“Progress
is inevitable only
When
we have the will and
Determination
to make it so.”
-
Author, unknown
His
four daughters are now married and all of them have their own families. But, what I am to write are things they do
not know. All daughters were not yet
born when these happened. In fact, the
subject of this story began when he was still young.
He
was born on January 31, 1939. Their
parents were poor. His father was a bus
conductor. His job was not stable. His mother was a plain house wife, but tended
a small variety or ‘sari-sari’ store.
Also, this was not stable. He was
the eldest of six children … all male.
The six and their parents ‘crowded’ in one mosquito net. Their house was a one-room nipa hut. Their kitchen, called dirty kitchen, which
was also an annex was also made of nipa shingles. Their roof, most always leaked and it was
normal that you see thick papers, known as ‘karton’, to prevent rain water from
dropping inside the house. The walls of
the house was also made of ‘salsag’, bamboo made like a flat lumber through a
very sharp bolo. It looked like a wood
board called ‘tabla’. The floor was also
made of bamboo splits and tied securely by ‘rattan.’ You can see the ground through the splits of
the bamboo. Young men used to go under
the house, termed in bicol dialect as ‘naninirip’ and look mischievously at any
young girls above. The floor was at
least a meter or more distance from the ground.
Sometimes, it was there that they took care of their chickens.
He
was born two years before the Japanese Imperial forces launched a surprise
attack at Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii. Since
the Americans had bases in the Philippines, the country was occupied by the
Japanese on December 7, 1941. Other
Asian countries had also the same fate.
Though
poor, he was in good health. He was full
of humor. And, he was full of
smile. He was at least two years old
when the Japanese occupied the country.
He was already seven years old when the Japanese forces surrendered to
the Americans. But, when he reached the
age of nine or ten, he found out that he could not stand or walk.
His
right leg could no longer bend. He felt
excruciating pain in his right leg. A
physician, Dr. Nemecio Belmonte, who lived in his hospital-residence, and just
a stone throw distance from where our subject lived diagnosed him and he said
that the veins of his right leg tightened and had to be operated. But they were poor. They could not afford hospitalization. And, Dr. Belmonte could not operate. It was not his specialization. He also lacked the necessary tools. But, he said he could be operated at the
Camarines Sur Provincial Hospital. The
hospital was at least one hour ride by public transportation. By that time, transportation was still difficult. There were fewer cars then.
He
was not a polio victim. Though, at that
time, there was polio out-break in Samar Island, in the Visayas. Transportation by sea was at least three to
four hours. The last province in Bicol
is Sorsogon. His father was a bus
conductor for Naga, Legaspi City and Sorsogon.
It was a wonder that he was not a victim.
He
suffered too much pain. His uncle,
Tiburcio or Tiboy, was an enlisted man of the AFP. He found out that his nephew was suffering
too much pain. It was he who convinced
his parents that his nephew be brought to the hospital. It was he who paid the hospital. The doctors at the CSPH operated on him. They took at least two or three inches of
veins from his buttocks and transferred the same to his legs.
The
operation was successful. After
recuperation, he returned to school as if nothing happened except that his leg
was one-half inch shorter and smaller compared to the other leg. But he was strong. He was very energetic. He was very good in class. His stamina showed no trace of his
operation. This stamina was shown in
many ways such as the following:
1.
When he
was still young, he and his companions, composed of his two younger brothers,
Virgilio and Romeo using two sticks to produce sound; cousin William and close
relatives Jose ‘JoeFer’ Ferandez and Mario Ferandez Obrero, with harmonica
formed themselves into a singing group called ‘combancheros’ and sung songs in
the neighboring barrio of San Nicholas.
He
was determined to have a close relationship, even at his young age, among young
relatives.
2.
When he
was more than twenty years old, he and his neighbor and close relatives, JoeFer,
for several times, the two climbed the ceiling of the Nabua High School. They used no ladder but the over-sized ‘kabilla’
or round bar which were protruding at the sides of the building. The height of the ceiling was about more or
less 30 feet or as high as a full grown coconut tree. The two gathered piles of ‘ipot sa guano’ or
the wastes of the bats, which lived in the ceiling of the school. These droppings were considered first class
fertilizers. No wonder our vegetable
gardens were producing healthy vegetables.
He was determined to show that if others could do it, he also can.
3.
In the
50’s, there was a very strong typhoon and flood. Flood water was waist-line
deep. He discovered a big snake sleeping
in our wooden box of old shoes. It was
at least 3 to 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter. Then the snake woke up. It swam toward us. My brother saw the danger. The snake must have been from the Nabua High
school which was just in front of us.
With
a long and sharp bolo, my brother killed the snake. It was also during the typhoon when his
forefinger was wounded … slicing it into two.
He just tied the fingers with a clean white cloth. He was trying to open a can of black peas for
our lunch. We have no viand at the
time. Our uncle gave us two canned black
peas. He was a sales agent of black peas
in the region.
4.
When he was strong enough to go on mountain
climbing, he and a close relative, Epifanio Soliven Raynera went to the hills
of Balatan Town to a place called ‘langtad’.
The place was heavily forested and there was no road … not even a foot
path or a trail were usually a carabao pass.
To
reach the place, they had to hold trunks and branches of trees or even tall
grasses. They had to climbed stiff
cliffs, even if with his right foot operated and his right leg shorter than the
other. The healthy Epifanio was behind
him grasping for his breath.
He
was determined to show to everybody that he can do it.
5.
When his younger brother saw how poor they were,
he decided not to enrol in high school.
Instead, he convinced his mother to buy ‘kuskusan’ or ice grater and
they would sell halo-halo. He also stopped
schooling for one year and helped their mother.
His
younger brother took upon himself to apply in the US Navy. Our survey at that time showed that 9 out of
ten houses, have their sons enlisted in the US Navy. He accompanied him to Cavite City. He was never weary waiting for his brother at
the gate of the base. He had only few
pesos in his pocket. He also told us
later that for several times he skipped taking a snack.
He
told us that the longer an applicant gets out of the base … the better. It meant that one passed the examination and
was now a step ahead. He never
complained the whole day even he was under the scourging heat of the sun.
Meanwhile,
the folks in Nabua lighted candles in practically all barrio chapels in the
poblacion or town center and prayed that the applicant pass the examinations.
Accordingly,
when my brother came out of the gate very late afternoon, he had his hair cut
very short and already with a big smile.
It meant he passed all the examinations and was ready to take oath as an
enlisted man of the United States Navy.
Until the end, he was ready to assist any brother towards the family’s
welfare.
6.
Long before his death in 1993 (of heart attack),
he talked earnestly with his cousins notably Diogenes Mesola (US army retired)
about gathering all relatives, a family reunion, in San Ramon, Nabua, Camarines
Sur. He never saw it realized.
But,
in the year 2000, more than 200 relatives came.
Some did not even know they were relatives and saw each other for the
first time. It was considered their
first Family Reunion.
Even
those who were living abroad came. From
then on, the clan gathers every three years, in the place where their known
elders originated. It’s now the 6th
Grand Family Reunion and they look forward to the next family gathering.
My
birthday is January 28. His was January
31. We both love to celebrate our
birthdays together on either birthdates, depending if either is available to
both of us.
He
was determined, to his last breath, to realize the success of her daughters.
My
brother, Avelino.
July, 2014
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