SNNHS BATCH 69: LONG AGO AND TODAY

by: Norberto Betita

Behind the youthful energetic scenes of long ago are now lingering on display the greying weaknesses of today, described in the parody of a song by Julie Andrews’ “My Favorite Things” as: hearing impairment, false teeth, leaking pipes, creaking bones, bad knees, back pains, confused brains, thinning hair, shrunken frames, aching joints, breaking hips, and dimming eyes, plus bulging bellies, high blood pressure and leaping body sugar.

While most of these Achilles heels are now common among the SNNHS Batch 69er’s, yet the glow of once youthful smiles seemed to have remained even in aging, and as the favorite song of Surta---To Sir with Love---puts it, “They will still live on and on.” What adds beauty to the smiles of those present during our reunion of June 2, 2018 are the most common double chin, worry lines and sagging cheeks or jowls which symbolize years of struggles and stresses attendant to the ever present challenges along the path to success and the agony of failed attainments. 

I was worried of the deteriorating hearing capacity of my right ear, but relieved as I saw Jaime wearing a hearing aid on his left ear. I felt not alone. My bulging belly was matched by that of Jaime and Philip. I am envious of the shrunken frames of Florante, Delia, Fideceria, and Florida which kept their youthful mobility. According to Florante he still can climb the highest peak of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur at 68. The physical contours of our generous host Amelia, Jocelyn, Aname, Florpina, Josefa and Bobby seemed to have been maintained but with little transformations, yet they also have their own share of physical challenges. However, despite our deteriorating physical conditions which are generic to old age, we are grateful and happy that we remain part of the greatest minority of the populace totaling only about 7-8 million---those popularly labelled as seniors---which not many were given the privilege to become part.

It was clear that the once inexhaustible appetites are now diminished, perhaps by medical restrictions and physical restraints. Food and drinks are now personally controlled and limited to the barest minimum, despite the food-filled table. But the desire to enjoy together in love and camaraderie remains vibrant---we sing, we laugh, we joke, we converse and make memories through picture taking and videos. Witnesses to our enjoyment are Letty--my dearest; Emil---Aname's one and only; son of Florante; and of course Marlo---the handsome husband of the generous host.  

This special reunion hosted by Amelia was purposely organized for a get-together with Aname, who has long been residing in Vienna, Austria. She was on vacation in the Philippines and came to visit her relatives in Surigao. She wanted to meet her high school friends and batch mates because she could not make it during our golden jubilee year celebrations. With 14 of us present, we took the opportunity to discuss our initial preparations for our jubilee year grand reunion comes 2019. We talked about fund raising for the event. Commitments were made and suggestions were well taken for everybody to contribute voluntarily to the fund of whatever amount each could afford, no matter how meager it might be. This is to make sure that all will be counted; the least to be subsidized by the generosity and benevolence of the prosperous. Jocelyn reported of the initial contribution of Surta, Celia and Sandra and the commitment of Amelia to monthly donate a thousand to the fund. Aname on her part initially contributed the amount of P3,000.00. A bank account with Philip, Amelia and Jocelyn as signatories, was already opened for batch donors to deposit their contributions. The BPI account number was already posted on the Facebook group snnhs 1969.

Rolando asked how much he should contribute. I told him that a contribution that pains the wallet and make it frown is the most charitable offering. 

As to fun activities during the grand event it was agreed that the batch will have a tour and sight-seeing of the tourist spots in the Caraga Region. For the school memorabilia, it will be subject to how much funds will be raised. We will meet again this coming September for the SNNHS yearly scheduled high school reunion.

We are hoping that all to whom our voices and social media call echo to come and join with us in our Jubilee Year---50 years of personal choices and struggles; of failures and successes; and of defeats and victories. We raise the sound of our voices high and far in cordial invitation to the Honor Roll---Surtalicito, Celia, Perlito---and of course the successful graduates---Epifanio, Anita, Rosalina, Alda, Rolando, Nenit, Nelson, Edilberto, Nelma, Sandra, Florante, Florpina, Josefa, Alfredo and all those who are far from Surigao City whose names our memory could no longer hold. We ring the same cordial invitation to those who are in Surigao City and within the sound of our voices, to the one in the Honor Roll---Amelia---and the graduates---Susana, Catalino, Virginia [Esma], Victoria, Adora, Reynaldo, Willy, Edilberto, Jaime, Jocelyn, Delia, Florida, Agnes, Evelyn, Fideceria, Bobby, Juliana, Philip, Elvira, and all who are now beyond the grasp of our vintage memory storage. 

In acknowledgement and expressions of our deepest and heartfelt gratitude for the priceless heritage of knowledge and wisdom they have unselfishly bequeathed to us, we extend our most affectionate invitation to our still living teachers---Ma’am Montinola, Ma’am Rodriguez, Sir Rodriguez, and Ma’am Andanar. 

Indeed, again as Surta’s favorite song says, “Those school…days of telling tales and biting nails are gone.” During the passing days and years of our journey from high school graduation we had been through and were “taken from crayons to perfumes (see To Sir with Love by Lulu).” As we slowly move farther into the final laps of our race through life we began to shift from perfumes to liniments; from candies to tablets and capsules. Yet notwithstanding feeble knees and burdened physique, meeting together as classmates and friends after fifty years since those memorable happy days of high school, which is a blessed privilege, is ecstatic and delightful. It will lift our souls over the moon as we connect the sweetest memories of long ago and today.

A MAN OF SOBRIETY AND GENEROUS DISPOSITION

By: Norberto Betita

PERLITO CRISOLOGO LOPEZ

Even at a young age, his noble character was already evident. Although he lived in the light of his father’s prominence as the Provincial Treasurer of the Province of Surigao del Norte and at the same time the trustee of a unit of the Philippine National Bank prior to the formal establishment of the PNB branch, he and his siblings were living in ordinary humble predispositions. His display of personality traits showed no ostentations. He was just that ordinary high school boy in a devastated public high school where the classrooms were described by one American Peace Corps volunteer, who happened to be our Science teacher in first year, as “worse than a cow’s stable”. He and his siblings could have been afforded comfortable learning environment in a private high school by their parents, but for reasons unknown they chose to be in such seemingly unpleasant classroom atmosphere, the school having been ravaged by the devastating fury of typhoon “Ining” (Louise) in late 1964 with wind velocity of 310 km/hour.

PERLITO CRISOLOGO LOPEZ was among the Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS) batch 1969 cream of the crop. He is gifted with intelligence and wisdom which made him consistently a part of our class honor roll. He was that tall and skinny, but best dressed young man in our class. By their financial standing he could have been provided with the best school bag but he instead used a personally fabricated string carrier for his books and notebooks.

With friends and classmates during the Senior's Prom (3rd from right)

He has a very natural calm personality; a very friendly young man, who is no respecter of persons. He loved best the least among his youthful associates. He is not easily provoked; his temperance is impeccable. His benevolence came in display by his willingness to share his family’s abundance to the least of his friends and classmates.

I was privileged to be among his circle of friends of which, in all comparisons, I considered myself the least. Yet he treated me never with imparity. He always made it sure that I am in attendance during his sumptuous birthday celebrations and always made me feel I am no different from his prominent visitors. During recess or class suspensions, he would invite me and some classmates to their home and there listen to long playing albums of popular music of that time, and enjoy treats of salads and cakes and pastries prepared by his very humble mother. He was always our most charitable host. Sometimes during Saturdays and holidays, he would come to our cottage and taught me how to ride his bicycle. I learned cycling through him. His natural attributes merits for him a fitting description as being a man of sobriety and generous disposition. 

He graduated fourth honors (2nd honorable mention) from SNNHS in 1969 and qualified for admission in one of the best and oldest universities in the Philippines and Asia---University of Santo Tomas---one of the world’s largest catholic universities in terms of enrollment on one campus. He pursued his childhood dream of earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

With family--wife Nenita and sons Paolo and Tonton

College life was a lot easier for him in so far as support resources were concerned. His educational needs and other financial requirements were well provided. With his inherent brilliance learning was not so much of a problem. Yet his journey to success was not all ease and comfort. As it is, all those who walked the earthly thoroughfare must experience some unwanted roadblocks and has to face some wiles of adversity along the way. During one of his travels to Manila, while patiently waiting for the connecting trip, his somber countenance, good looks and clean fashioned physical appearance attracted the cunning eye of a devil’s advocate. He was subjected to a guileful ploy and expert maneuver of a seasoned swindler. He was robbed of everything save a short pant, T-shirt, a slipper and boat ticket back home to Surigao City. Such was perhaps his most undesirable encounter in his youthful life which experience earned for him some lessons of life. Since then he was never allowed by his father to ride a boat to Manila while yet a student. 

Eventually, he completed his mechanical engineering degree exactly as scheduled for five years, graduating in March 1974.

Since graduation from college he had an almost uninterrupted career path for more or less 42 years. His first job was with the Pacific Cement Company, Power Plant Department in Surigao City. He was in such employment for two years as Engine Operator. He then joined Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP) as Engineer Trainee and resigned in August 1993 as Technical Assistant to the Assistant Vice President for Maintenance and Engineering Division. It was during this employment at PICOP that he met his beloved wife Nenita Palma. They were blessed with two sons.

With his dearly beloved Nenita

Banking on his expertise and long-time plant maintenance experience, he was pirated by a former Maintenance and Engineering Manager to be a part of the Trust International Paper Corporation (TIPCO) as Plant Engineering Manager. He left the company in December 1998 as Project Engineering Manager. 

After a short two months rest, he was again employed on February 1999 with R. Dan and Company, Inc. as Project Manager. He was promoted in the year 2000 to the position of Plant Manager as replacement of a German Expatriate. He is currently in the same position, hopefully until his retirement on November 7, 2017 at age 65. God willing, he is still desirous to work as consultant should the company needs him after his mandatory retirement.

Notwithstanding his very demanding job schedule as plant maintenance and engineering executive, he finds time to keep his secular and spiritual life in balance. He served as Lay Minister in the Sto. Niño Parish, Brgy. Sto. Niño, San Mateo, Rizal. Perhaps, he had been motivated by the popular lines written by Etienne de Grellet (1773-1855) which we learned from our literature class and which was long an inscription on the gate of the Surigao City Pilot School: “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” He has given almost two thirds of his earthly existence creating a portrait of a career driven life. Now he wanted to paint for himself a masterpiece of a service centered soul.

During the Jr's Prom

He and his wife Nenita Palma-Lopez are also members of the Couples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life. His wife is a Medical Technologist but stopped her practice when they transferred to Manila after Perlito was hired by TIPCO. She now dedicates her time in service to the community as Barangay Councilor. Their two sons are both married, but they are still longing for grandchildren. The youngest migrated to Australia while the eldest is expecting a baby.

It’s been 48 years since high school graduation and Perlito’s physique remained as it was during his teenage days---slim and pleasingly proportioned. Many of us, his peers, like the idea of being fit but equally desired for more food and so ended up kind-of-fit, semi-fit, and mostly with bulging bellies. Yet more than the retention of his physical attractiveness, he remained to be that humble, benevolent and dignified man; indeed, a man of sobriety and generous disposition. As a friend he stands out in thoughtfulness.

His technical skills and expertise coupled with long years of experience in plant maintenance and engineering may have provided him with greater and more rewarding opportunities abroad, but he chose to stay and contribute his technical capabilities in our country’s development. His career may not have been financially rewarding as it is abroad, but he finds joy and contentment being closest to his family and serving God and His people.

SNNHS BATCH 69 JUBILEE COUNTDOWN

By: Norberto Betita

We are now on the 47th year towards the golden jubilee from high school graduation of our SNNHS Batch of 1969. September 8, 2016 marked the beginning of our countdown of the remaining three years, forward to our grand reunion on the year 2019.

Present as always is our reunion celebrations captain---the honorable Phillip Adlao, assisted by our most able host---the honorable Jocelyn Balutan Dedumo and our most loyal secretary/treasurer---Ms. Florida Kaimo-Clerigo. As ever our Batch muse---Ms. Sandra Revecho-Frias, blooms in loveliness as an exemplar of the beauty of motherhood. The most physically fit general of the Batch--- Merlyn Centural-Escañan still wears her military physique. while most of us models Russel M. Nelson’s description: “As we grow older our broad chests and narrow waists have a tendency to trade places. We got wrinkles, lose color in our hair---even the hair itself---to remind us that we are mortal children of God, with a manufacturer’s guarantee that we shall not be stranded upon the earth forever.”

With us is our pediatrician Dr. Amelia Romero-Nambatac, who despite her most demanding profession, honored us with her presence. Of course we were entertained by the dancing queens and songbirds Maria Estobo and Susana Cayasa-Lipang---the Principal, and our long time high school soloist Bobby Abarico. Also in attendance are state-grandmothers---Lola Agnes Billones-Berte; Lola Estelita Balmora-Morales; and Lola Evelyn Confessor-Alac---who believe that their greatest blessings are those who called them grandma and that caring for their posterity can be an antidote for dementia. While she attended during the reunion parade, we missed Julietta Otero’s high school version of Skyline Pigeon at night, probably being too busy preparing for the fiesta celebration. And there is our most fertile teacher---who gave birth to her last born at age 49---whose most noble profession steered her back to the portals of our Alma Mater.

Offering the invocation and blessing for our chow is OFW turned businessman and Christian community leader Catalino Uson. Obviously, I was there simply as a singer, dancer, and Batch 69 chronicle writer.

Indeed, as ever, it has always been a pleasure to meet with friends and classmates as we enjoyed so much moments of gladness together as therapeutics for age of grey seclusion. No matter how honorable and respectable their achievements or no matter how lowly their accomplishments, “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them (Ralph Waldo Emerson).”

Others, particularly those who are working and residing far from Surigao City are missed. We understand the cost and disquiets of travels. Most of them will be reaching the compulsory retirement age next year, except perhaps for Engr. Nelson Martinez and Engr. Surtalicito Liquido, whose expertise as engineering consultants are still in demand both here and abroad, and also Dr. Celia R. Silverio-Santos who is in the demanding medical profession and being involved in charity works. Atty. Epifanio Almeda is likewise too busy with his law practice and his charitable organization. We are, therefore, expecting that some more will be attending our annual reunions during the next three years comes our golden jubilee grand reunion. “A trip to nostalgia now and then is good for the spirit (John Bartolovic).” If you want to see how age changed things of long ago, you should attend our high school reunions.

We do not have the list of Batch ‘69 graduates, but we estimated that there were a little over 200 in our group. Our hearts are sorrowed by the memories of those of our batch mates who have earlier gone beyond the veil. We are humbled by the thought that with God’s providence we are still accounted for in life’s race and moving forward despite failing knees and limbs.

We remembered and missed the presence of Wilfredo Pantilo that dark Adonis who was a working student of our then teacher Ms. Carmen Silay; Perlito Lopez, the most generous son of then Provincial Treasurer Auspicio Lopez of Surigao del Norte; Antonio Dahug and his step brother; Marlo Crisologo, DILG Director of Butuan City who battled with a crippling paralysis as a result of a stroke; and Jaime Dela Cruz, the comic who failed to be with us because of a very important priority.

As we are getting a little bit older, our reunions are becoming formal. Hard drinks have slowly lost space on the reunion table. Old boys who were once winebibbers admit their bodies had since lost enough potency on liquor and what remained are no more than reverberations and echoes of youthful tenacity and stubbornness . Lino Uson explained in essence that as we are now in the last and final lap of our life’s journey we gave more room for change and reconciliation. He feels that service in the Christian community is one very rewarding variation and alternative.

For sure, our living teachers will have so much pleasure to hear our successes and failures; defeats and victories; joys and sorrows. Hence, we planned to invite them during our next year’s reunion. We hope that more will be coming to meet and dine with them in the reunion table on 2017. It will be one best opportunity for us to express our gratitude for molding the foundations and forming the building blocks of our futures which we now enjoy.

“No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth (Robert Southey).” We are not sure what God has in store for each of us, but we are hoping that we will still be meeting together comes the year 2019 as real friends and batch mates.

NOBLE PROFESSION STEERED HER BACK TO THE PORTALS OF HER ALMA MATER

By: Norberto Betita

The most noble profession of her parents must have been the motivating factor in her eventual search for a career. Both her parents are teachers---her father being appointed a school principal before his death. But her choice of a teaching major must have been influenced and inspired by two of our best teachers in science---Mrs. Glorina Tremedal and Mrs. Lina Durero. In her choice of becoming an educator, she had in mind the future of children, families, communities and nation and she wanted to be an instrument for growth and advancement. She wanted to build a bridge for children to cross the chasm that divides poverty and success. She wanted to see every boy and girl to win their championship trophies in life’s race. She believes in what Solomon Ortiz had to say: “Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.” 

She is SNNHS ‘69er Fideciria Sala Cuizon, a small curly haired little lady we knew in high school. Although she was only one of ten siblings, yet she was not at all struggling during high school for she is well supported by her teacher parents. Teaching profession was the best paid career of those days. Their residence is walking distance to school. Assignments were not as much harder because she had very good tutors---her teacher parents. But she did her best in her studies to maintain her seat in the leading section. She was most interested in science than all other subjects. Our science teachers were among the best, and that perhaps motivated her to be a science teacher.

After high school graduation she enrolled at the Northeastern Mindanao Colleges (NEMCO) in a course leading to a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. True to her ambition she took science as her major field of study---a dreaded discipline, and English as minor. Her college life had gone smoothly, until her father suddenly died and her mother was left to support the ten children alone. Some have to sacrifice schooling, but Fideciria pursued her dream fearlessly with courage and faith undaunted. She was very much grateful for the generosity of the college owner and President, Mr. Jose O. Paloma, for allowing her to take examinations with only a promissory note and a little cash installment payment of her tuition and fees. These were done every semester until she finally finished college in 1974. While she was allowed to graduate without paying her college obligations, yet she was not allowed to get her diploma and transcript of records, which are necessary for her to support in applying for a job and to take the Licensure examinations for teachers, until all her school liabilities are fully paid.

She has no choice but to take odd jobs to save and be able to pay her college obligations. After a short employment in Surigao City, she went to Manila to find her fate and fortune. She was eventually hired in a garment manufacturing company. Life had been quiet difficult that she could not even allocate marginal amount for savings from out of her meagre salary. She then resigned and worked as a domestic helper for a childless couple---an American husband and a Filipina wife. She worked with them for several years. At least food and shelter and other minor needs are free and she was able to save part of her salary. With enough savings to pay for her college obligations and have her college credentials released, she went back to Surigao City. In 1980 she prepared and took the Teacher’s Licensure Examination and passed. 

With a Professional Teacher’s License on hand she applied for a teaching job in a public high school. Her first teaching job was in Melgar Barangay High School, an island community where students are generally poor. Her tutoring of these poor and suffering children reminded her of her own despondent and despairing experiences in life. Her teaching job required her to cross the sea from Surigao City to the island barangay of Melgar every now and then. Many times she would cross the stormed tossed sea in the dim of cloudbursts and dreadful thunderstorms. Yet she feared not to cross the ‘chasm, vast and deep and wide’ and fearlessly took the pains and accepted the tremendous, ever profound and over powering challenge of providing knowledge and learning for her poor youthful students in order to bridge the gap between their present and their future. She was willing to sacrifice for those students whom she was called to serve. She realized that the immensity and extent of her responsibility in moulding the Filipino youth is unfathomable and its influence extends perhaps in aeons of time and even in eternity. She knew then how enormously important her role as a teacher in nation building, although oftentimes ignored and disregarded by those who do not understand. After three years at Melgar Barangay High School, she was eventually steered back to the portals of her high school Alma Mater---the Surigao del Norte National High School as a secondary school science teacher.

Her choice of a teaching profession is most respectable and noble. It reminds me of a story of long ago about a teacher, a Doctor of Philosophy, who at a young age was in a dilemma of a career choice. So, he thought of the minister and his community, and how the minister lifted people up with his sermons and how they loved that minister. He thought it would be wonderful to be a minister. Then he thought of being a doctor, and how doctors with their operations, relieve pains and sufferings and extends the lives of people. And, he thought it would be wonderful to be a doctor. Then he thought of being an architect and how wonderful it would be to draft plans and see your buildings go to the heights and be able to drive by and know that they are the result of your own brain and your own thinking. And, he thought how wonderful it would be to be an architect. And then he thought of being a writer and how writers swayed the thinking of men, nations and people. And, he thought, it would be wonderful to be a writer. Then he thought of the golden ears of corn that his father raise, and thought it would be wonderful to be a farmer. And then he said, “Being a prayerful man, I got down on my knees and something seemed to say to me, ‘Why not be them all?’ – be a teacher, and your students will preach your sermons for you, they will perform your operations for you, they will build your buildings for you, they will write your books for you, they will raise your corn for you.” So he decided to be a teacher.

Fideciria knew that indeed, there are great Filipino engineers, architects, doctors, inventors, writers, politicians, generals, productive farmers, bishops and pastors, priests and nuns, economists, and even additional great teachers, who are now globally distributed, and are serving in high offices in politics and governments, because there are teachers, who have the patience, perseverance and unremitting love and passion to train them to read and write and perform simple arithmetic in their early childhood and onwards in their preparations for college education. And she is evermore grateful for the opportunity to have been of assistance to so many youth in their quest for success even more than her own humble attainment.

In one of the promotional culmination program of the Surigao del Norte National High School, the guest speaker, one of the best elementary science teachers of the Surigao City Pilot School---Karen Myl Alinsunod-Hammond, surprised Fideciria with a very sincere expression of gratitude. In Karen Myl’s own words, she wrote to me on Facebook: “She's known of giving low grades in Science but I believed though that it was based on the student's performance. After receiving a 77% rating during our first grading period on my favorite science subject in first year high school, I was very disappointed and even thought "kakuripot sab ini na maestra" (How stingy this teacher is). I was challenged and I accepted and repented that I had been rather lax in meeting the demands of my studies. I changed because of her honest appraisal of my performance. I grappled and dared the challenge and was able to show and prove to her that I am deserving of a better grade. From such experience I was able to perceive my intellectual capabilities and potentials and with more diligent and conscientious efforts, I discovered and demonstrated that I can excel in class, especially in Science. This is why I'm very much grateful for her honest evaluation of my earlier negligence. She taught me not only the complicated science subject, but also aroused my faculties to believe in myself and do my very best as a student. That was the principal motivating factor in my choice of a science major in teaching.” Karen Myl is now in the United States with her husband.

She had been in the teaching profession for more than 30 years now. Out of her love of teaching, she almost forgot the love that only a man of her dreams could so sincerely provide. In the end she found the man in the person of Nonito B. Platil. Finally, at age 38, she and Nonito knelt before the altar of matrimony and vowed to love and cherish each other for better or for worse. Although they married late in life they were still blessed with four children. Her last born was given birth when she was 49 years old, when all other women are menopaused. Her fertility even in middle age was probably a genetic phenomenon, her mother having borne ten children. This made her decide no longer to aspire for educational advancement, and instead just attend to her sacred calling as a mother while performing his best in her most noble career as secondary school teacher III.

She enjoyed most being piloted back into the threshold and precincts of her Alma Mater, no longer as a student, but the bridged builder of youth of which she was once a part. It made the memories of her high school life at SNNHS always crisp and pristine. She knew as Dr. Jose Rizal has said that “The youth is the hope of the fatherland.” Yet she is full of gratitude that her students put the role of teachers in an even higher pedestal because they are they who lift and guide them---the youth, to the hopeful path of their foreordained fate. Her thought goes with Henry Adam’s words, “A teacher affects eternity; [she] can never tell where [her] influence stops.” Hence, she felt so happy and contented as an ordinary teacher and be an influence and instrument for good to every aspiring youth---the rising generation, in their mission and vision to participate in the constant renewal of leadership in every chapter of our national life.

While the storms of life might have rolled the rock of adversity into the lot where she planted the wonderful seed of expectations, yet still it yielded for her a goodly harvest of success, small as it may seem, but made glorious and grand by the beautiful sprinkles of achievements that her children had attained and which her hundreds of students had triumphantly accomplished.

As she looks back to the time when she was sort of being brought into the deep and dark hollow of life’s challenges, she exclaimed in exultation that at last the gleaming light at the end of the tunnel is slowly emerging and is shining brighter and brighter each day as her life’s race is drawing closer to her retirement at age 65. She now enjoys the company of her ever faithful husband and four children---one a nursing graduate, another a DOST scholar with a BS Math degree from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), the third a Civil engineering student and the last born still in the early stage of high school. However, she believes that motherhood requires no retirement and teaching at home will still be a part in the remaining lap of her journey.

SNNHS BATCH 69: REBUILDING MEMORIES 2015

by: Norberto Betita

I was blessed to have been temporarily relieved from the pains of afflictions and I thought it best to meet with high school friends in the reunion. I was trying to daily check on possible invitations from any groups of SNNHS Alumni for the date of the reunion on Facebook, but I found no schedule. Until my daughter who is also an alumnus (and so with all my five children) told me that it will be on Saturday, September 5, 2015. That was Friday afternoon after office hours. I requested my wife to prepare my casual clothes for me to wear during the parade. 

Early in the morning of Saturday, I again hesitated to join the parade, but my children insisted that I go. They wanted me to enjoy life with friends of long ago to add wonderful memories for my remaining days in mortality. I decided late so I was not able to meet with the group during the start of the parade. I waited in the road corner where the parade was expected to pass, and then unexpectedly I was informed by the traffic aide that the route was changed. I decided to walk to the Church and there rest before going home. While on the way I met the long procession of the SNNHS Alumni Reunion. Following the police vanguard was the group of Batch 68. I thought the next was our batch, but found those were much younger batches. Until I arrived at the church I never observed the Batch 69 group. Later I had seen Batch 67. I gained confidence that probably our batch was also late in the parade, until I was finally recognized by Florida while I was standing on a shade of palm trees at church enjoying the view of the parade. I was then invited to join with them. There were only a few---Merlyn, Bobby, Florida, Maria, Juling, and Fideciria. They informed me that Phillip will be joining later. We were accommodated in one vehicle provided by Merlyn, whom we knew had just recently been widowed. I joked that “we should be grateful we are still among the few survivors. More might have taken their final rest six feet below the ground.” Then we all laughed out loud.

After the parade Phillip led us to his favorite restaurant. There Estelita joined us. So there were only a total of nine from batch 69, rebuilding and upgrading memories and sharing updates of our lives. Some shared the sorrows and joys of retirement and while others are still waiting for forced retirement. We talked of afflictions attendant to old age and even about medical maintenance, and what’s all about marital intimacy, even sexual dependability at seniority. We talked about Phillip’s plan to run for mayor in 2016 for the Municipality of Placer, Surigao del Norte. It was nice to know that Phillip’s son and mine were in the same mining company and they knew each other.

While I was interviewing Fideciria for his story to be included in our Batch 69 Book of remembrance, she seemed to have a hard time answering my questions. I told her loud, “bagan bongoy na man kaw!” She replied that she could not hear because of many interruptions. We again laughed out loud. I just knew that she married at age 38 and gave birth to her last born at age 49. What an extraordinary fertility, when most women that age were already menopaused. I hope to be able to write her story and that of Florida soon. Earlier I have completed my writing about Jaime’s story for our book of remembrance.

At night we met at the Tom’s Avenue Videoke. We were joined by the ever beautiful Sandra who just came from Manila. We enjoyed singing the old songs and dancing the old craze. There were just a few bottle of beer and a bottle of lady’s wine and some finger foods. We found that the kind of steel-boned seniors---Merlyn, Florida, Maria, Juling and Fideciria, are still very capable of dancing. The dancing grace of Merlyn even in seniority surprised me. I was all the while thinking that she is not that dancerous. Of course we have with us the best entertainers---Phillip, the singing Board Member with his favorite “Totoy Bibo” backed by the dancing five; and Maria, the Imelda Papen of Batch 69 singing the popular tagalog songs and dancing like Madonna, figure-hugging the center post of the room. There was our best singer of Batch 69, Bobby with his rendition of “Hello” by Lionel Richie and “One in a Million” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel. His voice has always been a delight and never dulled even by ageing. Juling rendered best her version of “Skyline Pigeon” gasping for air to cope with the beat while battling against the pressure of cholesterol level. I did never assume that Florida would choose the high pitched songs of Celine Dion, but she reached the limits. I have never seen these talents exposed during high school days, except for that of Bobby---he has always been a singer since high school. Perhaps all these talents were developed later in their lives. 

I so loved and enjoyed witnessing the SNNHS Batch 69 seniors as they are acting like the youthful group of long ago. I also felt like I am part of a much younger audience. With Sandra, who had recently undergone an operation, and Estelita, who had always been a silent and most kind audience, I should have chosen to be with them on the pew, but they wanted me to perform. Perhaps they thought that after my singing, all their bad renditions will be overlooked and forgotten. It had been long since I have sung a song in a videoke. All I have been singing daily are lullabies for my grandchildren. However, I wanted to prove them wrong, so I rendered for them “Oh, My Darling” by the Beatles; Kenny Roger’s “Coward of the Country”; and for our batch muse, I sang Barry Manilow’s “Sandra.” Except perhaps for Sandra herself, all were surprised to know that there is such a song of the same title. I should have rendered more if not for time and resource constraints. Sandra looks much younger than all of us, but she was the first to offer her senior citizen’s ID to request for a discount.

We thought we are just only having so much fun in so short a time, but we realized we are rebuilding memories and rekindling friendships. When I think of reunions, reflections and memories; sharing wonderful happy moments with friends and classmates, and write the events in pen or in the hidden tablet in the chambers of the heart, those memorable celebrations become treasures kept for a lifetime.

THE COMIC OF THE JEACAL’S

by: Norberto Betita

During our high school days fraternities are not so much a popular trend among students. However, they usually formed groups among friends closest to each other. I remember, I have been with the Searchers---a group of diligent, studious, popular and good boys of our class [I should not have been one of them.] However, I did not seem to remember a group of three composed of a comic, a brilliant and a reserved young men, who called their group the JEACAL’S---acronym for Jaime, Epifanio, Alberto and their family names Cruz, Almeda and Labordo. SNNHS 69’er JAIME DELA CRUZ was the comic of the JEACAL’s.

He was kind of a spoiled brat being the only child of the Chief Electrician of the Surigao Electric System, the then only source of power in the Municipality of Surigao. There was not so much skilled electrician in Surigao during those times. Hence, his father had gotten the good job of being in-charge of the large generator that provided light to the entire town during the night only. They also lived just at the back of the Power House end to end with the Surigao High School property boundary. A leap to the interlink fence was already school area. He admitted that he was at first hesitant to enrol thinking that it would be very difficult for him as he did not have any friends. But with his parent’s insistence, he finally enrolled. He realized then that high school was no bad at all, especially as he met new friends. He was among the group of the smallest boys in our class, together with Epifanio and Alberto. They became close and so the three organized themselves into a group they labelled with an acronym JEACAL’s. He admitted that he loved to be with his partners in the group because they are intelligent and studious, while he is kind of a young boy who had so many stories to tell and would not keep his mouth shut, and did not have much time to study or just one boy who did not want to study at all. He said, “I liked Epifanio because he was very respectful to my parents, but most importantly because he was very generous during examinations. I do not study, so I have to cheat and Epifanio and Alberto would share their answers to me.” He was so good at copying that he could get the answer at a glance. He was a copy master. That helped him to maintain a seat in the special class. Jokingly, he would say that it was a special talent he was gifted during those times.

He sadly confessed and acknowledged that he should have done better during high school if only he studied harder. Perhaps he must have thought of being like Thomas Edison, whom we studied in our science class and who was considered a dullard at school, but eventually invented the incandescent light bulb and so lighted the whole world. He probably reserved his intelligence quotient (IQ) and his intellectual energies for future utilization.

He was a good looking and attractive young man. He was also well-dressed, his parents being able to afford good shirts for him. But he is not attractive to girls. His comics and gags at times irritated young women. However, his humorous attribute is one that keeps him young at heart. Until now, he even makes a comic about his life.

After high school graduation, he studied Liberal Arts at the North Eastern Mindanao Colleges (NEMCO). It was a course that was popular for those planning to be a lawyer. However, it was never in his dream to study law, but he just wanted to improve his English language ability for employment purposes and for any other further plans after college. But before he finished college, his heart was fascinated and charmed by a beauty which waved and flagged down from the golden hills of Tugonan, Mabini, Surigao City. Hands were eventually clasped on the altar of matrimony, when Jaime and Luvimida Tumogbong took their marital vows in 1973. The simple beauty that hails from the mountain community popular for its gold panning livelihood filled his heart with love overflowing as to be worthy of an expensive wedding feast. He had just concluded his third year in college. He should have asked his parents to continue supporting him for another year, but he realized he needed to face his responsibility. He might have heard the echo of the words of Paul, “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8). He dropped college and tried to find a job at the Marinduque Mining & Industrial Corporation-Surigao Nickel Project (MMIC-SNP) where I also worked as Security Guard. He was assigned at the Instrumentation Department. He eventually resigned and and joined the pioneering staff of the Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO) in 1978. He resigned in 1986 as a supervisor to apply for work abroad.

His work experiences at the MMIC-SNP which was known to be the biggest nickel refinery in the world during that period and at SURNECO, gave weight to his resume as he applied for work abroad. He was eventually employed by the Arabian American Company (ARAMCO), operating in Saudi Arabia. While in such employment he was trained in Bio-Med Technology by the medical equipment suppliers of ARAMCO, which included Siemens and other American Medical Companies. His English proficiency earned during his three years of liberal arts education qualified him for the training. He worked in Saudi Arabia for a period of 15 years, after which he resigned and stayed full-time in the Philippines with his family. He applied for work at the Provincial Health Office using his Bio-Med Technology experience as his complementary qualification. He was employed and has since worked for 13 years in the government meeting the civil service requirement of 15 years continued service at age sixty five, God willing, to qualify for a lifetime pension comes 2017.

He is now the head of Engineering Maintenance of the Surigao Provincial Hospital---in-charge of all medical equipment not only for the Provincial Hospital, but all other hospitals in the province of Surigao del Norte funded by the local government. His two children are now grown. His son Michael earned a computer engineering degree and is now securely employed in the government. His daughter Jeddalyn graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He now has three grandchildren---two in college and one in high school. His granddaughter graduated salutatorian from SNNHS, which he proudly enunciates as, “having inherited his grandfather’s brilliance.” As he reflects on those wasted intellectual development opportunities in high school, he thought he should have achieved more. 

Should he be given the chance to have an audience with youth in high school, he would advise them that they should be very serious in their studies and not be like him. As according to Plato, “The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life.”

As he now ponders on the individual journey of the members of their high school group, he contemplated that should he not been a cheat during high school and instead studied harder, the comic of the JEACAL’s might have also been a lawyer like the brilliant Epifanio Almeda, who retired as Vice President of UCPB and is now a practicing lawyer and Philanthropist. He was sorry for the silent and unspoken Alberto Labordo who entered the military and was reported to be a casualty. He felt very happy to have visited the office of Epifanio at Bacoor, Cavite and the superior and exclusive treatment accorded him as to postpone all other official appointments. His friend always remembers him as the comic of the JEACAL’s. Yes, I too remember him as a man who always has a gag to share to instigate laughter, a talent not many is gifted.    

WALKING PAST THE GLOOM OF PENURY

By: Norberto Betita

It was in a very remote barangay in the town of Gigaquit where SNNHS 69er JOSEFA FEBRERO was given birth. Her childhood circumstances were surrounded by indigence and destitution. She started her education in the lone primary school where a teacher handled two grade levels, more than one kilometer away from her home. She had to walk daily for a total of more than two kilometers round trek, crossing twice a river to and from school. She had to be absent when the river overflows during heavy rains, particularly during rainy seasons. There were no transportation available and her only chance to be saved from a long walk was when an unwheeled carabao cart of a farmer in their place will have a trip to the direction of the school. Together with a few deteriorated books and limited school stuffs, she carried in her lowly hand bag a very scanty meal for her lunch wrapped in moderately heated cuts of banana leaf. That had been her childhood’s pitiable experiences for three consecutive school years.

Since the remote school nearest their area was only up to grade III, she transferred to the town proper of Gigaquit and lived with relatives as a working student to support her grade IV Elementary education. She felt she needed to work to learn and be educated hoping to one day rise above her childhood’s financial handicap. The following school year, she was again transferred to Surigao City, where she stayed with her uncle as a working student and eventually finished her elementary education at the Surigao East Central Elementary School. It was a hard earned graduation for it came as a fruit of her early childhood labor as a working student. 

Her self-supporting status as a student continued in high school as she enrolled at the then Surigao High School, later re-named to Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS). She took and passed the qualifying examination for a special science class and so became a member of the elite section. Despite her rural heritage, she had a fair complexion and neat appearance. She had the innate intellectual ability to academically compete but every opportunity to excel was suppressed by the pressures of her work as a teenaged working student. She was also deprived of regular and enjoyable extracurricular activities at school because she had to give priority to her assigned duties at the home of her uncle. Even her summer vacation times almost deprived her of a visit to her family in the remote barangay of Gigaquit because she is not permitted for reason that it is the only time when she can do fulltime work in the home where she lodged. A three-day vacation to her parents is all that is allowed. Yet with so much patience and persistence she maintained her seat in the elite special science class until her graduation in 1969. 

The seven years of self-sacrificing and independent efforts to obtain preparatory education was to her a very difficult experience. But it never deter neither did it discouraged her for she knew that it is the only chance for her to walk past the gloom of penury. In her young mind was the thought that should she had to go back to her rural home place after high school graduation, she would again be walking on rice paddies and planting rice on muddy fields, so will be her future children, and therefore repeat the sad parental heritage of continuing poverty. She felt she should never give up but instead make her grueling self-supporting efforts to stand as her ladder towards success. She believed that the future will provide a room of opportunity for her. Her modest goal was not to be rich but just to rise above the level of poverty where she had been momentarily consigned and to make sure that her future children will not pass the same misery she had been through.

True to her desires she enrolled at the Northeastern Mindanao Colleges still as a working student. She knew as Napoleon Hill declared that, “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” Her original course was Bachelor of Arts, but she shifted to a course in commerce major in accounting after a semester. During such time Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in accounting is a course most in demand. While it was difficult to combine work and schooling, yet she made it sure that she would finish her college in four years. Accounting is a hard subject, but she dared and overcame all requirements to qualify by burning her midnight candle. Her capability was observed by one of her accounting instructor in college who owns an accounting firm. During her fourth year in college she was invited for a part-time job to handle bookkeeping and auditing needs of some business establishments in Surigao City. She readily accepted the job as an opportunity to gain actual experience of accounting works and to earn extra income for her school and personal needs. 

Ever faithful to her personal commitment and with perseverance and diligence, she eventually graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in Accounting in 1973, exactly four years since high school graduation. Her feeling was one of remarkable victory. Her heart overspills with joy and gladness at such an achievement. With her initial accomplishment she understood better the words of Aristotle she learned in her high school English Literature class, “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” She was earnestly grateful to God for the wondrous blessings bestowed upon her and for the daily power of enduring the tough and very challenging route of her journey. She felt that with a college degree she is now on the road past her poverty stricken life which to her was the greatest motivating factor.

She continued with her work at the accounting firm of her college instructor for a few months. With recommendations from the same college instructor she was employed on a casual status with the Bureau of Census and Statistics. During the last four years she failed to get a permanent position. She filed for a vacation leave to try to find her fate in Manila. She was accepted for employment in a brokerage firm. Hence, she returned to Surigao City to file her resignation from the Bureau of Census and Statistics. It was during this time that she learned of a vacancy in the office of the Bureau of Customs in Mangagoy, Bislig, Surigao del Sur. She applied and with God’s Providence she was employed. While the Bureau of Customs was branded to be a corrupt government institution, yet it was one of the most sought after government employer. However, it was never in her character nor did she have even the remotest of intention to corrupt. She knew that, “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Proverbs 15:16). And, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). 

It was during her stay in Mangagoy that she met the man of her dreams who gave her the family name of Villaseñor. They were ushered into the altar of matrimony on June 28, 1981. Their marriage of 33 years was blessed with only one child and two grandchildren whom she considered as priceless treasures. She considers the professional achievement of her only daughter as another significant accomplishment of her goals. She is apt to say that poverty is not a hindrance to success for she had been through it and had ascended beyond its accompanying agonies and pains.

Walking past the gloom of penury, she still continues to work with the Bureau of Customs. She intends to retire in two years. She felt successful having been emancipated and released from the pangs of poverty. She did not reach a position of prominence nor does her financial vault filled with possessions of gold and silver. Yet she believes that “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome” (Booker T. Washington). The hurdles of the past are now forgotten and she is now savoring the sweet fruits of victory. She felt confident that her age of grey will be laden with wonderful memories of her battles of life and the joy and gladness of having won the fight.