Every school teacher had a symbol of authority, the meter-long bamboo stick! It served the purpose of pointing at a pupil to stand up and recite or answer questions, to wake up a sleepy student, to punish an erring student, and to point at objects or things on the blackboard. At that time the policy […]
1994 Memoir – 15. Early School Experiences
I was enrolled in school at the early age of 5 although 7 was the required age for first grade enrollment. Tony was also enrolled at the age of 5, or rather started being brought to school by our first grade (Apt. tenant) teacher, who called him “saling posa,” then included his name in her […]
1994 Memoir – 14. Early Primitive Life As a Kid
Diseases and Medicines On account of so many fleas, bed bugs, lice, and ants, we always had infected wounds on our legs, causing skin disease. Very rare was a boy or girl in our town who did not suffer skin lesions or disease on his or her leg. I for one had many. I used […]
1994 Memoir – 13. Pre School Life and Out-of-School Life
As small kids, we did not have toys to play with. Hence, we made our toys from clay, the mud we dug from the street. We made figurines of persons, animals, birds, fish, houses, and furniture. With the use of sticks, leaves, fibers, and stones we molded stoves, pots, pans, and cakes in our game […]
1994 Memoir – 12. Orphan’s Song
After I married Pat I stopped dreaming of Mother. But I had a mournful song called: GANTA TI ULILA (Orphan’s song): IDI PAYLA UBIÑGAK NI INAK INULILANAK (When I was young I became orphan) ITAN TA DOMAKELAK SAPOLEA DEYDI INAK (Now that I am big I looked for mother) AWAN TI MAKA AMMO NO SADINNUTI […]
1994 Memoir – 11. Mother’s Personality
Just like my father, Mother was a very strict disciplinarian. She would not spare a pinch on the siñgit (groin or inner part of the upper leg) if we did not behave. Very often it was on account of my constant fighting with Elix that we were punished. We were like cats and dogs. If […]