“Even
things that take as little as 30 seconds make big differences. …When we spend
our time doing those simple ‘little things’ for other people, we create a
win/win situation and both parties benefit” (Zig Ziglar. You Can Reach The Top. p. 87).
The Good Lord provided me the
opportunity to revisit the past in my hometown in Baybay, Leyte last November
23-27, 2012. A renewal of friendship
happened and my circle of newfound friends expanded.
The series of exciting encounters
started in the boat when a co-passenger helped me locate my cot simply next to
his. Beyond my wildest expectation,
Romualdo “Ondoskie” Rabanos, Sr. gladly greeted me. He was my unforgettable and most cherished
elementary classmate. We were overjoyed to
bring back the happy memories we have 44 years ago. Pleasantries were exchanged and I labeled
him, “a man of success”. He is a
fulfilled family man with only one (1) supportive wife (Catechist coordinator
of the Holy Family Parish, Maguikay, Mandaue City) co-creating 7 grown-up
children most of them are professionals already. Two (2) of his elder sons have families of
their own making him a grandpa like me.
In a span of 7-sailing hours, we had only the remaining hour for a nap
before the boat docked.
At 3:00 a.m. in the bus terminal, we
took a refreshment of hot chocolate and “puto”.
We met the bus dispatcher who was too excited to receive my calling card. “Treasure hunting? Connect with…”, being its
‘catch phrase’ caught his interest. He
is literally into gold exploration in his own land.
Among the early bus passengers were 3
lovely ladies who are Lhuillier employees in Cebu City. I was overwhelmed knowing
that we had a similar destination and common purpose to attend a wedding in the
afternoon in Caridad, the largest northern and border barangay of Baybay City.
Riva, Yen and Giselle readily accepted to bring the bridal bouquet prepared by
Judy for the bride, Grace Lyn, their officemate and close friend. Of the 3 ladies, I was attracted and
interested with the latter being a ‘creative writer’ to learn and improve my
‘reflective writing’. They simply made my early morning free. Ondoskie and I
parted ways with the promise of a lunch date at his rest house the following
day (Nov 25). Before proceeding home, I attended
the 5:00 am Holy Mass officiated by the Immaculate Conception Parish priest on
the occasion of his 65th birthday.
After the Mass, I briefly greeted my “kompare” scheduled to attend a
court hearing that morning who was also one of the boat passengers. In my own “little way”, I wished him luck.
My “big time” rest and freedom from
daily routine was primarily brought about by Marilyn “Inday” Caylo-Go. She is
my facebook friend. In one of my tagged photos (Oct 13, 2012), she commented to
visit me at home. I was puzzled but
thrilled by her intention considering that with her family, she is residing in Calamba,
Misamis Occidental. I was excited and greatly honored when she singled me out
as one of the principal sponsors during the wedding of their second daughter. Beforehand, I visited the couple to be
married. In the process, I met and
renewed friendship with Jose Mar “Loloy” Caylo and his family. Loloy is the elder brother of Inday. He was my co-cadet of the Reserve Officers
Training Corps (ROTC) 40 years ago. We
were too delighted to recall and reconnect where we left off. Very memorable was our own version of the
“budol-budol” (military style of eating with bare hands with all the food
displayed in the table). We called our
group of cadets to attention at mealtime with, “pasaw!”. All the cooked food that included rice, root
crops, mixture of vegetables from the food production areas left by the Visayas
Agricultural College (VAC) students were poured in a large basin associated
with a blessing of thanksgiving then eating with bare hands. Some cadets from the Franciscan College of
the Immaculate Conception (FCIC),
Baybay, Leyte opted to stay with me in my nipa hut in the VAC campus. They were my schoolmates during our high
school days at FCIC. These “little things” happened every time we were on whole
day weekend ROTC trainings in preparation for the annual tactical
inspections. FCIC and VAC cadets joined
as one (1) ROTC Unit.
To reseal the bond of friendship with
Loloy Caylo and his family, I brought him 2 grafted ‘apple mangoes’ that he
readily planted in their front and backyard. I commented that if we should have
met earlier with our more than 2 decades of residence in Cebu, these “little
trees” should have been bearing fruits already.
And, he could have been a brother with BCBP. Well, nothing is too late. His wife, Rose is an executive in the Norkis
Group of Companies, co-employee of Vangie Incorporado (wife of Allan). The Incorporado couple serves as our action
group leader in the group where we are newly assigned in the Consolacion BCBP
Chapter. Our brotherhood goes beyond
BCBP because together we acted as principal sponsors of the newly wedded couple
among the 16 couples lined-up.
There was renewal of friendship with
Dr. & Mrs. Efren Saz and Dr. Eunice Beray and her husband Noel, who were my
previous co-workers in the academe. My
circle of friends expanded with my co-sponsors especially with my partner, Mrs.
Reynenila Arbis. I hitch-hiked with them
towards the venue of the reception and in the process knew her husband who is
an electrical engineer. Both are active
members of the Couples for Christ (CFC) in Ormoc City.
In that wedding occasion, I was amazingly mystified to revisit the Church where I was baptized in 1955. Moreover, I reconnected with College barkadas, Giling and Ven Bartolini, the parents of the groom, Gliven. Both are teachers in the locality who are also active in their Parish Church.
During that vacation at night time and dawn, I noticed that my Tatay Damaso was disturbed by nightmares. He revealed that he had been dreaming of close friends and neighbors in Mantahan, Maasin, So.Leyte who are already dead. I told him that they simply ask for his prayers. It triggered my decision to visit my second hometown. In the van, I pitied a septuagenarian woman among the passengers who was newly operated on their way for hospitalization in Maasin Provincial Hospital. Sensing their financial need and in my “little way”, I handed them a small amount.
In Maasin City during lunch in a carenderia,
3 barangay officials fondly joined me in the table I occupied. Our “little chit chat”, provided me the opportunity
to recall an unforgettable high school classmate 42 years ago in St. Joseph
College. In my delight, I offered to pay
our “ala-McSavers” meal. We were
astonished and glad to know each other with the Lord and BCBP as the subject of
our conversation. The Honorable Romy
Aguilar, Barangay Captain of Manhilo, Maasin City claimed that my “little nod
and smile” prompted them to freely join me without reservation. That “simple gesture” was the key to that
newfound friendship. They invited me to
visit their barrio anytime especially during their Santo Niňo fiesta this January. Handing-in my calling card, they assured me
to link with my high school classmate.
It was refreshing and reinvigorating
to revisit my past in Mantahan where I grew up as a kid and teenager. A dynamic interaction happened between
Braulio “Loloy” Montederamos and me. He
was one of my childhood neighbors and playmates who is now a BCBP brother in
Maasin Chapter. I visited Mana Flor
Orias, the first counselor of the barangay counsel. She is a pro-life advocate who also serves as
“comadrona” to readily assist poor mothers in giving birth. My short visit with them was a “little thing”
that certainly made a difference in our “journey” while still on earth.
The remaining day was spent at home
for a fellowship with my younger brother and only sister with their respective
family members. A few friends and relatives with our septuagenarian father were
around. Being old, Tatay did not join to drink with us the several galloons of
“tuba”. Unexpectedly, a relative
revealed that he was the complainant in a tenancy case filed against the
respondent from Cebu who is my “kompare” above-mentioned. I readily did the “little thing” of listening
from his side. Generally, there was an
atmosphere of camaraderie. Praise the Lord, everyone enjoyed our “small party”.
When I was about to leave in the
evening to catch-up with the boat to depart for Cebu at 8:00 pm, Tatay
requested me a few minutes to spend with him.
He expressed repentance over his irresponsibility as a father to
me. When I joined the BCBP 18 years ago,
my past with him was a “case-closed”.
However, he remorsefully opened the issue that very moment. My sad memories with him were vividly and
multi-dimensionally re-viewed. I was awakened
from a “deep sleep”. Painful experiences re-emerged. His emotional abuses and economic exploitations
for my being “selfless” were relived.
Having renewed my faith through the BCBP, I readily embraced him in forgiveness. I said, “You may now rest in peace!”. What I mean is, he can now sleep deeply and soundly. He requested me to relay the same remorsefulness to Judy but I told him that the Lord will provide the way for him to do it personally.
I treasure an unforgettable positive experience
with him. It was when he handed me the
book, Philippine Prose and Poetry as
a gift upon my graduation in elementary.
Bidding good-bye and placing his right
hand in my forehead, I finally left. I
was accompanied and sent-off by my sister, Jessica with her daughter,
Lyca. Walking a distance of about 50
meters away, repentant that he maybe, he pleadingly cried out in an echoing
loud voice, “Dong!!!”. Being the corps
commander that I was (ViSCA ROTC Unit SY 1975-76), I shouted back with a
command of execution. In that instant, a
flashback came to my mind. I pictured our
relatives walking back home in that same location. My father shouted at them unforgivably for
the offense committed against him. The offender
is already dead. I don’t know whether
they were reconciled before the death of the said relative. This ordeal happened in an early morning many
years ago. Now, with the same scenario
with me, it occurred in an early evening.
We requested my sister to look after the
house in Mandaue City during our absence after Christmas when we scheduled a
year-end thanksgiving party in the farm.
I learned from her a considerable reduction of the nightmares of Tatay.
The first reunion of the children and
grandchildren of the late Mr. & Mrs. Fulgencio Perez was conducted together
with the farm workers last December 30.
For me, it was a great success. I
acknowledge the major contribution of our BCBP Consolacion brother/sister:
Vincent and Haydee Chan. They shared 8
bags full of packed rice, canned goods and noodles being distributed to our
farmers.
Both the “primary and secondary
stewards” in “Kalubian ni Lolo” enjoyed a lot.
We hope to conduct similar bonding activities for the coming years to
build pleasant memories and harmonious working relationships in the farm. The sumptuous meal; the distribution of
Christmas gifts tirelessly wrapped by Judy and her younger sister, Precious;
the fun-filled parlor games facilitated by our children and the pre/post activities
could be “small things”. But, those
“little things” were made “great” with a Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Rev.
Fr. Euselito Tulipas. He is the
designated Formator of Seminaryo Mayor de San Carlos and close family
friend. Indeed, it was a meaningful and
glorious homecoming on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Holy Family.
In closing, we are reminded “You become great by doing small things in
a great way” (Zig Ziglar, America’s No. 1 Motivator). In the same manner, the Gospel according to
St. Luke reveals, “Whoever can be
trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Lk 16:10). nmg
[1]
Text of the recent edition of the “story of the Lord” in my life delivered
during the men’s breakfast fellowship of BCBP Consolacion Chapter in Junie’s at
Insular Square, Mandaue City on January 12, 2013.
