negotiate the trip between Vigan and Bangued because of the ferry at the site where the Quirino Bridge was later built across the Abra River.
Passengers had to bring BALON covered with banana leaves to be eaten on the way at the water fountain in Tangadan. At that water spot, outgoing and incoming vehicles stopped to put water in their radiators and refill their water cans while the passengers ate their BALON or meals and drank the cool refreshing water from the forest spring.
6. Balsa
Transportation in the early Twenties was by means of horseback, animal-drawn sled or cart, and bamboo raft down the Abra River. It took one day, from 6 to 6, to negotiate the distance between Bangued and Vigan. At daybreak, carts ferried passengers from Bangued to Nagtalabongan, where the passenger bamboo rafts were waiting. At the mouth of the Abra River in Vigan, cow-drawn carts and KILES (horse-drawn carriages) were waiting for passengers from the rafts. I saw the Quirino Bridge and the roads from both sides under construction. The people up there, seen from the Abra River, were as tiny as flies on the top-side of the high mountain. Later on, after the road between Bangued and Vigan was paved with asphalt, it took only a one hour trip, minus dust and rattled bones!
The trip by cart to Tagangilang from Bangued took more than a half-day’s time, from 6 to 12. After the bumpy ride, although the bamboo floor had hay matting, one’s body seemed like “longboy” shaken between two plates!
Those who had cars in the early days were Don Juan Valera, a dodge sedan driven by Manong Isong Bolante. Tata Binnong Benedito, Chief of Police, had a STUTZ, and later on had a Fargo bus. Tata Pepe Lizardo, foreman, had a STAR. Don Quentin Paredes had a BUICK. Don Julio Barbon, Don Virgilio Valera and Bernardino Torrijos had a Ford with a STARTER instead of a MANIKETA or crank to start the engine running. Tata Binnong also had a KILES or horse-drawn carriage driven by Alip for ferrying school teachers.
Manang Conchang Valera (mother of Fina) had a DURANT sports car with a rumble seat in the back in place of a baggage compartment. She was the only woman driver in Abra at that time in the early Thirties. I was her chaperon everywhere she went. At that time, ladies going out without a chaperone wee eyed with suspicion and out of place. Several “crazy,” “sick,” and envious people intentionally placed nails to puncture tires! To patch up and replace a tire then was a very hard job, taking almost half a day’s work!
The profession of a DRIVER then was an envied job as they drew good salaries and went places. The earliest bus drivers of Bangued were Angel Benas, Alip Benas, Milis Benes, Tata Castor Balobar and Meno Favorito of DARDAYA and SINAPANGAN. When they arrived from far away places like Manila, they had lots of unusual tales to tell eager youngsters who just loved to hear their unending, exciting experiences. I was one of them. I loved adventure!
Those who owned passenger buses were considered rich and were popular. They were the Beneditos, the Valeras, and the Favoritos. Their family names were painted in BIG letters on the sides of their buses.
A regular daily trip to Manila was made by the NORLUTRAN bus company. It’s arrival at night was met with lots of kids trying to help the passengers with their baggage or get their newspapers at the post office.
7. First Radio
Communication was by means of telephone, telegraph and mail. The telephones connected only to the Municipal town buildings. The telegraphs connected only to Provincial and City Post Offices. Mail, in the early days outside of Bangued, was delivered by horse back or by bamboo rafts to Pidigan, San Quentin and Vigan. Later on, when roads were opened, mail was carried by passenger buses.
The first one to own a radio receiving set in Bangued for public display was the P.C. Barracks, which was then west of the Plaza. Every night we went to hear the Ilocano Night Program. Then the Torrijo’s store near the church also had a radio for public hearing. The sound was distorted by lots of static!
8. Social Organizations
Clubs were organized for social and recreational purposes, such as the ANARAAR and the BARANGAY clubs. The former was organized by the men while the latter was organized by the ladies of Bangued. Most social activities, like dances, were held in the house of Don Juan Valera because it had a large dance hall, elegant dining room, good toilet and bath facilities, and a TOWER for entertainment purposes overlooking a large part of the town. The Bayguen Band provided the music. Ice for ice cream making came from Vigan. VIPs from Manila were always entertained with a dance party in the house of Tata Ancuan Bai (Don Juan Valera.)
The prominent ladies were Conchang Valera (Fina’s mother and only daughter of Don Juan), Alice Landeta Belisario, Nena and Lita Banes, the Vasquez sisters, Mg. Demi Colet, Mg. Trining Bravo, Mg. Soledad and Lourdes Valera, the de Leon Sisters (white cover) and later on the Valera Sisters (Mary and Pitang). The prominent men were the Valera brothers: Meling, Pacoy, Teling and Roding. Also well known were the Baula Brothers, Leocadio Talin, the Paredeses, Purugganans, Banes family, and the Torrijos brothers. Often times we had LINOBIAN parties too. Our favorite drink was SARSPARILLA.
9. Social Status Symbols
Social status symbols then were a PIANO, a CAR, a lot of servants, a BIG HOUSE and, of course, owning land. Government employees who received salaries belonged to the upper classes, together with large land owners. The middle classes were the artisans like carpenters, black smiths, shoe makers, merchants and tailors. The lower classes were the farmers, servants and beggars. The influence of Spanish culture was very strong. The priests and white people were looked upon with reverence, respect and adoration.
10. School Teachers
School teachers were looked upon with respect by the parents and with fear by their students. It was a part of their anatomy to hold a stick while teaching as a symbol of authority. They didn’t hesitate to apply it on the “seat” of learning for minor mischief or mistakes. Miss Ana Valera, our music teacher, related to us the story of one of her pupils who dumped the bamboo water carrier on the road and ran away as they were about to meet on the street. But a good and kind school teacher, Miss Fe Benito, at noon sang a lullaby for her students to take a nap in school.
In the market the vendors addressed every respectable person by the name of MESTRO or MESTRA. But the same words were also used with a different intonation and meaning for persons interfering in somebody’s business, especially their children or friends. Teachers were very well dressed; using high heels on dusty, stony roads and coat and tie in very hot weather, imitating the Americans.
11. School Children
School children from the West, South, East and North got integrated in the LONG BUILDING during the Primary grades and in the GABALDON BUILDING during the Elementary grades. Thus the sectionalism was more or less minimized. During my primary grades, most school children went to school barefooted, using KALSONCILLO, or drawers, and a KAMISETA, or underwear of cotton clothing. Girls didn’t wear panties then, including school teachers. Many young boys urinated or sheted in their drawers because often times the strings around the waistline got entangled and could not be untied in time before the personal necessity explodes!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
1949 - Passing the Bar
Story of My Life
by Jose B. Sibayan
12/7/1991
This story is written to give glory to God who has a plan for everyone. I was born on May 8, 1918 and at my present age as I write this story on December 7, 1991, my experiences and observations conclusively prove the truth about God’s plan for everyone. (Today is the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.)
It was during my lunch session with Atty. Dallas Albritton in his office with Atty. Robert Ruelo when in the course of conversation, Dallas said: “Brother, you should write a story of your life.” He made this suggestion after I told them how I passed the Philippine Bar which I took in 1949.
I told them that when I was preparing to take the bar, my boss, Colonel Ambrosio Salud, called me and said: “I know that you reviewing for the bar. Do you know that I took the bar seven times and that I only passed it on my seventh attempt? I passed it during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines when all of us passed. Now I don’t want you to suffer the same agony, shame, and frustration I had being called a ‘bar flunker’. All that I can do to help you is this: get somebody to take your job so that instead of coming to the office you can go elsewhere to review. The reason I flunked then was because I was a working student like you and I had no chance to review. Try to look for another officer who can do your job as soon as possible and let him see me.” I said: “Yes, Sir!” saluted him smartly and returned to my desk.
At that time I was the Administrative Officer, Finance Officer and Supply Officer of the Quartermaster Service Group, Philippine Constabulary (now called National Police Command). We handled the procurement and distribution of supplies for all Constabulary units throughout the Philippines. We had various distribution points in different areas under an officer with the ranks of Captain.
Not long after Colonel Salud told me to look for an officer to handle my job, Captain Jose Del Rosario, our Supply Officer in Canlubang, Laguna came in and addressed me in our Ilocano dialect: “Joe, okinnam, tolongan nak,” with a wide grin on his scar-face. He said: “Joe, you s-b, help me.” But said jokingly with a smile, this is an intimate way to address a friend. I answered: “You are a captain and I am only a first lieutenant, how can I help you?”
He approached me closer and whispered: “You are very close to our boss and I know that one word from you will make him act.” I then asked him: “Do you want to take my job?” He backed away and said, “I did not come here to take your job! But you know Joe, on my way back to Canlubang from Manila, I was ambushed by Huks (or Communists) and almost got killed. I have a big family here in Manila and I want to build a house near the Max Fried Chicken area in Quezon City. Please, Joe, help me.”
I told him what Colonel Salud just advised me so that I can prepare myself for the bar, and he agreed to take my job. We approached Colonel, whose table was nearby and I said: “sir, here is Captain Del Rosario who can take my place.” He looked up very much surprised. Addressing Capt. Del Rosario, he asked: “Prove to me that you can do Joe’s job!” He answered: “Sir, before I got commissioned as a Reserve officer, I was a Superintendent of a High School. If Joe can push a pen, I can also do that.”
Colonel Salud said: “Alright, take this note to Colonel Papa (G-1) and come back with your orders.”
That same day, Capt. Del Rosario took over my job and the following day I went to the Camp Crame Chapel on top of the hill to review. As I knelt before the altar I said: “Lord, make me a lawyer so that I can help the poor, the needy, the oppressed and those who can not afford to pay a lawyer.”
I have barely opened my book when Captain Jose Gozo, our Chaplain, came in. He asked: “Joe, what are you doing here?” I said, “I am reviewing to take the bar, Father, and this is the only place I can find to read my books.” He said: “Come, follow me.” as he walked inside his office behind the altar.
“The adjacent room is my library, complete with bed, toilet and bath.” And he added, “Here, take this key so that you can pass through the back door any time you come her.” I was very happy and went inside the room immediately. The following year he was promoted to Major and I was also promoted to Captain.
The bar exam is taken every Sunday for four consecutive Sundays. On the first Sunday, before I woke up, I dreamt of having taken the exam. I even recalled a question that I was not able to answer. That was about adoption. Before leaving to go to the Normal School where the exams were being held, I first read the book on Civil Procedure which contained the subject of adoption.
When the exam notebook was given to us and after praying, I went over the questions. In the middle of the pages were two questions: 1. Where do you find the law on adoption? 2. What are the steps for adoption? I almost jumped out of my seat with joy! After answering those questions, all the rest of the questions seemed very easy to answer. Nothing is impossible with God!
Civil procedure was scheduled for the last week. My Civil Law was 84%.
On the second week of my review, I rode with Col. Salud and I asked him to drop me on the nearest place to my school in Arellano Law College along his way. When we reached the corner of Sta. Mesa and Loreto streets it was raining very hard and so I asked him to drop me where it was not raining along his way to Taft Avenue.
The rain stopped when we reached the Francisco Law College, a newly opened law school on Taft Avenue. I went inside and attended the review there. They were reviewing for the coming exam on Commercial Law. At that time anybody can enter any review class.
To my great surprise the questions on Commercial Law given to us the following Sunday were the same questions being reviewed in the Francisco Law College then. I easily answered them.
To attract law students for enrollment, every law school tries it’s best to have a high rate of candidates who can pass the bar. It was then of common knowledge that often times bar examination questions leaked out. Judge Francisco, owner of the Francisco Law College, was a member of the Supreme Court. Could it be that my having attended the law review in that school was a mere accident? Why did the rain stop just near that place then? It is a good three miles away from the Arellano Law College!
I did not tell Father Gozo about this incident because when I told him about my having dreamt of the exams before I woke up, he said: “I’ll believe that Joe when you pass the exams.” But I kept reviewing inside his chapel every day.
There was a flu epidemic when I was taking the bar exam. It was called “Asian Flu.” All our children, including my wife, were sick. The whole night of Saturday I was up giving them medicine and water, and more water because of their high fever. I had no sleep.
The following morning I was feeling as though I was floating on air and my head was empty. I told my wife that I will not leave them for the exams. She suggested and asked me and begged me to take them to her sister’s apartment so that I can go and take the exams.
I hired a cretella (a horse-drawn carriage) and brought her and our children: Tony, Betty, Bing and Jojo to Aning’s place in Avenida Rizal, which was quite a distance from Pandacan, Manila.
When I reached the Normal School, I barely had time t make a short review. I read only about ten articles of the three hundred articles of the Revised Penal Code. I was not feeling well. I just answered the questions as briefly as I could.
On my way back home, I rode in the jeepney (a small passenger car) with our best bet, Edon Brion, who was my close friend. We compared notes on our answers. I thought I did not do very well because the way he answered the questions was different from my answers. Being our valedictorian, I believed in him.
When the bar results were known, he could have been our bar top-notcher, had he gotten my grade of 94% in Criminal Law. All his grades were above 95% except in Criminal Law, which was below 95%. He answered the questions according to the decided cases, while I answered them based on the principles or elements of law.
The fourth Sunday covered political law subjects. I saw my right-side candidate reviewing very intensely a ¼ piece of paper. When we were told to put down everything from our table and get our exam notebook, I reached for the piece of paper when he stood up and read what he was reviewing. Then I went to get my notebook. He did not see me get the piece of paper.
When I went over the examination questions, I was greeted with these two questions: 1. How many members are there in the Presidential Cabinet? 2. Name them and their respective positions.
The piece of paper contained the names and positions of the thirteen members of the Cabinet! My joy was indescribable. All the rest of the questions that we took during that day were not very hard to answer. At that time there were twelve members of the cabinet, but President Magsaysay added one special member, Mrs. Pacita Madrigal Warns, as Head of the Associated Charities.
It took one year for the bar results to be released. One of the candidates who took the exam was the son of President Quirino, Tomas Quirino. When I went to get my grades from the Supreme Court, I saw that his grade was 64% in the 1949 Bar Examinations. The results were released when the new president of the Philippines took over in 1950. Another candidate was the son of the late Pres. Manuel Rojas, Jerry Rojas, whose grade was 75%. He later on became Speaker of the House of Representatives.
My general average was 84.1%. I got 89% in Political Law and 83% in Mercantile (Commercial) Law. My lowest grade was 78% in International Law. I was exempted from taking the final exam in this subject because of my previous exams and so I did not mind reviewing very well in this subject during the bar exams. My teacher with whom all of us fell in love was Mrs. Palma, who later became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. She was a very good combination of BEAUTY with BRAINS! Until now I can still imagine her lovely smiling face. She has light complexion. We call light-complexioned persons in the Philippines “mestiza” a hybrid.
My passing the bar was the culmination of sacrifices and hard work as a working student on my part and full hearted cooperation and encouragement by my wife, Pat. It was one of the greatest events of our lives! Praise the Lord.
I was coming from inspection of the various guard posts of the PC as Field Officer of the Day when I saw the HUGE headline of the newspaper being peddled by newsboys in the corner of EDSA and Sta. Mesa St. (now Sen. Rodriguez Blvd.) It flashed: BAR RESULTS. It contained my name and I turned around to show It to Pat instead of proceeding to the HPC in Camp Crame. We lived in Pandacan, Manila.
Our rejoicing roused our children (and maybe our neighbors) from sleep for it was around six o’clock in the morning. I bought other newspaper copies and went directly to the Camp Crame Chapel. After giving my thanks and praises to God, I proceeded to the Office of the Quartermaster Service Group in the PC Headquarters building. It was already around 8:30 am and so all civilian employees, EM and officers were already at work. What greeted me at the entrance to our office were already at work. What greeted me at the entrance to our office was a BIG welcome sign: CONGRATULATIONS ATTORNEY SIBAYAN! Upon seeing me, all my co-employees, headed by Col. Salud, came to congratulate me. Other officers from adjoining offices also came to greet me including my friends in the Camp. But the first one whom I went to see after my wife to give thanks was Father Gozo who said: “Now I believe your dream, Joe.” We prayed together.
During our noon break my co-officers invited me to the Max Fried Chicken Restaurant where they gave me a “blow-out.” The next group to give me a “blow-out” was our enlisted men who were under me as their Commanding Officer of the QMSG (Quartermaster Service Group) Company.
Col. Salud invited all members of the QMSG to a GRAND blow-out in his newly built mansion the following weekend. There we had a picture taking and I was requested to deliver a speech. I mounted the stairway going to the second floor and addressed the guests. My speech was brief. I merely gave thanks to God, to my wife, to Col. Salud, to Major Gozo and to everybody, including Capt. Del Rosario, who helped me pass the bar.
Our civilian employees, including those in our QMSG Warehouse in the Planas Compound, not far from Camp Crame, also gave me a big blow-out as their Administrative Officer and Finance Officer, before that of Col. Salud.
The following weekend, my rich brother-in-law, Mr. Agapito Raagas (cousin Loling’s husband), gave me a blow-out in his house in Kamining, Quezon City where prominent people were present. It was in that house where Pat and I lived when I was not yet an officer and our room was inside a dug-out during the war under the house.
Aside from the publicity in the newspapers, I was featured in the “KHAKI AND RED” a Constabulary magazine that was widely read by all officers and men of the Philippine Constabulary. It contained my picture in uniform as Captain and claimed that I was a former enlisted man that rose from the ranks. I got letters of congratulations from all sources.
Pat and I have a return BLOW-OUT at home. My soldiers had to set up a big tent in front of our house to accommodate our guests that included the 100-man PC Band that paraded around town with my placard, headed by Captain Campana, a good friend of mine. We had a picture taken by a professional photographer. IT WAS OUR BIG DAY! The members of the Band were not included in the picture because the photographer arrived late.
Other banquets were held following my passing the bar. One was held by the Arellano College of Law and the other one was held by our Congressman Quentin Paredes, whose son Antonio also passed, with other candidates from the province of Abra. That was my first time to come face to face with our very famous Congressman, who later built a Paredes University in Manila. We had a personal chat about another bar candidate from Abra whom he did not invite, saying: “That fellow is a snake.” (May his soul rest in peace.) Don Quentin was a prominent Philippine lawyer.
Not long after the bar results were published a long lost cousin of mine, Manang Feling (Mrs. Felisa Calvo) made a surprise visit in my office with her daughter Accountant, Baby. They traced my whereabouts through the newspaper publications. It was from her how I learned some information about my other relatives on my late father’s side. Then we had a family reunion and I invited them to my blow-out at home.
I got back to my job in the QMSG and in addition to my being and Adm. O, Fin. O, Supply O, and C.O., GMSG Co., I was designated as Law-member of the HPC General Courtmartial headed by Colonel Delarmente. How I performed all these jobs, only God knows. Capt. Del Rosario, being only on TDY (temporary duty) in our office was given another job as Supply Officer closer to Manila.
When I called up Col. Fred Ruiz-Castro, who was then my professor in Criminal Law to thank him for my passing the bar, he asked if I wanted to join him in his office as a Judge Advocate Officer. He was then the Chief JAGO, Armed Forces of the Philippines. I politely declined his offer out of my gratitude to Col. Salud.
Had I become a JAGO Officer instead of being later on integrated into the Regular Force from the rank of Captain, Reserve, to 1st Lieutenant, Regular, I could have avoided the unpleasant sufferings and sacrifices of reduction in rank and being sent out as an Infantry officer to fight the Huks (Communists) in Mt. Pinatubo and in central Luzon when my wife was carrying our sixth child, Bobby, until he was born. But God has a plan for everyone as I could see it now. I did not think about that. I just went with the Filipino saying of “bahala na” or “come what may” attitude.
Col. Salud tried to convince me to become a Mason. He held a high degree in Masonry, up to the 6th degree. I said I’ll think it over. When I consulted Father Gozo about this matter he said: “Joe, don’t! Do you know that later on as you go up in their ranks they will require you to step on the Cross in order to go up higher?” With that advice I disappointed my boss. But I believe that as I see this now, I was being guided by the Holy Spirit.
Being the only enlisted man who rose from the ranks and at the same time a practicing lawyer in Camp Crame and nearby Camp Murphy (now Ft. Aguinaldo), I was asked as a Guest Speaker in the AFSEM (Armed Forces School for Enlisted Men) in Camp Murphy. There I ended my speech with the famous saying: “Be still sad heart and cease repining. Carry on, still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait. Some days must be dark and dreary!”
Later on I got several requests from soldiers to defend them in the civil courts or in court-martials including cases involving their families. I had to bring them and their witnesses to court in my car and during court recess I take them to a nearby eatery spending my own money. I was once like them and I know how they live. Besides, I was fulfilling my promise to God.
by Jose B. Sibayan
12/7/1991
This story is written to give glory to God who has a plan for everyone. I was born on May 8, 1918 and at my present age as I write this story on December 7, 1991, my experiences and observations conclusively prove the truth about God’s plan for everyone. (Today is the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.)
It was during my lunch session with Atty. Dallas Albritton in his office with Atty. Robert Ruelo when in the course of conversation, Dallas said: “Brother, you should write a story of your life.” He made this suggestion after I told them how I passed the Philippine Bar which I took in 1949.
I told them that when I was preparing to take the bar, my boss, Colonel Ambrosio Salud, called me and said: “I know that you reviewing for the bar. Do you know that I took the bar seven times and that I only passed it on my seventh attempt? I passed it during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines when all of us passed. Now I don’t want you to suffer the same agony, shame, and frustration I had being called a ‘bar flunker’. All that I can do to help you is this: get somebody to take your job so that instead of coming to the office you can go elsewhere to review. The reason I flunked then was because I was a working student like you and I had no chance to review. Try to look for another officer who can do your job as soon as possible and let him see me.” I said: “Yes, Sir!” saluted him smartly and returned to my desk.
At that time I was the Administrative Officer, Finance Officer and Supply Officer of the Quartermaster Service Group, Philippine Constabulary (now called National Police Command). We handled the procurement and distribution of supplies for all Constabulary units throughout the Philippines. We had various distribution points in different areas under an officer with the ranks of Captain.
Not long after Colonel Salud told me to look for an officer to handle my job, Captain Jose Del Rosario, our Supply Officer in Canlubang, Laguna came in and addressed me in our Ilocano dialect: “Joe, okinnam, tolongan nak,” with a wide grin on his scar-face. He said: “Joe, you s-b, help me.” But said jokingly with a smile, this is an intimate way to address a friend. I answered: “You are a captain and I am only a first lieutenant, how can I help you?”
He approached me closer and whispered: “You are very close to our boss and I know that one word from you will make him act.” I then asked him: “Do you want to take my job?” He backed away and said, “I did not come here to take your job! But you know Joe, on my way back to Canlubang from Manila, I was ambushed by Huks (or Communists) and almost got killed. I have a big family here in Manila and I want to build a house near the Max Fried Chicken area in Quezon City. Please, Joe, help me.”
I told him what Colonel Salud just advised me so that I can prepare myself for the bar, and he agreed to take my job. We approached Colonel, whose table was nearby and I said: “sir, here is Captain Del Rosario who can take my place.” He looked up very much surprised. Addressing Capt. Del Rosario, he asked: “Prove to me that you can do Joe’s job!” He answered: “Sir, before I got commissioned as a Reserve officer, I was a Superintendent of a High School. If Joe can push a pen, I can also do that.”
Colonel Salud said: “Alright, take this note to Colonel Papa (G-1) and come back with your orders.”
That same day, Capt. Del Rosario took over my job and the following day I went to the Camp Crame Chapel on top of the hill to review. As I knelt before the altar I said: “Lord, make me a lawyer so that I can help the poor, the needy, the oppressed and those who can not afford to pay a lawyer.”
I have barely opened my book when Captain Jose Gozo, our Chaplain, came in. He asked: “Joe, what are you doing here?” I said, “I am reviewing to take the bar, Father, and this is the only place I can find to read my books.” He said: “Come, follow me.” as he walked inside his office behind the altar.
“The adjacent room is my library, complete with bed, toilet and bath.” And he added, “Here, take this key so that you can pass through the back door any time you come her.” I was very happy and went inside the room immediately. The following year he was promoted to Major and I was also promoted to Captain.
The bar exam is taken every Sunday for four consecutive Sundays. On the first Sunday, before I woke up, I dreamt of having taken the exam. I even recalled a question that I was not able to answer. That was about adoption. Before leaving to go to the Normal School where the exams were being held, I first read the book on Civil Procedure which contained the subject of adoption.
When the exam notebook was given to us and after praying, I went over the questions. In the middle of the pages were two questions: 1. Where do you find the law on adoption? 2. What are the steps for adoption? I almost jumped out of my seat with joy! After answering those questions, all the rest of the questions seemed very easy to answer. Nothing is impossible with God!
Civil procedure was scheduled for the last week. My Civil Law was 84%.
On the second week of my review, I rode with Col. Salud and I asked him to drop me on the nearest place to my school in Arellano Law College along his way. When we reached the corner of Sta. Mesa and Loreto streets it was raining very hard and so I asked him to drop me where it was not raining along his way to Taft Avenue.
The rain stopped when we reached the Francisco Law College, a newly opened law school on Taft Avenue. I went inside and attended the review there. They were reviewing for the coming exam on Commercial Law. At that time anybody can enter any review class.
To my great surprise the questions on Commercial Law given to us the following Sunday were the same questions being reviewed in the Francisco Law College then. I easily answered them.
To attract law students for enrollment, every law school tries it’s best to have a high rate of candidates who can pass the bar. It was then of common knowledge that often times bar examination questions leaked out. Judge Francisco, owner of the Francisco Law College, was a member of the Supreme Court. Could it be that my having attended the law review in that school was a mere accident? Why did the rain stop just near that place then? It is a good three miles away from the Arellano Law College!
I did not tell Father Gozo about this incident because when I told him about my having dreamt of the exams before I woke up, he said: “I’ll believe that Joe when you pass the exams.” But I kept reviewing inside his chapel every day.
There was a flu epidemic when I was taking the bar exam. It was called “Asian Flu.” All our children, including my wife, were sick. The whole night of Saturday I was up giving them medicine and water, and more water because of their high fever. I had no sleep.
The following morning I was feeling as though I was floating on air and my head was empty. I told my wife that I will not leave them for the exams. She suggested and asked me and begged me to take them to her sister’s apartment so that I can go and take the exams.
I hired a cretella (a horse-drawn carriage) and brought her and our children: Tony, Betty, Bing and Jojo to Aning’s place in Avenida Rizal, which was quite a distance from Pandacan, Manila.
When I reached the Normal School, I barely had time t make a short review. I read only about ten articles of the three hundred articles of the Revised Penal Code. I was not feeling well. I just answered the questions as briefly as I could.
On my way back home, I rode in the jeepney (a small passenger car) with our best bet, Edon Brion, who was my close friend. We compared notes on our answers. I thought I did not do very well because the way he answered the questions was different from my answers. Being our valedictorian, I believed in him.
When the bar results were known, he could have been our bar top-notcher, had he gotten my grade of 94% in Criminal Law. All his grades were above 95% except in Criminal Law, which was below 95%. He answered the questions according to the decided cases, while I answered them based on the principles or elements of law.
The fourth Sunday covered political law subjects. I saw my right-side candidate reviewing very intensely a ¼ piece of paper. When we were told to put down everything from our table and get our exam notebook, I reached for the piece of paper when he stood up and read what he was reviewing. Then I went to get my notebook. He did not see me get the piece of paper.
When I went over the examination questions, I was greeted with these two questions: 1. How many members are there in the Presidential Cabinet? 2. Name them and their respective positions.
The piece of paper contained the names and positions of the thirteen members of the Cabinet! My joy was indescribable. All the rest of the questions that we took during that day were not very hard to answer. At that time there were twelve members of the cabinet, but President Magsaysay added one special member, Mrs. Pacita Madrigal Warns, as Head of the Associated Charities.
It took one year for the bar results to be released. One of the candidates who took the exam was the son of President Quirino, Tomas Quirino. When I went to get my grades from the Supreme Court, I saw that his grade was 64% in the 1949 Bar Examinations. The results were released when the new president of the Philippines took over in 1950. Another candidate was the son of the late Pres. Manuel Rojas, Jerry Rojas, whose grade was 75%. He later on became Speaker of the House of Representatives.
My general average was 84.1%. I got 89% in Political Law and 83% in Mercantile (Commercial) Law. My lowest grade was 78% in International Law. I was exempted from taking the final exam in this subject because of my previous exams and so I did not mind reviewing very well in this subject during the bar exams. My teacher with whom all of us fell in love was Mrs. Palma, who later became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. She was a very good combination of BEAUTY with BRAINS! Until now I can still imagine her lovely smiling face. She has light complexion. We call light-complexioned persons in the Philippines “mestiza” a hybrid.
My passing the bar was the culmination of sacrifices and hard work as a working student on my part and full hearted cooperation and encouragement by my wife, Pat. It was one of the greatest events of our lives! Praise the Lord.
I was coming from inspection of the various guard posts of the PC as Field Officer of the Day when I saw the HUGE headline of the newspaper being peddled by newsboys in the corner of EDSA and Sta. Mesa St. (now Sen. Rodriguez Blvd.) It flashed: BAR RESULTS. It contained my name and I turned around to show It to Pat instead of proceeding to the HPC in Camp Crame. We lived in Pandacan, Manila.
Our rejoicing roused our children (and maybe our neighbors) from sleep for it was around six o’clock in the morning. I bought other newspaper copies and went directly to the Camp Crame Chapel. After giving my thanks and praises to God, I proceeded to the Office of the Quartermaster Service Group in the PC Headquarters building. It was already around 8:30 am and so all civilian employees, EM and officers were already at work. What greeted me at the entrance to our office were already at work. What greeted me at the entrance to our office was a BIG welcome sign: CONGRATULATIONS ATTORNEY SIBAYAN! Upon seeing me, all my co-employees, headed by Col. Salud, came to congratulate me. Other officers from adjoining offices also came to greet me including my friends in the Camp. But the first one whom I went to see after my wife to give thanks was Father Gozo who said: “Now I believe your dream, Joe.” We prayed together.
During our noon break my co-officers invited me to the Max Fried Chicken Restaurant where they gave me a “blow-out.” The next group to give me a “blow-out” was our enlisted men who were under me as their Commanding Officer of the QMSG (Quartermaster Service Group) Company.
Col. Salud invited all members of the QMSG to a GRAND blow-out in his newly built mansion the following weekend. There we had a picture taking and I was requested to deliver a speech. I mounted the stairway going to the second floor and addressed the guests. My speech was brief. I merely gave thanks to God, to my wife, to Col. Salud, to Major Gozo and to everybody, including Capt. Del Rosario, who helped me pass the bar.
Our civilian employees, including those in our QMSG Warehouse in the Planas Compound, not far from Camp Crame, also gave me a big blow-out as their Administrative Officer and Finance Officer, before that of Col. Salud.
The following weekend, my rich brother-in-law, Mr. Agapito Raagas (cousin Loling’s husband), gave me a blow-out in his house in Kamining, Quezon City where prominent people were present. It was in that house where Pat and I lived when I was not yet an officer and our room was inside a dug-out during the war under the house.
Aside from the publicity in the newspapers, I was featured in the “KHAKI AND RED” a Constabulary magazine that was widely read by all officers and men of the Philippine Constabulary. It contained my picture in uniform as Captain and claimed that I was a former enlisted man that rose from the ranks. I got letters of congratulations from all sources.
Pat and I have a return BLOW-OUT at home. My soldiers had to set up a big tent in front of our house to accommodate our guests that included the 100-man PC Band that paraded around town with my placard, headed by Captain Campana, a good friend of mine. We had a picture taken by a professional photographer. IT WAS OUR BIG DAY! The members of the Band were not included in the picture because the photographer arrived late.
Other banquets were held following my passing the bar. One was held by the Arellano College of Law and the other one was held by our Congressman Quentin Paredes, whose son Antonio also passed, with other candidates from the province of Abra. That was my first time to come face to face with our very famous Congressman, who later built a Paredes University in Manila. We had a personal chat about another bar candidate from Abra whom he did not invite, saying: “That fellow is a snake.” (May his soul rest in peace.) Don Quentin was a prominent Philippine lawyer.
Not long after the bar results were published a long lost cousin of mine, Manang Feling (Mrs. Felisa Calvo) made a surprise visit in my office with her daughter Accountant, Baby. They traced my whereabouts through the newspaper publications. It was from her how I learned some information about my other relatives on my late father’s side. Then we had a family reunion and I invited them to my blow-out at home.
I got back to my job in the QMSG and in addition to my being and Adm. O, Fin. O, Supply O, and C.O., GMSG Co., I was designated as Law-member of the HPC General Courtmartial headed by Colonel Delarmente. How I performed all these jobs, only God knows. Capt. Del Rosario, being only on TDY (temporary duty) in our office was given another job as Supply Officer closer to Manila.
When I called up Col. Fred Ruiz-Castro, who was then my professor in Criminal Law to thank him for my passing the bar, he asked if I wanted to join him in his office as a Judge Advocate Officer. He was then the Chief JAGO, Armed Forces of the Philippines. I politely declined his offer out of my gratitude to Col. Salud.
Had I become a JAGO Officer instead of being later on integrated into the Regular Force from the rank of Captain, Reserve, to 1st Lieutenant, Regular, I could have avoided the unpleasant sufferings and sacrifices of reduction in rank and being sent out as an Infantry officer to fight the Huks (Communists) in Mt. Pinatubo and in central Luzon when my wife was carrying our sixth child, Bobby, until he was born. But God has a plan for everyone as I could see it now. I did not think about that. I just went with the Filipino saying of “bahala na” or “come what may” attitude.
Col. Salud tried to convince me to become a Mason. He held a high degree in Masonry, up to the 6th degree. I said I’ll think it over. When I consulted Father Gozo about this matter he said: “Joe, don’t! Do you know that later on as you go up in their ranks they will require you to step on the Cross in order to go up higher?” With that advice I disappointed my boss. But I believe that as I see this now, I was being guided by the Holy Spirit.
Being the only enlisted man who rose from the ranks and at the same time a practicing lawyer in Camp Crame and nearby Camp Murphy (now Ft. Aguinaldo), I was asked as a Guest Speaker in the AFSEM (Armed Forces School for Enlisted Men) in Camp Murphy. There I ended my speech with the famous saying: “Be still sad heart and cease repining. Carry on, still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait. Some days must be dark and dreary!”
Later on I got several requests from soldiers to defend them in the civil courts or in court-martials including cases involving their families. I had to bring them and their witnesses to court in my car and during court recess I take them to a nearby eatery spending my own money. I was once like them and I know how they live. Besides, I was fulfilling my promise to God.
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