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IN LIFE .......YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL
July 1991...Upon reading from the newspaper that I've passed the Professional Board Examination for Teachers , my parents felt elated about it and suggested that right away , I would pass an application form to the District Office for me to join Teachers' Evaluation and be in. I thought I could rest for sometime, but no choice. The urgency to work was a must because I still have a brother and sister to be sent to College since Mama had already retired before I entered college. Papa was a high school clerk, but during those years his compensation was higher than a Teacher-I in 1991 who only got P3,102.00 once a month.
The Principal who called me up then to report to the office was the benevolent Mr. Carlos R. Rafol. I only was requested to pass my Transcript of Records and applicant's letter, was exempted to show demo lesson, but was asked in front of our now Councillor Sir Vitaliano Macato, Sr. to accept Agtiwa or Campalingo as my first assigned station. I chose the latter cause Agtiwa is I think 52 kilometres away from town would be my first to be away from home. "Natakot pa akong maligawan ng taga-"barrio". Since I preferred Campalingo, I was assigned as a substitute vice Ms. Heidi Rocero, a very good teacher in Grade 1 (the teacher who selected us during her demo. lesson in front of many new and old Teachers when we were in Grade 1. Campalingo is just near from town. Teachers then sometimes were seen riding on a bicycle from San Fernando town, while I took a tricycle though roads then were not rough. In the afternoon, we sometimes walked to town since it took us hours to wait for a tricycle to pass by from Cajidiocan, from Canjalon, or from Azagra.
CAMPALINGO, SAN FERNANDO, ROMBLON
The place where happy, intelligent, and industrious people live was my first loved workplace. However, I just couldn't believe how I was a victim of the big "engkanto" staying in the big tree adjacent to our room according to "manang" who's an expert of throwing out unseen spirits. 'Twas a weird experience, but since I don't really believe those unseen beings, I let it pass, but with a great fear to teach that the "enganto" would be seeing me every time I taught these little kids from Ms. Rocero's room. It vacated to the late Mrs. Paciencia Banzuelo's room coz the latter was scheduled for a medication. I enjoyed teaching little kids, yet I found it hard to apply what I had been learning from college because books' ratio wasn't 1:1.We produced instructional materials instead thru charts. Camaraderie among co-teachers was evident. They guided me being new in teaching profession. Mare Elca, Mare Chit, and Mare Zeny lifted my spirit and were among my favourites. When I bought viands, I ate with Mrs. Perla Aguilar and Mrs. Lily Rugas. The late Sir Renato Menrige was a kind Principal so there's really no pressure those times. Teachers during our time were good followers as well as competent leaders and when birthdays were being celebrated, we ate on a beautiful nipa cottage beside Grade six rooms. We had fun!
Graduation ceremony ended my first 3-months in teaching as a substitute in Campalingo Central School where I happened to hear my lovely classmate the Comelec Registrar Mrs. Imelda Banzuelo-Rotoni giving a profound graduation speech. I was happy for her.
After the mid-year break I got another appointment as a Regular Permanent Teacher - 1 which almost surprised me because the place was so far from home.
AGTIWA, SAN FERNANDO, ROMBLON
The place where you could find peace, appreciate God's gifts thru its beautiful sunset, inviting seashore, serene virgin forests and mountains, but most of all people who are thoughtful and true. No kidding. On that place, I got many friends around. Got the chance to stay as an adopted teacher by Mr. & Mrs. Vitaliano Macato, Sr. Their so friendly children accommodated and welcomed me as part of the family. Before the setting of the sun, they used to tag along with me to the seashore to collect sea shells. We played many things before guarding "beta max viewers at night.
There were no DVDs, computer games those years in Sibuyan yet. I only walked to school in the morning. In the afternoon, some parents, shared their "doma" with me and when I went back home during weekends, they gave me "pabaon" - mostly chicken, seedless big papayas, or root crops, like gabi, cassava , or ube. I went home in town on Fridays, but when the weather wasn't fine, I stayed there. I stayed most of the time on the seashore viewing the beautiful sunset. It was the place I couldn't forget because during my stay from Agtiwa centre to Tsailan I almost got to beautiful places and found solace in the house of the Mayors and the mountains of Agtiwa where one of mama's nephews has a house at the upper part overlooking the sea and where one of my "inaanak sa kasal" who stays higher gave me pairs of love birds. I saw how people lived then in the mountains while having a siesta after which they ate a very yummy merienda. Putong cassava in bao wit sweet coconut inside was a favourite native delicacy /snack in 1992.We climbed mountains to buy as many as we can. So delicious, indeed!
People in Agtiwa were thoughtful in the sense that when you arrive in school, parents would bring you something to make you feel welcome and part of the community. Aside from Nong Vital and Aunt Lorna, (who even accommodated in their house myx- suitor and his friends) despite my inattentiveness, served them a hearty meal which those guys won't forget), Nong Sam Aunty Fanene, and the rest of my co-teachers, I couldn't forget the two "magkumares in the persons of Aunt Liberty Mayor and aunt Modeng Merano, a catechist in our school who brought pieces of native delicacy for me, while Aunt Liberty delivered buko and pina for my family. From time to time we rented Beta tapes from Aunt Modeng and because I was so kind to her too, I got discounts.
Agtiwa's chapel was pretty cute that time, yet many religious people solemnly attended mass celebrations. This time it maybe was improved already coz I was informed by a close kumare that they seek for financial assistance from one of our batch mate's hubby, a business enthusiast form Pasig and Ampid. Agtiwa Central School Teachers have strong personality. I got my strength from them especially when things ran out of control. Agtiwa was a memorable place for many reasons. I used to join many activities in and out of school during my stay out there like being with the Priests and Mr. Tansiongco to organize Cooperatives in Romblon, attended seminars in Manila, Odiongan, and Cavite. Mostly the arrangement was internal, but at times I was caught not in my workplace the reason for me to be called my now dear friend Ma'am Rutor. Of course, Uncle Monding Rafol was always ready to rescue and support my reasons and activities. I always won. Thanks.
When I had time to stay during weekends in town, I could hardly be seen at home. Mama knew it that my shelter was the church. Sometimes, I walked to Busay Falls, Cantinggas River, and visited Christ in the mountain to unwind. Busay falls by the way is just few kilometres away from the house .A very cold place and a superb falls, while Cantinggas River at this time is still quite enchanting with its wonderful heavy current and mountain slopes.
The diving board as I had last seen it on April, 2007 was already concrete so divers could easily jump as high as they can without reservations. Cottages were built to shelter "barkadas", visitors for a gimmik or videoke bonanza. During summer, you cannot appreciate the river well coz its dry season, but still, the cold river will make you chill. Careful, stones down under are slippery and the current is strong. You still can be pushed even if you gain weight.
Christ in the Mountain (name created by Brother Nono Molo, a good friend, too) was popular in 1995 coz of its Lagting falls. In 1994-1995, it was so hard to get down the falls cause of slippery land. But at this time, it's already passable because improvements were made.
Nice place to for visitors. Parang Prayer Mountain in Antipolo City. Good place for meditation. You also can view Sibuyan Sea from above.
I worked for 5 years in San Fernando, Romblon. I never did go home after 1996 except when my kids were in trouble and Papa died. In life, you can't have it all there. There were many good things, yet bad things happened as well. My early marriage at age 22 made me forget those good things in life, but I did not regret because I chose to be married for many different reasons, too. I was a free lady with only one dream (that remains to be seen).I can do anything under the sun, everything from A-Z...The trouble was I wasn't prepared to be a wife , certainly I wasn't so I felt different. I got excess responsibilities which I thought were easy .I deprived myself from social gathering and I was never the same happy fellow before I ran into married life. Secondly, I got a second family culture shocked. My hubby was a favourite both by seniors and young citizens and I was the envy of his many childhoods, high school and college sweethearts. I got hidden enemies because he chose me to be part only part of his life. To be told later that I did not use my brain, but my HEART was in-tolerable.
Many things went wrong so I left Sibuyan after I passed the competitive exams, neurotest, and interview in Division of City Schools in Manila. I was studying then a Mater's degree units when a former college classmate encouraged me to transfer. Very timely for the post that was offered to me to San Fernando Central School to be the Girl Scout Coordinator was retracted to give way to my batch mate who is the nice of my former Principal. No regrets, for I owed my first teaching from him. Besides, I already decided to transfer when the assignment was retracted.
I left Sibuyan for good though it's hard for me to leave far from my family. I focused instead much on my studies, and teaching profession to escape aggravation and humiliation. The humiliation ran deeper when something unexpected transpired in 2003.The end of life for many, BUT NEVER FOR ME. But those places I left and had been part of my life would always be remembered.
Sibuyan, most particularly San Fernando and its barrios have many wondrous places. You can discover many things in the mountains. You can share many things to visitors every time you visit Sibuyan. Its waterfalls, rivers, orchids, Guiting-Guiting, Narra, nito crafts , mountains, beaches who are seldom visited, but inviting will surely capture the visitors' and "balikbayans' hearts. It's a paradise that we won't want any one to touch, explore, and excavate for destruction. If Indonesia has the finest Bali, we have "Paraiso" in Sibuyan.
The present controversial activity that was ceased for the meantime may continue again. If so, San Fernando, Romblon's wondrous places would never be the same again as I have seen it before. Hope that Task Force Kalikasan would be always ready to guard our environment...In life you can't have it all. In Sibuyan, Romblon most especially in San Fernando, Romblon you can have it all. It's a paradise. A heavenly shelter that needs an abrupt PROTECTION AND CARE. We can forget those bad memories, cruel attitudes of only bad fellows, but we can never forget Sibuyan..." Mahalin natin ito."
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