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Sts. Peter & Paul |
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Other Columns
Superman & Superwoman (07/02/06) |
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| June 29 , 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
Also Read |
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“They’re twins!” I insisted. My schoolmate, Reynaldo Oyao, back in our elementary years did not blink and shot back, “No, they are not,” “How come they are together and they both look alike?” I asked feeling even more sure as we both stared at the life-size statues of Sts. Peter and Paul. It was a Thursday, and we had finished confession at the Ormoc City parish church in preparation for our first Friday holy mass the day after. A bunch of pupils were still loitering around the church premises despite Sr. Presentacion’s† herding efforts. Rey and I were still inside the church intrigued by the imposing sight of the two saints with all the symbols they were carrying. “Mau, did you not get what Ms. Platero (now Mrs. Erlinda P. Orillano, SPC grade school principal) told us?" Rey asked with eyes still fixed on the statues. “She said they were the first leaders of the church with St. Peter as the first pope,” He continued. I gave him a quick look and then my eyes darted back again, this time, to St. Peter. “They are twins,” I repeated my conviction. “Ah, naa ra na nimo, ali na. Bantay o, si Sr. Presentacion, nagdalag ruler,” Rey jokingly said holding my elbow and pulling me away from the front rows of seat. We genuflected as we passed before the Blessed Sacrament and avoided the path of Sr. Presentacion who really came back to round up the stragglers. Today, I still chuckle every time I remember that conversation I had with Rey when we were still in short pants. As Ormoc celebrates the feast of the its patron saints this year, city residents again give thanks to Sts. Peter and Paul for another year of blessings and challenges alike. Mindful of the devastating storm that hit Ormoc in 1991 that resulted in the death of thousands, Ormocanons know that life is full of challenges and responding to these challenges with conviction and strength are virtues both these saints have shown during their missions on earth. Saint Peter was chosen by Jesus to lead the early Church and become the first pope. Peter was a fisherman from the coastal village of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. He had a brother, Andrew and his father’s name was Jonah or John. Simon was Peter’s original name and he was considered a common man who was viewed as uneducated, when compared to St. Paul. The bible tells us that Peter was a very brave and bold man. He proclaimed his loyalty to Jesus but yet denies Him and even ran away. He later repented and cried for forgiveness. After the death of Jesus, Peter together with Paul labored to convert more people into Christianity. They established churches in various cities and baptized more and more people. Saint Paul for his part was a Roman citizen whose Jewish parents called him Saul. His parents were of the strictest Jewish sects, the Pharisees. Saul was a highly educated man both in the Jewish and Greek teachings. Naturally, at first, Saul started to persecute Christians. He would round them up in many places and bring his captives for trial before the Sanhedrin, which at that time was like ancient Israel’s legislative body and highest court combined. Then one day as he went about his business of hunting down Christians, Saul fell off his horse and personally encountered the resurrected Jesus. Because of this miracle, Saul now called Paul, started to do the opposite. He became a Christian champion and even converted the gentiles. Together, Peter and Paul went on to rally the Christians in many places. This greatly angered their enemies that the two suffered tortures and humiliations. They managed to miraculously escaped detentions. However, just like what Jesus foretold Peter, they will have to follow His path of sufferings, thus Peter was crucified on the cross (though he insisted that he be nailed upside-down on the cross) and Paul, being a Roman citizen, died at the hands of his captors who used a sword to kill him. Today, as we celebrate their martyrdom, Ormocanons should not forget that Sts. Peter and Paul started to be weaklings. However, they were transformed not only into believers, but great leaders of Christianity. This was done through God’s Grace. They persevered unto death by this very Grace. Ormocanons should always remember that the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul calls for us to turn to God and ask for His Grace as we continue to live and meet the challenges of the times. Malipayong pag-saulog sa kapistahan nila ni Seniores San Pedro ug San Pablo. |
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One Night, Some 15 Years Ago |
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| June 20 , 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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I once received a letter from my classmate, Gerry Arbis, while I was working for the Cebu City government in the early 1990s. It was an invitation for me to co-host the Ormoc City Youth Night program that was one of those nightly entertainment shows for residents and visitors during the two-week city fiesta celebration. I was glad I went back to Ormoc not only for the hosting job but also for the fiesta. For those of us who left our beloved city to live and work in other places, coming home when the city is in a festive mood is therapeutic and indeed most needed if only to slow down the long and short arms of the clock. Cebu isn’t really a large city per se but it has its own lap of the so-called rat race. I arrived in Ormoc on the day the program was to be held. It was to start at 7 o’clock in the evening but by noontime, I was still looking for a barong to wear. I was told just then that the theme for the program was somewhat Filipiana. I know of someone who I can rely on in a time like this thus I called up another batch mate, Cheryl Aparis, and told her of my predicament. She told me not worry and instructed me to go to her house along Arradaza street, near the City Central School. By the time I arrived there which was only a mere five-minute honda ride (if you know what I mean), Cheryl was already holding a nice Barong Tagalog. She showed it to me and confidently said it would fit me. “Asa man ka ani Che?” I asked her. She smiled and said, “Kang Rommel na.” Rommel was her younger brother who had just attended a social affair and had a special barong made just for the occasion. Thank heavens for that. Trying it on, the barong was perfect. I chatted with Cheryl and her mom for a while and then I left promising to return the barong in the same condition. During the fiesta week, you can see a lot of people in the streets, visitors from far and near. You can also actually smell what’s cooking in the kitchens as you pass by the houses along the street. Humba, Dinuguan, Pancit, Adobo, etc. But I was not really paying attention to these temptations. That night I needed to look leaner despite my emerging potbelly in its infancy stage. The Youth Night was held in one of those cavernous Ormoc City bus passenger terminals. Good idea in case it rains but that night the sky was clear and the gentle breeze at the seawall was just enough to invite more people to promenade at the park nearby. Thus there were a lot of spectators at the terminal and yes again you guessed it, mostly young people were there, including yours truly (c'mon, it happened some 15 years ago remember?) Nicy was on time and we went through the program and worked out a plan on tackling the two-hour entertainment of songs, dances and other stuff young people like. We had a ball that night. Everything went smoothly and Gerry gave us a thumbs-up after the show. Well, I do admit the presentations then were not so sophisticated compared to nowadays but yeah Ormocanons who went to see the program that night were truly entertained judging by the enthusiasm they showed as the show progressed. There were other programs held every night thereafter just like those that came before the Youth Night. The culmination was the Miss Ormoc coronation night on the eve of the fiesta. Too bad I was not there anymore. I had gone back to Cebu to resume my work at the Cebu City hall. I heard the fiesta events that year were all successful. This year, a lot of “fiesta nights” have been planned for the fiesta. Ms. Pops Fernandez is even expected during the coronation night along with other Manila-based entertainers. There is even a night for government employees and a night or two of disco at the park. My younger brother told me his rock band would be performing too during one of those nights for the musical inclined Ormocanons. I know its too late now but I have to confess I have been expecting the same kind of invitation letter Gerry Arbis sent me years ago to co-host another program. This time, I figured, the program would be for the “Senior Citizens’ Night.” Agoy kasakit sa akong tuhod. |
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Dakung Kalipay |
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| June 13 , 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! Daku kaayo ang kalipay sa pipila nato ka mga kauban sa SPC 1983 batch. Dugay na sila nagmulo sa kanihit sa mga balita bahin sa uban nilang mga classmate. Ninglabay na ang 23 ka tuig sukad sa paghuman nato sa secondarya ug wala gayud bisan na lang lakbit nga istorya kung naunsa na ang atong mga higala. Karong panahona, salamat sa internet, natukod ang 1983 SPCian Yahoo Group nga gipangulohan ni Ken Q. Tungod niini, ubay-ubay na nga mga classmates nato ang nagbinayloay og mga sugilanon sa ilang mga nagkadaiyang kinabuhi. Sa kapin sa tulo ka bulan sukad sa pagkamugna sa maong yahoo group, aduna nay 26 ka mga classmates ang misalmot sa maong panagtigom. Ang labing kulbahinam nga bahin pa gayud sa maong grupo mao ang pagpapilit sa mga hulagway sa yahoo website. Nagsagol kining mga litrato kay adunay mga karaan ug aduna usab mga kuha sa bag-ong panahon. Makalingaw tan-awon ang mga pictures. Daku nako nga gikasubo nga ang akong personal nga mga hulagway sa kanhiay, na anod sa baha nga mi-igo sa atong pinalanggang dakbayan sa Ormoc niadtong tuig 1991. Apan si Glenn Tugonon nakahimo pa gayud og padala sa iyang mga antik nga mga hulagway. Usa na niini ang posing sa atong mga classmates nga lalaki sa CAT-1 nga nagsul-ob pa sa ilang mga uniporme. Gagmitoy pa kaayo kita kaniadto no? Tungod sa atong pagka-kanahan, walay undang ang atong mga kalihukan. Bisan unsaon og kaon, walay paingnan ang kinaon kay mahurot lang kini sa kalingas nato. Ang pinakaulahing misalmot sa 1983 SPCian Yahoo Group mao sila Flora Cadeong ug Emmanuel “Anggoy” Villaluz. Nahimoot ako nga nasayod nga lola na diay ang atong kanhi classmate nga si Flora. Garbo niya nga aduna na siyay apo. Tiaw mo na. Dili na magmahay si Flora ani. Garbo usab sa atong batch nga ang panimalay ni Flora adunay internet café didto mismo sa atong dakbayan. Kini, matud pa, usa o kaha ang pinaka daku nga internet service provider sa Ormoc. Ginang Noya na karon si Flora kay naminyo man siya sa igsoon sa laing natong mga classmates nga sila Laura ug Lilia Noya. Sa laing bahin, si Emmanuel nga anak sa atong kanhi English teacher sa elementarya nga si Ginang Editha Villaluz, didto na sa Kuwait na destino. Gumikan sa iyang trabaho, adunay higayon si Anggoy nga moatubang sa computer aron siya maka-sulod sa cyberspace. Adunay mga hulagway si Anggoy nga guisumiter ug karon nakita na gayud ang iyang pagka-ambongan. Misaad siya atol sa among pakighinabi pinaagi sa yahoo chat nga magdugang siya og mga hulagway labina sa iyang pamilya. Nagtuo usab siya nga daghan pa nga mga pictures ang guikuptan karon sa iyang pinalanggang inahan. Karon pa lang, gui-awhag na ang ubang mga sakop sa batch 1983 sa SPC sa pagbisita sa atong batch website diin nila makita ang link alang sa yahoo group. Sayon ra kaayo ang pagsalmot. Walay daghan sasaw apan daku og ikatabang kung adunay yahoo account name. Si Ken Q nagpahipi lang sa daplin ug kung ugaling adunay motoktok sa yahoo group, siya mismo ang moabli sa pultahan aron dawaton ang aplikasyon ni bisan kinsa nga taga batch 1983. Mao kana iya tahas isip moderator sa maong grupo. Nanghinaut ako nga aduna pay mapuno nga sakop sa yahoo group sa pipila ka adlaw nga molabay. Ang kalamposan niining maong grupo lakip na ang ato website nagsalig sa pagtinabangay natong tanan. Nasayod ako nga kitang tanan adunay gipang-atubang nga mga hagit sa kinabuhi lakip na ang panalapi. Apan, ato unta mahatagan og gamay nga panahon ang paghinumdum kung diin kita gikan. Ato sud-ongon ang mga kagahapon nga ato giagian. Ang mga tam-is ug mga pait nga panumduman sa atong pagkabatan-on. Ang atong mga grado nga nagkayamukat ug ang atong mga bawon nga mga yemas ug mane nga kaunon dili atol sa recess kun dili atol sa makapilaw nga mga oras sa classroom. *********** Subo usab nako nga ibalita sa niadtong wala pa kabalo nga aduna nay casualty ang atong batch. Si anhing Eric Ferolino nga ningpanaw niadtong college pa kita gumikan sa usa ka aksidente sa dalan. Mahidumuman ko kadto siya nga buotan ug maantigo nga bata, matinumanon ug labaw sa tanan mapahiubsanon. Dawaton unta sa Ginoo ang iyang kalag didto sa gingharian sa langit. ************ Ako pahalipay ngadto ni Dr. Rhoel Dejaño, ang atong abtik nga presidente sa batch 1983, nga bisan pa sa iyang pagkabusy isip doctor, nagtukod kini siya og usa ka negosyo diha sa dakbayan sa Sugbo. Nag-atang kining maong column sa dugang pang mga kasayuran kabahin sa maong patigayon aron ato masangyaw sa tibook kalibutan ang maong maayong balita. Laing doctor nga classmate nato mao si Dr. Margaret Sia-Modequillo. Nagpahipi usab kini siya gumikan sa iyang pagka-busy sa maong profession ug isip inahan usab sa duha ka dalaging-ging. Dakung garbo nato kini nga aduna kitay mga classmates nga karon nag-serbisyo sa daghan nga katawhan nga adunay gipangbati sa lawas. Lakip na niini si Dr. Regina Pongos-Quinain nga nagbase sa Florida, USA. Hala, wala na kitay panahon. Hantud na lang sa sunod higayon, sa samang column dinhi sa spc1983.com. kini ang inyong alagad sa kawanangan, Wazzup, daghang salamat ug maayong adlaw kaninyong tanan. Bow!
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The Reason Why |
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| May 16, 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! It took a while before someone answered the phone. I listened intently hoping the person on the other line would not be as slow in answering my questions as getting to the phone. “Hello, is this SPC?” I asked after she uttered the customary greeting you get when you try to call an office, only I could not make out what office name she was muttering. “Yes, this is St. Peter’s College,” she confirmed. I then introduced myself and asked for Miss Amparo Sacay, our former 4th year high school class adviser and now the school’s personnel officer. I forgot to ask for the name of the person who answered my call but she was very courteous and helpful even after I insisted to get the details of where Ms Sacay was and when she will be back. I learned that Ms. Sacay was on vacation but would be back next week. Then it hit me. Its summer vacation in the Philippines and even teachers have to join the many others in getting away from school, both mentally and physically. Our former teacher even got to meet her own batch mates in a sort of mini reunion. I hesitated for a moment but said, “I would like to leave a message. Kindly let Ms. Sacay know that I called and that I will try to get in touch with her the moment she comes back from her vacation. Do you think she’ll be back by the 15th of May?” She said yes and then I heard some scribbling on the other end of the line. She must be alone in the office, I thought. It was so silent there, I swear I could have heard a pin drop. Then she said, “Alright Mr. Sios-e, would that be all?” “No, actually I am a bit curious why its so silent over there. Its just midday over there, isn’t it?” I asked. “Yes, but the school staff and students who are in for summer classes have been advised to go home for the day due to the typhoon Caloy which is now threatening Leyte,” she explained. “Ah, I see but pray tell me what on earth are you still doing there at the office?” “I’m alone here now. I was already on my way out when the phone rang.” I felt a little guilty. I have to let the poor girl go. Thus I told her, “Well, I’ll let you go now and please be safe, bye,” I hung up. --- Ms. Sacay was not still around when i called the next Monday. Another person who answered the phone said she might be reporting Tuesday or Wednesday. This time I did not want to end the call empty handed. "Can you tell me if there is an "old timer" high school teacher whom I can talk with?" I asked. The other end hesitated for a moment and then suggested out the name "Mr. Crisologo Fabiona." Perfect, I thought. A few seconds later, Mr. Fabiona was on the line. His voice was a little hoarse. Must be the weather. "Hello sir! Si Mauro ni sir sa batch 1983, you still remember me?" I sounded excited and at the same time dreading he might have forgotten and would be too nice to even admit it. "Oy, Mauro, how are you?" "Maayo man sir, ikaw kumusta?" "I'm fine," He said before there was a static noise and I could not make out what he further said. The audio connection went pristine a few moments later and I told him about me asking for Ms. Sacay. "Oo bitaw. Wala siya. She is in the best position to tell you about the alumni events being the school coordinator for the group." Mr. Crisologo Fabiona, after 23 years since we graduated high school, is still at it. He is still doing the job he really loves, teaching. I could have asked him a lot more questions but with the increasing buzzing noise over the phone, I thanked him and ended the call with the promise that I will keep in touch. --- Its been more than a week since I called SPC. I will try again to call next week which is actually towards the end of May. I know the long wait will be worth it. There are tons and tons of new things to know about SPC. SPC1983.com hopes to harvest lots of pictures and stories about our dear alma mater. For now, we just have to wait a little bit more. For those of you who have easy access to personalities at SPC, your help here will be highly appreciated. For those of you who are blind as a bat as to wazzup at the new SPC, patience is recommended. For those in SPC right now, email us here at SPC1983.com or this column: maurosiose@yahoo.com. Thank you in advance and may peace be upon us all. |
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James |
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| April 18, 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! James Pongos used to tell me that life will never be dull if you have a little sense of humor inside your pocket. It was not that I was too serious back in elementary that James pointed that out to me. I was never serious in a lot of things back then including doing homework. The reason he mentioned the power of a little laugh was that he always discussed grown-up topics with me and it meant making tough talk about life and the future. Imagine the two of us, still in elementary, talking about the distant tomorrow as if it would arrive via airmail (no email then remember?) I wondered today why the future became an obsession in our boy talks. Don't get me wrong. We did have some fun with our youth. We hang out after school. We would listen to the Akai open reel music player at his house on top of a hill in Can-Adieng. We hunkered on a dilapidated de carga that seemed to be right there all the time along the street leading to the house. We would spend hours talking about anything but we would chat more about whatever or whoever passes by the potholes-filled street. A tricycle would pass by, drop off some passengers and after a carefully executed u-turn proceeds back to the highway turning left meaning it was on its way to Ipil. You guessed it. James and I would talk, not about the tricycle but of the passengers carrying something heavy inside some native baskets. "Economics...," James would start. The topic then would tackle the simple dissertation of the business aspect of the scene before us. I really could not recall how James explained it all but in our very young minds, the possibility of making a living was clearly a matter of time before we would be in the midst of it all. When we were in college, we were still able to continue our usual small talk about big things. One time at my house, James told me the prospect of him becoming a businessman was great. By then, I could already see why. James' laugh was jollier and his acumen of the topics were even deeper. Having realized that we were still young, we let go of ourselves and settled on more mundane pursuits like the young daughter of an auto shop owner fixing the Toyota land cruiser of James' dad. Since the shop was just nearby my place, we would then go over to check on the work progress of the land cruiser and, and, and... check on something or someone else. And there I saw the power of the humor James was talking about. I let my friend demonstrate the wisdom of his own words by the way he approached the "target." I never got to know what happened after that day. It was time for me to go back to Cebu for my studies and James, I believed, headed back to VISCA in Baybay for his own search for knowledge. I shall one day, meet again my dear friend James Pongos who eventually married a another batch mate of ours, Mary Faith Capahi and until then, I promise I will never find my pockets empty of the little humors that make our day a day like no other day. Yep, that's James' legacy to me. |
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"Luyo Sa City Hall" |
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| April 11, 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! My Memory is indeed mangled like the Leyeco lines after a Ruping-class typhoon. I do recall there was this dome-like structure with metal roofing at the back of the Ormoc City hall a very long time ago. Well not directly behind, but the building may have been the office of the Philippine National Red Cross. I am not sure about these facts but as a young student at St. Peter's College way back in late elementary or early high school, I usually trot over to the seashore at the back of the city hall to throw stones at the usually placid shallow waters. There was no hotel Don Felipe, no Sanggunian Panlunsod (SP) buildings or the plaza square and stage at that time; more so with the newcomers like the SuperDome. In our white shirt and blue/khaki pants, we, the more adventurous kids, would head to this location late afternoons right after classes were dismissed. With our sling school bags, we would stand on the beach close enough to the water but safe from being reached by the waves. We would witness the slowly setting sun over the mountains across Ormoc Bay. Those are the ranges that border Ormoc and Palompon, I think. What a beautiful sight. The small sakayans with a lone fisherman onboard going out to sea to do you know what, would be silhouetted against the dying rays of the sun. The only large structure then to break the last streaks of sunlight was the pier with its pillars causing the waters that strike it to glisten with an orange glow to reflect the horizon. Then there was a time when the first bed of rocks and boulders were laid to serve as base for the seawall construction. We did not realize then what it was for but after a while we figured out they were filling the sea to turn it into land. Reclamation! This even made us visit the area more often, even during lunch breaks at school. Again my memories are all fuzzy about the whole thing. Next thing I knew, the waterline had receded about a couple hundred feet, then some more and finally the shoreline as we knew it then was no more. Then came the daily pounding of the subterranean columns to support the construction of the Don Felipe hotel building. Bog...bog...bog! The big crane would lift the heavy pile driver and let go, allowing it to push the concrete post further down below the ground. Bog..bog..bog! I wondered then when it would end. I am not sure which came first, the SP building or the hotel but anyway, at that time, the city council building was a welcome sight of modern architecture (at least for me.) With a young mind, I was proud that my city has joined the league of the major cities of the country with a modern landmark. Not long after it was built, I was able go inside the SP building to visit then City Councilor Romeo Hermosilla who represented the city barangay captains in the konseho. The building then was an unico hija with no twin sister. Later on the building was cloned. If I had been unsure of the memories that I had so far enumerated here, the same is opposite with my recollections of what me and my friends did within the reclaimed area notably the plaza square commonly known as the "luyo sa city hall" to many. Aside from playing volleyball on the concrete grounds, I also enjoyed the almost daily skating that we did there. This was of course in summer. Among my skating buddies then were Edwin "Dodo" Roble and his younger brother, Lionel Eric a.k.a Boyet, sons of Boy Roble; Stephen and his younger sister (whose parents own the Majestic Marketing along Real Street;) and some boys and girls from other schools. While all of them were roller skaters (no inline skates then,) I was into skateboarding. My mother bought the skateboard when she went to Cebu to visit my two older brothers who were then college freshmen there. Early the very morning she arrived back from Cebu with my skateboard, I was already surfing the concrete "waves," as in rough surfaces of the streets nearby. Well back to the "luyo sa city hall," our volleyball game would start just as the heat of the afternoon sun mellowed down. On another volleyball court nearby, older guys played their own volleyball game with somewhat different rules. A crowd would gather around their court and we were left to play our regular version of the game with no spectators. There were even instances when we lacked players. Foremost in my memory were the familiar faces of the players; Wilson Cataag, Florante Lapa, James Co and many others from SPC. Then darkness came and more and more people ventured into the grounds bringing their kids and pets. Sundays would see us sitting along the flower boxes that surround the plaza square after several hours of volleyball. We were waiting for the amateur hour to begin. Today, "luyo sa city hall" has metamorphosed into a more concrete jungle. The tennis courts and the Boy Scout canteen are no more. The SuperDome is in and a lot of other improvements. What remains however is that special memory of the sights and sounds that fade in and out of our minds, reminiscent of the era that permanently became part of our lives. |
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Games We Used to Play |
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| April 4, 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! "Hunter man gud ka," I told Necias Paylado after conceding defeat in our takyan game. He beamed with pride and challenged me to another round. I told him no thank you and mentally noted i need to find somebody easy to annihilate. Well, I reckoned, if I can't defeat Necias, I don't stand a chance against Nathaniel Fiel or Marlon Aquino. Hmm. An arduous task. I can't seem to find someone to boss around in takyan. Hey, I thought, why not take on the experts and learn from them? That's exactly what I did. I got humbled in so many games but in the end, I finally surprised a lot of my opponents. Takyan requires not only the skillful effort of keeping the object in the air by hitting it with a foot. It also needs the grace of the hands and arms coordination so spectators would not see you jerking your extremities like you are fanning yourself profusely. Those familiar with the game know what I mean. You have to like, flap your almost clipped arms up and down, easy and confidently. By looking at the form a takyan player displays, you can tell if you have a novice or expert before you. This is what I learned from the takyan experts. I observed how they start to pump the takyan to the air and steadily build momentum by the graceful and rhythmic movements of their legs and arms. Even how the eyes follow the takyan spells a big difference in keeping the cycle in sync. Slowly mimicking their style, I finally found a way to intimidate my opponents who were almost always too lax early in the game. By showing confidence and style, my competitors were at a lost how to counter the frontal attack. By the time they regain their composure, I had a pretty good lead in the score and level of game. The rest was just easy as gnawing a node of sugarcane that just fell off a Serafica hauling truck. ----------------- I have gone nuts. I lost my marbles. Literally. In our elementary days, my school bag was sometimes heavy not with books but with diolen. I don't know how many marbles I had lost but it was not hard to figure out why they kept on disappearing. My bag had holes. Talking of holes, that is what you need to play the marble game, well at least in the most part. We played marbles on the school ground like there was no tomorrow. We lost track of time losing and winning marbles and yet we ended up basically with the same number of marbles when we started. This phenomenon has something to do with our childish determination to keep the game going. Our ultimate goal was not to increase the number of marbles in our inventory; rather it was to engage in a give and take process where the players allow some gains and losses to assure a continuum sort of the pleasure derived from the game. I really do not remember now how exactly the marble game was played. I could still visualize the five small holes, six inches from each other in a square configuration. There were four holes on each corner of the square box and the fifth hole was in the middle. A line was drawn outside of the configuration and then a few feet away was another line where the players take turn in trying to get the marbles to slide, fly or roll into the holes. Vaguely, I remember that we had to hit some of the marbles that did not end up in the holes. Oh well, I would welcome anybody today who could fill in the blanks here. Calling Gilbert Penserga, Florante Lapa, Nicandro Sedigo and the rest of the marble boys. There were other games that we used to play in our elementary and high school days. The Japanese game was a favorite among the girls and boys. Thinking about all those running, jumping and sprinting really brings smiles to my face. Useful when I'm not in the mood. Those concrete pillars at the gymnasium served as our bases. I long to go back to SPC and touch those posts and be reconnected to the distant past when we were so young and carefree. The joy of being with friends in a familiar place cannot be easily duplicated today. The usually reserved Mercy Tampus, now married to a Milan, drew surprised stares from classmates when she dashed back and forth to rescue her team mates hostaged at a nearby post by opponents. Shreiks all over from the girls and the loud boisterous encouragement by the boys would reach the nearby sisters' convent and disrupt the nuns' vesper prayer preparation. Rachel Conejos did not want to be left behind the base guarding it. She wanted to venture into the fray and get caught in the excitement taking a hostage herself. Frederick Pasana, then very tiny Freddie, would use this advantage to sneak into the enemies' lair and raid it to claim victory for his team. It was such fun and wholesome Japanese game. I really do not know why they call it that way. I have a guess but I am not sure about it. Only a few would have Nintendo games at that time. The game and watch was restricted to a privileged few. The Rubik cube interested many but still the various physical games really attracted most of the students at the time. Of course, there were a lot more variety of games that were available to us back then. I could not really avoid comparing the youngters' favorite games today and that of our own time. I really preferred the simple games that we used to play.
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Attention!!!
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| March 28, 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! "Peopleeeeeeee?" Sounds Familiar to you? Imagine this. Two companies of Citizens Army Training (CAT) cadets and cadettes at full attention during a battalion formation. Were you one of those who had to brave the heat of the sun along with your classmates just so you can answer back the call "people" from the commandant with a snappy or lousy "sir" as the case may be? Looking back into our final years in high school at SPC, we could not forget our fidgety selves as we try our darn best not to "offend" Mr. Rudy Quirino, our commandant, lest he would capriciously impose a punishment on us. At the slightest mistake, Mr. Quirino would bark orders for 20s or 50s. I mean push-ups not peso bills. To be honest about it, those were some of my happy days. I am grateful we had to undergo such experiences if only to instill within us a sense of "fear" of authorities. A fear that generates loyalty and awe. Why? Because Mr. Quirino, like other trainers of young students, made sure that we are given challenges that we generally can handle and if we are able to obey them, we feel we belong to the society where discipline is expected. The youngster of today has a lot of stuff on his or her plate. During our time, we had no cellphones, much more computers which meant no internet. There were a few things that could make ourselves busy. Our CAT, among other extra-curricular activities, greatly filled the void. Today, young students have their text frenzies with cellphones, endless chat with internet instant messengers and high-powered video games. If we had these things during our high school years, I wonder if we could have more or less warmly embraced our YDT and CAT trainings. Well, I'm speaking for a number of batch mates here. I mean, we reckoned we would rather hop and skip to the marching tune of Mr. Quirino's orders instead of daydreaming inside the classroom. Hey! I hear some objections from the nerds. Ok, I admit. CAT training was not really that FUN. I'll give you that, but still the joy of being out in the field brought excitement no matter if it was tainted with a little bit of fear for the unexpected. "People!!!" |
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Nuns Here, There and Everywhere!
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| March 21, 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! Where have all the nuns gone? Most of our dearest Benedictine sisters are not gone. They are merely in various assignments across the country. Of course you know where Sr. Roseve is now. The good sister patiently told this column the whereabouts of some of the religious sisters who were assigned in SPC one time or the other. For instance, the then superior-directress of our school when we graduated back in 1983, Sr. Genevieve Benares, OSB is now taking care of St. Scholastica's Academy in Tabunoc, Talisay, Cebu. How about Sr. Luz Francisco, OSB? She is now in the retirement home of the Benedictine sisters in the city of Baguio. You remember Sr. Luz, the head of the SRA, right? A lot of us are very thankful to her because of her insistence that we undergo the rigors of mental calisthenics with reading, writing and math. While her assistants take care of us inside the SRA lab, she goes around patrolling the campus for evaders. Tough sister. Then, we had Sr. Presentacion. Those of us who started in the kindergarten or prep in SPC could not forget our dear Sr. Presentacion. She passed away many years ago but her legacy still continues amongst us. For me for instance, she was the one who made sure that I place the dot directly above the small letter "i" when writing words. She made me stand before the blackboard to write so many "i"s that I can now handwrite the small letter with the dot exactly above the vertical line even with my eyes closed. I know for sure many of you have your own story to tell about Sr. Presentacion. Please share them with all of us. Another nun who has now joined our Creator is Sr. Editha Wydorski, OSB. I remembered her as a very sweet old sister who smiles every time she meets people. About mid-1980s, I had just arrived back in Ormoc one day from a trip to Tacloban with some SPC staff when the convent announced her death. I remembered sisters, teachers, administration staff and students gathered inside the St. Peter and Paul Parish Church to view her body and for nightly vigils. Sr. Clarita Singer, OSB, went back to Germany many years ago and we don't have any knowledge about her after that. I believed Sr. Anunciata has also passed away. I forgot to ask about Sr. Bernadette and her Mang Kiko who would bow in gratitude to whoever deposits coins into his box. Mang Kiko was not a true person. It was a small statue atop a coin box used to accept donations especially during fund raising for the church. It's mechanical head would "bow" whenever a coin is inserted through the slot. Sr. Bernadette was so amiable that our class would compete among ourselves as to who can give more to Mang Kiko. Sr. Lucy Tagle, OSB is now the sister-superior of St. Scholastica's in Bacolod, Negros Occidental. If I remember right, Sr. Lucy who was the college dean when we were still in high school, would join our glee club practice sessions under Mrs. Ruth Molato. Sr. Lucy contributed a lot to the success of our participation to the yearly choral contests held at the Ormoc City Public Elementary School. Her contribution centered mainly on the fine tuning of our facial expressions even when we hit the high notes. "Smile and move your head slightly," she would tell us. Back to Sr. Roseve. We know she is now about to go to St. Scholastica's Academy in San Fernando, Pampanga from her assignment in Legazpi City, Albay. After we graduated in high school, Sr. Roseve also moved on to other assignments like the one in Malaybalay, Bukidnon as the first Benedictine president of the San Isidro College there. The school, like SPC, is owned by the diocese but managed by the Benedictine sisters. She stayed there for three years. Then, Sr. Roseve went to St. Scholastica's College in Manila as the Campus Ministry Directress. Her next stop was the Holy Family Academy in Angeles City as superior-directress and then going back to St. Scholastica's College as the Dean of Student Affairs. We pray that one day she be installed as the Mother-Superior of the Benedictine nuns in the Philippines. If you know of other information about Benedictine sisters once assigned in SPC or corrections to the above-stated information, please let us know here at SPC1983.com and we will surely post them right away. In other matters....a public utility tricycle passes by and a prospective passenger hails the driver, calling, "hoonda, honda, para, para." The tricycle swerves down to a halt and the passenger gets in. What's the big deal here? No big deal really, except the tricycle is run by a Yamaha engine. So what's with the "hoonda, honda" call? In Ormoc city, commuters there call all tricycles "honda" even when these favorite public utilities are run by motorcycles with various engines from brands like Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and yes Honda. There are exceptions of course. More discerning Ormocanons might hail a tricycle without calling it "honda," but even those who are aware of the nomenclature anomaly still refers to all the three-wheeled vehicles as "hondas." That is the same as calling all pencils, mongol. "Do you have a mongol?" How about," I would like to buy a colgate please, kanang Close-up ha!" Yeah right. |
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Well-Loved President |
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| March 14, 1006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! Dawn. March 17, 1957. Mt. Manunggal, Central Cebu island. Plane crash. President Ramon Magsaysay Sr. died, a leader who was well-loved for his simplicity, sincerity and of course, because of his love for his people. When the country today looks up, down, left and right for answers to its woes, the legacy of Pres. Magsaysay will surely be comforting thought that one day the people may have a leader who would win the hearts of a long suffering citizenry. For several years in Cebu, I joined a group of mountain climbers every year on March 17 to commemorate the death anniversary of Pres. Magsaysay. We would start early morning a day before and reach Mt. Manunggal about noontime. A mass and a short program would then be held the following day. At that time, an engine of Mt. Pinatubo (Pres. Magsaysay's C-47 plane) was just recently unearthed and displayed near the spot of the crash. If I am not mistaken, Em Luzares joined us one time in this yearly climb. It was because of the statue of Father Ismael Cataag, the founder of SPC, that I happened to have joined the yearly climb to Mt. Manunggal. During my elementary days, recess and free time (that means before flag ceremony and after 5 pm) would be nearly spent around the statue with classmates like Jaime Suson, Goito Yrastorza, Mario Sia and others. Fr. Cataag was a silent and patient listener to our daily chit-chats, boys' secrets like our passing infatuations, and playful bickering. Because of this daily sessions around the white concrete statue, I became interested in finding out the reason why these reminders of important people are erected in the first place. It was a not surprise then that I joined the annual mountain climb to Mt. Manunggal on the death anniversary of a well-loved president.
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Turning 40
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| March 7, 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! Most of us have turned or will be turning 40 years old this year. Imaaagine, 40 years? So what? Well, for starters, admit it, we are getting old. But on the other hand, we are starting a new chapter in our life. We are more mature now, I hope. We had set our sights on some things and by now we could be realizing them. Please don't tell me you have completed them. For if that is the case, that is a short term goal. What we have achieved this time so far are merely components of what is really to come. Where are those baby faces? Have you seen the wrinkles starting to show in your face? Relax, it would not help if you think about those parallel lines everyday. In fact, thinking about them will add more of them. Do what a lot of people our age are doing, exercise. I have not done a lot of calisthenics lately. But that is not the case for Rigel Arcayan who maintains a very strict schedule of road biking and swimming, among others. He said he wants to retire with a strong body both physical and mental. That is what retirement is all about, doing the things you really want to do in life, still with vigor and endurance of a young body. Retirement is simply a break-away from work and to really indulge yourself with the finer things in life. Rigel's regimen is a textbook by itself. I will deal with part of it in one of the future columns. Retirement is still a long way to go, so do not bet on it that I will be tackling the topic in the near future. SPC. Pioneer school of Leyte. The champion of Christianity. Pride of Ormoc City. These lines are contained in the SPC Hymm. This song of praise to the Saint Peter's College echoes in my mind whenever I remember my days there. I have been very blessed to have studied there. The formation and values that we got there have really helped us in our daily struggle for survival. We have been armed with the proper tools to tackle our college life, marriage, family, and of course work. Ora et Labora. Work and pray. A very good guide to hurdle those challenges in our lives. SPC taught us this principle. The Benedictine sisters made sure of that. Hey, if you have something to announce or if you want simply to share your thoughts, feel free to email them (through our Email Us link at the home page) and we will be glad to print them. Thank you again for visiting us. We hope to see you again here at SPC1983.com. Hasta la vista.
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Welcome, Welcome! |
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| February 28, 2006 | by Mauro P. Sios-e |
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Shalom! Hello and welcome to the St. Peter's College High School Batch 1983 website. Thanks for dropping by. If you are a member of this batch, I encourage you to contact us right away so we can update our list of online members. Email us your story and send some pictures too. If you are a guest here, thank you for visiting us and I hope you will find the contents of this website to your liking. Please don't hesitate to contact us for your comments and other inputs. We really appreciate your participation. Along with this website, we have created an internet radio program for your listening pleasure. It is still in its experimental stage. While our site and internet radio might be crude in presentation, rest assured that our intention to bring you information and entertainment comes from our heart. We are capable of bringing to you our messages in the somewhat tri-media form. Right now, for instance, we have the website and the radio internet. Soon however, we will have a video webcast for everybody. The only thing that delays the videocasting is the fact that most of our members are still on the dial-up mode of internet connection. In the future, we will be launching the Internet TV SPC 1-9-8-3. I am handling the production side of the media while Rigel Arcayan is taking care of the technical aspect. This column will be hopefully updated every week. If ever we fall asleep on our job here, give us a shake. Push, no, kick our behind if need be for we are always human. Someday we might just be too engrossed with our other concerns in life like feeding our family and spending lazy time on the tv couch with a remote in hand. You be our ombudsman without pay. So again, thank you for visiting us and please do hit us up more often as we promise you of more information and entertainment, that is if we don't fall into the ningas cogon habit. Na hala! |
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