One day while visiting Pat and her mother in a boarding house opened by them in Azcarraga near U.E. (University of the East), I asked if she had already enrolled in school. She said, “Not yet, because Mother has not yet sold her sewing machine.” I asked for her report card. She had just finished […]
Sixth Anniversary of Jose Sibayan, Sr’s Death
My grandfather fulfilled his final life goal six years ago and went to heaven. He was a small man, but a towering figure in my life and I miss him every day. This blog keeps him close to me and I love seeing his life through his eyes. It reminds me of his sense of humor […]
1994 Memoir – 8. My Mother: “Toyang” or “Idot
“Nanang” was called by relatives as TOYANG, for Victoriana, and by friends or neighbors as “IDOT” for “pinidot.” Pinidot because when she was young she was very sickly and no amount of medicine could cure her. A faith healer suggested that she be thrown elsewhere to be picked up by somebody and rename her IDOT. […]
History of My Life (1990) Part 12 – Baptism, Pat, Maria
As a child, I understood Heaven to be where God and his saints and angels are found, up in the sky beyond the clouds, “beyond the blue yonder.” But when I rode the plane up beyond the clouds, I did not meet St. Peter or any angel up there. Where could Heaven really be? The […]
History of My Life (1990) Part 11 – Back In Bangued (1934-1935)
In order to continue my studies in H.S., I had to work and earn my money for matriculation and tuition fees. Father’s slipper making business slowed down following my mother’s death. I joined the Public Works Road Gang earning P0.45 or less than $0.25, a quarter of a dollar a day. I was the only […]
History of My Life (1990) Part 10 – Life In Bayombong, N.V.
As a third year student in the New Nueva Vizcaya Vocational H.S., with a new name and new classmates, I felt embarrassed when, during the first day roll call, I failed to respond when my new name was called until our teacher included my second name, Sibayan. I blushed as everyone turned towards me not […]