GETTING ON THE FIRST BASE IS NEVER AN EASY RUN

By: Norberto Betita

She’s a sports woman in high school. She played good at softball, so she’s been in the team. Yes, she understood that getting on the first base is never an easy feat---she had to give all of her energy to hit the ball, run with all her might, swim on the muddy field with hands stretched for the base. Then she would have her bruises attended by the medics. She knew that it is even much more difficult to get a home run. Yet, she believed that in every game there is a time and a chance to win.

As SNNHS ‘69er SUSANA CAYASA disembarked from the ship of youthful vigor and energy filled high school life to go on board the larger vessel of collegiate life, she carried with her the wonderful experiences of sports and the lessons she learned from the battles of winning her games. Such early encounters provided her with growing courage to face her life’s race. Notwithstanding the barriers of difficulties she embarked on the new step of her journey with a clear orientation and proper direction “…that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… (Ecclesiastes 9:11).”

Walking along the path of hope and sheltered by the shadows and silhouettes of success, she eventually achieved and graduated with two Bachelor of Science in Commerce (BSC) degrees, major in Management and major in Accounting from San Nicolas College (now Saint Paul University-Surigao). While waiting for an employment in Manila, she studied COBOL computer programming in a tutorial school. She eventually was employed at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Data Processing Center at Diliman Quezon City. But there is no place like home, so in a short period with the BIR she resigned and returned to her family. The difficulty in finding a job in Surigao City led her to go back to San Nicolas College and enrolled, eventually earning a degree in Elementary Education major in Physical Education. She successfully passed the Board Exams and was immediately hired as a public school teacher. Perhaps all her days in college were set towards attaining her goals and all other attentions common in adolescence were kept. However, as success slowly moved her towards sufficiency, her feminine desires and womanly longings enlivened her faculties as to wriggle and jiggle the heart. Soon she was married to a man of her dreams. Happiness and joy came ever so swiftly as the marital union commenced and a wonderful family formed. In a short period of five years she was promoted as school head. This inspired her to even pursue a brighter career voyage, earning units in Master in Business Administration, and more units for a Master of Arts in teaching.

However, tragedy cuts into the middle of a joyful and happy family life. The death of a dearest husband created incisions in the heart and planted sorrow and loneliness that seemed to induce perpetual pain. Yet, reminded by the pains of winning her softball games, she again took the heavy bat of life and carried on, looking with faith and optimism towards the second base. She stood strong against the winds of adversity and run her race versus the ball of the adversary. Life did not deny her of the attendant blessing of earnest struggles. She accomplished and triumphed amidst difficulties and deprivations as a single widowed mother. She took and passed the the Principals' examination conducted by the DepEd, and proud to be ranked first in Surigao City and 9th place in the entire Caraga Region. She then learned even more that as in the game of softball, life can be filled with the thrills of calm and wind, sunshine and shadow, joy and sorrow.

Then while standing on the second base of her life’s game, ever confident and positive, she felt her heart bounced and leaped as one sincere man asked her, “Susan, will you marry me?” What joy and gladness filled her heart again as she and her new found man were joined together in a sacred covenant of matrimony. Then again a tragic event cut short and stole the happiness that she hoped to last a lifetime. Her beloved second husband was called beyond the veil by his Maker.  The long healed bruises of the heart were again punctured by the piercing pains of losing a dearly beloved. But healing seemed easier now for by such great challenges that happened in her life she became all the more stronger as a woman. Perhaps she had learned the lessons taught by the Apostle Peter: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

That was her turning point that moved her to run fast the third and home base for a score in her life’s contests. She is now best known as SUSANA CAYASA LIPANG, a Principal II for the Navarro Memorial Central Elementary School in the Department of Education and moving forward with far better determination to achieve in the next remaining three years of her career path. Her physical vivacity and liveliness, and her glowing countenance despite the pressures of seniority appeared to be catching and capturing the golden ball of the SNNHS ‘69ers' Jubilee comes the year 2019.