When school year '61-62 started, I was on my way to Manila, ( together with thousands of college people from the provinces ) riding on a buses packed to the roof with various stuff ( rice, veggies, fruits and sometimes a live goat or a piglet ). I decided NOT to go back to my aunt's house anymore in San Juan. It was like a prison in there! Besides, if it rained, the San Juan river beside it would swell rapidly and flood the nearby streets. Her house ( located in A. Luna st.) must be in the lowest point of San Juan ( the highest point could be the Pinaglabanan Church area where former President Joseph Estrada used to attend mass ). This time, my brother and sister and I stayed with our cousins in a small house in Quirino District ( Project 3) which was closed to Camp Murphy. Found out that it was a walking distance to Angelito Domaoan's boarding house which was quite within the area between Camp Murphy and Project 4.
As the bus zoomed its way to Manila, I could not help reflecting on what happened during the past year which I spent in Asingan. I got involved with the Church as a volunteer worker. On weekdays, we went to the various Elementary schools ( South Central and North Central ). We tried to spread the Word of God to the young pupils. The home room teacher gave us an hour togive lessons on Cathecism so that in a few months time, they would be able to receive their First Communion. Every afternoon of that summer holiday before the start of classes, we had a total immersion of Religious lectures conducted by Fr. de Guzman at church. The lectures started at 3:00-5:00 pm. But at 1:00 pm, the church yard was already full of young people ( Catechists ) coming from all barrios of Asingan: Macalong, Toboy, Carusucan, etc. ) At first, my incentive was to play and socialize. The religious lectures were just secondary. It changed afterwards, a long time afterwards.
I also got involved in joining the local church choir and its Liturgical Music. Never did I dream this kind of music training would help me later, first in my new school Adamson University, and later on, in my future adapted country:Canada. Becoming a member of the choir ( later on to be a choirmaster ) gave me a boost to my sagging self esteem ( which was battered when I was in the last 2 years of high school ).I spent countless hours rehearsing the High Masses, motets, hymns, mass responses ( these mass parts are still being used UP TO NOW even here in Canada).
Again, it was so hard to be leaving my new friends ( the church choir ) in Asingan. Of course, I also grew in faith for God ( what with all those sermons which I heard from the pulpit every Sunday ). But somehow I knew that faith must grow from WITHIN you and to help it grow, one must do good deeds, charitable acts like caring for people ( relatives and non-relatives ) and in short, TRYING to be good. I do not say I became a Saint, far from it. But being good ( check my e-mail address ) is a right way to start..
Adamson U was okay..But then I found out the same Science subjects that bugged me in the College of Engineering of UE..But when I joined the Student Catholic Action of Adamson U, things became less dreadful. I found friends there who are good in music. One was an ex-semanarian, very intelligent and with a wicked sense of humour. I earned their respect when they found out that I was very good in music, and that I was a choir master in Asingan with the skills to organize them into one. I taught them how to sing in 4 voices ( harmony ) . In the middle of the school year, they were able to sing in a noonday Radio Program in a Manila station. We also went caroling one Xmas season. The group sang in 4 voices: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass, thanks to my ability to read music sheets. We sang a concert during the school's Foundation Day, and the list of accomplishments went on and on and on.I was also elected as the President of the Adamson U Student Catholic Action ( I was the President for several years until I graduated )
BUT, my academics suffered..I paid more attention to my extra curriculars. And everyone who went to College knew how tough those Chemistry subjects are..And I selected Chemistry to be my major..
A year or two before graduation, I changed my course to Liberal Arts, major in English Journalism, minor in math and History. I had taken enough math courses which were accepted as units towards graduation. My major subjects became Creative Writing, Feature Writing, A Study of Philippine Literature..Subjects that did not involve books that you have to read over and over. Our Professor was Filipe Lagon, a columnist of the Philippines Free Press.
Engineering Drawing was bad enough for me because you have to use precise drawing instruments to create a Plan ( for example a house plan ) The only thing I was able to do with those intruments was to drop them on the floor or to misplace somewhere in my desk in school or at my boarding place. Soon, I also hated memorizing formulas, elements and all the things I have to learn in Chemistry. Especially in Organic Chemistry where sometimes the formulas are a mile long.
But I never told my Mom anymore about my changing of courses. She would kill me before I have a chance to graduate. But I found joy in writing plus rehearsing the Adamson SCA choir..
In all of my writing courses, I did not have to study hard.. I just wrote whatever topic the Professor brought up. I got very good marks, of course and I did not bust my butt or burn my eyebrows reading books past midnight.
When Adamson University became a Catholic school ( it was bought by the CICM Congregation ) the Student catholic Action (SCA) society became the number 1 school club. It was supported by the CICM Fathers because they wanted students to become good Catholics. And the SCA is helping them ( the Congregation )in this way. As I told earlier, I was the SCA President until I graduated and I spent 90% of my time managing the Association..until graduation Day..When that day came, I was faced with the dilemna of how to tell my Mom I changed my course without her knowing.---#
No comments:
Post a Comment