I was enlisted as a private by my uncle on May 18, 1936. Two other recruits, Felix Edrelin and Juanito Pumikie, were enlisted with me. They were both high school graduates but were older than me, bigger, and taller than me. Our instructor was Sgt. Pedro Bonnol, an ex-PMA cadet. He belonged to the Ifugao […]
1994 Memoir – 40. Bangued Memories – Radio & Phonograph
The first radio in Bangued was owned by the Philippine Constabulary, whose barracks were west of the town plaza. At night time on weekends the radio was placed in front of the barracks, where people could go and hear the ILOCANO NIGHT program. Mg. Susing used to sing in this radio program. Even with […]
1994 Memoir – 25. Dead-End Situation
After my graduation from high school, my father had to continue paying for my graduation suit by installment. It cost only two pesos ($10.00), but the pay of a laborer then was fifty centavos (₱.50) a day. Hence, my suit was worth 20 days’ labor. It took Father around one month to pay the installments […]
1994 Memoir – 23. Chess With Tata Anton
I remember an incident in Tamag, Vigan, Ilan Sur, where Tata Anton was the C.O. of the P.C.Co. there when he got a chess table and chess set and tried to teach me the game. He said that very few people know chess because it is a game played by Kings and rich, prominent people. […]
1994 Memoir – 21. Third Year H.S.
Tata Anton visited us during summer vacation and suggested to Father that I continue my studies in Bayombong Nueva Vizcaya, his new station as Commanding Officer, Philippine Constabulary. He even advanced my fare for Father to repay with sewed slippers I brought with me for his family. I rode a cargo truck from Bangued belonging […]
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 […]