Dragon
Decade One:
1952 – 1962
Although Manila
was the city of
my birth, my
formative years
were spent
entirely in the
rural heart of
Nueva Ecija.
Being a barrio
lad, my
rudimentary
youth were
simple, shallow,
unexciting,
passive but full
of contentment
and dreams. In
my
pasture
moment,
I
would
laze
by
the
field
tree
and
would
let
my
mind
wander
endlessly
thinking
of
the
future
as
if I
was
in a
hurry.
I
wanted
to
be a
lawyer,
doctor,
soldier,
or
just
to
be
rich.
But
like
a
bubble,
those
thoughts
would
quickly
burst
at
the
sound
of
passing
cart
being
dragged
by
the
ever-efficient
Carabao.
What
a
decade
–
people
are
so
nice,
polite,
unassuming
and
downright
hospitable.
Radios
were
the
most
popular
form
of
entertainment
and
my
novice
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psyche were
exposed to the
weekly programs
of “Mga Kuwento
ni Lola Basyang”,
“Lagalag” or
“Pusong Bakal”
where the star
villain was the
over acting Ben
David. Of
course, “komiks”
are aplenty with
“Hiwaga” and
“Tagalog Klasiks”
being the
dominant
publications.
During parties,
we would dance
the Twist and do
the Limbo. By
the end of the
decade, I have
finished the
fifth grade with
enhanced
expectations and
enthusiasm.
Dragon
Decade Two:
1963 - 1973
Personally, the
decade was the
most tragic,
trying, hardest,
frustrating but
happiest and
defining moments
of my young
life. Fate would play
on me like
falling
dominoes.
At the very raw
age of twelve,
all my dreams
and aspirations
were shattered
by the untimely
demise of my
mother right
after graduating
elementary back
in 1964.
My mother was at
the prime of her
life and it was
so sad that we
were suddenly
orphaned and
left without the
motherly
protection.
From thereon, it
was struggle all
the way as our
father opted to
“gave me and a
younger brother
away” to a
childless uncle
in Manila.
Living with my
uncle and a
strict aunt was
mainly full of
heartaches and
deprivation.
But, at least
they managed to
get me enrolled
in time to enter
Arellano High
School. My
four years of
high school can
be characterized
as pitiful,
funny, exciting
and
challenging.
Being a poor
“probinsiyano”
(the word
“promdi” haven’t
been coined
yet), I was so
naïve and aloof
when I started
the first year.
Imagine a small,
thin, awkward
looking boy
wearing a
“corto” and
white “de hilo”
t-shirt. That
was I. The
enormous size of
the student
population
overwhelmed me
and felt
downcasted for
being assigned
in the last
section of
forty-two.
Classmates would
come and go as
the years
progressed. New
faces would come
my way either
from criss-crossing
sections or from
other schools.
Oh yes, the
memories are so
vivid to
remember. I
remember Miss
Franco, the
beautiful
teacher in
Filipino, the
very inspiring
Mr. Julian whose
recollection of
World History
awed me
especially the
subject of the
Napoleonic Wars
and Miss Josue
who gave me the
foundation of
Geometric
studies. Along
the way, the
intelligent
Vangie Ortega
intimidated the
gut out of me
and made me so
embarrassed
everytime I had
the chance to
ride the
Dimasalang
jeepney with her
and failed to
offer to take
the ten- centavo
fare. Also,
there’s the
beautiful Gloria
Estaris whose
height made me
look even
smaller, the
popular Arellano
gymnast Olivia
Madera whose
petite and
elastic body
made me
fantasize, but
the most
memorable of
all, was my
first love,
Rebecca
“Vicky” Carag
who
transformed
 |
me
from
the
“mahiyaing”
bloke
to a
romantic
wannabe.
(Pictures
plucked
out
from
the
website
with
apologies
to
Gigi
Cacha).
The
happiest
scenario
would
be
the
“uwian”
where
I
would
“hatid”
Vicky
home
aboard
the
F.
Nito
Transit
all
the
way
to
BBB
(Marulas,
Valenzuela)
area.
To
this
day,
I
have
no
idea
what
Vicky
has
become
or
where
she
is
now.
Her
memories
though,
are
forever
imprinted
in
some
corner
of
my
brain. |
After
so many not so
serious study
times, cutting
classes and
consuming tons
of “palabok” at
the Arranque and
Central Markets,
I was able to
join the
graduating class
of 1968 held at
the Rizal
Memorial
coliseum. That
chapter closes
with a clear
understanding of
life and the
dragon in me,
started to wake
up and learned
to take life
what it is and
forget what I am
not.
Hungry but
determined to
make it on my
own, I decided
to leave the
abode of my
uncle, went solo
and never looked
back. Those
were the trying
times. I would
work the days
and attended the
night school at
the University
of the East’s
business
programs – a
total departure
from my
childhood dream
of becoming a
lawyer or a
doctor. It was
a complete
hardship you can
ever imagine.
From the
decrepit
boarding houses
(where so many
times I was
threatened to be
throwned-out for
late payments),
to being thick
skinned for
asking the
school registrar
to allow me to
take the finals
by submitting a
promissory notes
for unpaid
tuition. Even
personal
nourishments
were inadequate
during those
days, as my
financial
resources would
limit my daily
food routine to
the lowly “tuyo”,
“sardinas” and “itlog”.
But I took
everything in
stride. While
every now and
then, the
Kabataang
Makabayan would
run over the
steel railings
out of the
streets of C.M.
Recto in protest
of the Marcos
regime, there I
was, hitting the
street pavements
of Manila,
peddling door to
door the gallon
size Brillo
floorwax to make
ends meet. All
those things
would eventually
pass and by
1973, I would
have my first
full employment
as personnel
clerk at the
local textile
company where
things started
to brighten up.
Dragon
Decade Three:
1974 – 1984
This decade saw
my life’s
accumulation
cycle. My
formal entry
into the
workforce gave
me decent wages,
or so I think.
Minimum wage was
pegged at Eight
Pesos (P8.00) a
day and I was
earning the
gross amount of
P240.00 a month
and I said,
wow. The year
was 1974 when a
young Tondo lass
named Aurora
Mendoza (a
co-worker),
caught my
attention. A
brief courtship
ensued and in
1975, without
any fuss, Aurora
and I decided to
see a minister
by our own
selves and got
married. Of
course, had I
have the means,
I would have
given her a
grand wedding.
By 1976, we had
a daughter whom
I named Olivia
(borrowed from
the high school
gymnast)
followed by my
son Paolo in
1977. My
growing family
strove me to
seek a better
paying job and
left the textile
factory in
1980. My new
employer dealt
with shipping
and cargo
operations in
the pier area
and I would say,
the experience
began a more
responsible
career. The
decade also saw
the beginning of
overseas exodus
among
Filipinos. I
was one of the
many who was
swept by the
bandwagon and by
the end of the
decade, I saw
myself working
for a US Naval
contractor at
the tiny island
of Diego Garcia
located at the
centre of the
Indian Ocean.
Dragon
Decade Four:
1985 - 1995
My overseas
stint lasted
until the early
part of 1987,
the year the
project wound up
and everybody
went home.
Immediately
after, not
wanting to be
idled, I went
back to my last
employer and was
fortunate enough
to be hired
back. The
second coming
didn’t last as
bigger
opportunity came
along. Little
by little, my
career picked up
but times are
getting harder
and harder. My
wife Aurora,
bravely picked
the overseas
torch and went
to Canada in
1989. By then,
I was beginning
to move up the
corporate ladder
as Vice
President for
Operations. And
by the time
Aurora sponsored
the children and
I , I was very
reluctant to
leave the fruits
of my labor.
But, seeing the
greater
opportunity for
my children, I
have agreed to
go and flied to
Toronto in 1995.
Dragon
Decade Five:
1996 – the
present
Being a new
immigrant
doesn’t come
easy. The first
year of 1995 was
full of
frustration when
it comes to job
search. My
ever-supportive
wife gave me the
resources I need
(e.g., computer,
fax machine,
etc.) to find
good
employment. But
the timing of
our arrival was
kind of hard
because of the
recession.
Moreso, I was in
my forties with
grey hair and
the competition
for even the
most menial jobs
were so tight.
But then again,
my dragon heart
resurfaced and
before I knew
it, I was
reinventing
myself to get
ahead of the
competition. My
grey hair turned
to black again
thru the magic
of hair products
and coupled with
refresher
courses that I
took, I started
getting the most
sought after job
interviews.
Canada’s jobs
are big in the
field of
finance,
investments,
insurance and
the like. In
1999, I was able
to land a very
good position in
the investment
industry. And
the new
millennium
brought a lot
promise for my
family. My
daughter Olivia
is now working
in a prestigious
law office as
legal superstar
(a term being
associated to
people who had
great expertise
in lawyer
support) while
my son Paolo
works as Cash
Operations
Manager for an
international
corporation
dealing with
cash services
and security. I
guess my
decision to
migrate with my
family went
well. For a
person who
started from
scratch, I guess
I couldn’t ask
for more.
In 2005, I was
deeply elated
and doubly proud
of my daughter
and son.
Together, they
threw a surprise
party
commemorating
the 30th
wedding
anniversary of
Aurora and I.
It was a very
touching
moment. All the
heartaches in
the past failed
to shed me tears
but for the
first time since
my mother died,
I silently
wept. But that
was a weep of
joy.
In
the
present
time,
my
hard
work
and
dedication
paid
off
and
once
again,
able
to
climb
the
corporate
ladder
as
the
company’s
Vice
President
for
Trading.
To
all
this,
I’d
say,
not
bad,
not
bad
for
a
poor
“probinsiyano”.
Summing all up,
I’d like to
quote the lyrics
of Basil Valdez’
song “Salamin ng
Buhay” that
goes:
“Ang buhay mo’y
yugto-yugto, May
panahong sakdal
saya
Minsan nama’y
namumugto sa
pagluha ang
‘yong mata
Kahit paglakad
mo’y wasto may
papatid sa ‘yong
paa
Minsan, kahit
nakahinto Biyaya
ay sumasampa
Sa ‘yong anyo sa
salamin Mayro’n
silang tatandaan
Mag-isip ka at
alamin kung
naligaw ka ng
daan
Bago tuluyang
mawala aninag mo
sa salamin
Matitiyak mo ba
kaya ang ‘yong
mukha ay
napansin
Dahil sa buting
nagawa na
taimtin at totoo
Wala kang taong
nabangga sa
salamin ng buhay
mo”
How true in real
life.
