REMEMBERING VICKY

Vicky Fernandez Tejada made some postings recently in the Asinganian Journal..It is heartening to know that some townmates never forget you inspite of the long years that would slide  like the sands of time..She is a Methodist but when we had that Catechetical program under Fr. Lazaro de Guzman she joined the First Communion ceremony.I was her catechism teacher. I and some Catechists went to the Elementary school prior to this event. During the summer school break in the Philippines which is from April to June, she would join us ( the Asingan choir) in Sunday singing as well as in outings. I remember visiting a big calamansi orchard near barrio Toboy...When we got down from the carromata, she saw the neat groove of trees and she exclaimed: CALAMANCHI! Thus she was nicknamed Calamanchi by our group. One of the group was Juanita Orpiano from Dupac..She's also a laughbag, full of funny one liners. Well, I was up on one tree, picking the calamansi fruits when she called out to me..

"There are some big ones near your reach!"

"Where?" I was up there, holding onto a branch, my legs apart so I could keep my balance..

"Right there in front of you! Can't you see those two big ones between your legs?" I saw those two calamansis between my legs. but then she realized the inuendo of her sentence and she burst into an infectious laughter. I can not laugh because I might let go of my grip..

Then Vicky left Asingan for Sacramento when she was still in Gr. 4 or 5....Ocassionally, I would receive a letter written in the big handwriting characterstic of a young child telling me how life is for newly arrived Immigrants in the US..When she told me her Mom was raising Filipino vegetables in a big farm they own in Sacramento ( the farm is still there ) I related this story as an article for the Philippine News Service and it was picked up by newspapers because it was news. Filipina makes money out of Filipino vegetables in Sacramento. Vicky said she worked in the family farm after school and on week ends. Later that year, she also wrote me her grandfather who sponsored their family died and she sent me some of the photos at the funeral home. She sent me a school ID picture.She was already wearing glasses..

Letters became few and far between but I understand now that there is so much work in the US ( and not so much  in Asingan )..People abroad seldom have the luxury of writing letters to relatives in Asingan.Those were the days when Internet still belonged to the realm of Science Fiction. But there was an occasional letter with photos or Christmas Cards from her..I always answered her using 4 or 5  sheets of bond paper. Anyway I was in Asingan where the living  was easy and people had so much time in their hands. When she started to work, she sent me a shirt one Christmas..That was so sweet of her.

Then one day I received a letter informing me she is going to spend Christmas in Asingan. It must have been  about 7 or 8 years absence and now she wanted to visit the old hometown to see old friends ( like Tessie Cruz and maybe me ) and her relatives ( the Nitcha Family )..I do not think the word Balikbayan was already coined at that time.

I was not there when she arrived at the airport.. I forgot the exact date and time...But one night, I was walking past the Methodist church with my friend Florante when I heard somebody singing through their PA system. Her voice rang through the evening air like a church bell.The song was the popular hymn WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS."I think that's Vicky," I told Flor.." Aha, so your Fil-American friend arrived," he said..I did not go inside the church to see her. I am a Catholic and in Asingan some churches are for members only. But the next morning she showed up in the house with Tessie and one of her first questions was "Why weren't you at the airport?"

She stayed in Asingan for 2 weeks, I guess. When I had a chance, I accompanied her around. One time I brought along my portable typewriter to the Asingan Public Library ( at that time, it was still in that beautiful edifice beside the old Puericulture Center )she could type her homework to be submitted when she went back to school. But then, if you are on Holiday, the last thing you would like to do is school homework.The librarian at that time was Pelagia Delmendo.Then another time, we went to visit a relative in San Manuel so she could measure her for a new dress. I also joined the whole family when they went to Baguio City. We stayed in the small "Chalet" of my relative Miss Margarita Macaraeg in Scout Barrio. Her Mom, her aunt and 2 brothers were in the trip. ( One brother Resty Jr. died sometime in the '80s, not so sure about the date).

It is amazing how soon holidays would end. . When she left Asingan to prepare for her trip back to Sacramento, I was not able to see her. I just saw her already at the Departure area of the Manila International Airport, the old name of the NAIA. One minute she was there, next minute she was gone after a flurry of good-byes..

Felt sad then of course..But that is how holidays are..As my sis Ester told me one time, "The hardest  part of hellos are the good-byes"---#