Kwento ng Bayang Sawi

Tulad ng sinulat ni Rizal na pabula na "Ang Matsing at ang Pagong ,sumulat din ako ng kwentong pambata para sa aking mga apo at sa kanila ring mga apo na pinamagatan kong,"Si Pah-gong-gong at si Mah tsing-kit".

Nang kasagsagan ng man-made pandemic disease, ang banal na aso na si Pah-gong-gong na humihimod sa puwit ng kanyang poong makapal na si Mah-tsing-kit, ay kumumpas sa kanyang mga santong kabayo, na agad namang pumadyak, sumipa at humalinghing .Kanilang pinaikot at pinasayaw sa saliw ng lumang tugtugin na pinatunog sa sirang plaka, ang mga pulgas ni Pah-gong-gong habang sinusupalpal sa kanilang bunganga, mata at tainga ang mga karumaldumal at nakasusulasok na kasinungalingan, fake news at mga pambobola. Sa kakapadyak at kakasipa ng mga santong kabayo, kanilang natapakan ,tinadyakan, nayurakan at nadurog ang ibang mga nilalang sa paligid. Ngunit wala silang pakialam dahil sunod lang sila nang sunod sa kumpas ng kanilang sinasambang banal na aso. Hilung-hilo, lango at lupasay na sa kaiikot at kasasayaw ang mga pulgas, ngunit hindi sila makatigil dahil marubdob ang kanilang pananalampataya nadadalhin sila ng kanilang panginoong banal na aso sa kaluwalhatian at makaulayaw nila ang kanilang mahal na poong makapal .

Kung kailan sila mahimasmasan, marahil, sa muling pagpakita ng Haley's comet sa sanlibutan.

Ang Alamat ng Pinaslang na Kalayaan

     Nanood ako sa teleradyo ng mock hearing ukol sa franchise renewal ng ABSCBN. Ang komitiba na nag-conduct ng hearing ay binubuo ng public moralist but private scoundrel,"How much is that doggie in the window?" Kristianong galit sa krus, pseudo-patriot na walang galang sa simbolo ng bayan, ipokritong nationalist na tinatakwil ang kapwa Pilipino at pinaangkin sa ibang bansa, mucho dinerong nagbabalatkayong makamasa at secret oligarch na nagkukunwaring environmentalist.
     Kanilang inusig, binastos, ininsulto, inakusahan at tinratong parang hardened criminal ang mga taga-ABS-CBN. Vulgar, impolite walang modo at malicious ang kanilang pananalita.
     Ang mga viewers na medyo kapus sa kaalaman sa batas at legalities, may kahinaan sa English, ang mga produkto ng mass promotion-continuous progression policy ng paaralan sa panahon ni Marcos, at ang mga kulang sa isang kilo ang utak, ay hanganghanga sa brilliance ng mga  taga-usig at bilib na bilib sa kanilang mga argumento na hinabing kasinungalingan at binaluktot na katuwiran.
     Alam ng kumitiba ang totoo at tama ngunit sadyang binaligtad nila ang mga katuwiran, at nilinlang ang publiko sa paniniwalang lahat ng Pilipino ay bobo at kayangkaya nilang lokohin. Iyong mga intelehente naman ay natatawa, nakukutya at nasusuklam sa pangkat ng mga "honorables" kuno, na mistulang mga huwad na propeta sa makabagong panahon. Sinagot ng mga taga-ABS CBN ang lahat ng mga paratang sa kanila nang buong tapang, tapat, galang, hinahon, at may professional ethics, may integrity beyond reproach at sa high level and  intellectual argument. They carried on their elucidation of the issues with decorum. Polite at courteous ang kanilang pananalita _demeanor of a  well-educated, refined, and a thorough bred person.

     Pinatotohanan ng iba't-ibang ahensya tulad ng BIR, DOLE, DOJ, SEC, DFA, BI at iba pa na cleared at walang violations ang ABS CBN, ngunit binalewala sila ng kumitiba. Ito ay malaking insulto at pagpapahiya sa mga naturang ahensya dahil pinagmukha silang mga sinungaling, hindi mapaniwalaan, hindi mapagkatiwalaan at hindi alam ang kanilang trabaho.
     Nang ideklara ng kumitiba na panalo sila sa lutong macau na botohan sa mock hearing na ipasara ang ABS CBN, nagbunyi ang mga kampon, mga alipuris at mga pulgas nila. Nagdasal ako na sana tumanda hanggang sandaang taon 'yong 70 upang masaksihan nila ang karma sa kanilang mga anak at mga apo ng 11,000 families na kanilang ginutom. At sana, bahaginan din nila ang 11, 000 ng ayuda mula sa kanilang CDF na galing sa bilyones na buhis na binayad ng ABS CBN na ikinabundat nila at sana bigyan nila kaagad ng trabaho ang 11, 000 na nawalan ng hanapbuhay.
     By the way, ayon sa nanay ko noon, ang angkan ng mga Lopez ay Ilongo na "born with the silver spoon in their mouth". Hindi nakaw ang kanilang yaman. Ang hari ng Espanya ang nag-award sa kanilang ninuno  ng  encomienda bilang gantimpala sa kanilang mahusay na pamamahala sa teretoryo. Inalagaan ito at pinalago ng kanilang mga heredero. Hindi nila winaldas at inabuso ang kanilang mana. Isinabuhay nila ang pagka Kristiano. Mapagkawanggawa sila at hindi mapang-api. Ni  ayaw nilang tawaging Don Donya, Senyor o Senyorito, kundi Toto at Inday dahil ayaw nilang tratohing panginoon, kundi mga kasamahan. Ang sinumang tumatawag sa mga Lopez na corrupt, mangilabot sila!

Tribute to the Teacher Named Jovita

(On her birthday, February 8)

I do not know whether words alone are enough to make one believe. Trustingly, however I am expressing some lines, each with a life of thought that may serve to make one know this person, Jovita ,better. I wish to relive on the pages of the passing time some series of events in her life which have been left under the care of the years behind; fragments of her life that echoed her joys and pains ,her adventures and misadventures as a teacher and as a person as a whole.

This lady celebrates her birthday in the month of February, the advent of spring season , the time when the birds begin to sing their love songs. Being born under the sign of Aquarius, the strength of her character is like the current of water. She is very firm in her convictions, very original in her ideas, very determined and not easily swayed by others. As her name denotes, she is affable, jolly and good-natured, maybe by sheer coincidence or by destiny.

But Jovita is a neglected name in the calendar of promoted teachers. By irony of fate, she was not accorded with a distinguishing rank of a master in the arts of teaching, but I personally pay tribute to her great concern for the education of the children who had been entrusted under her tutelage. I did not have a chance to interview her lately, but then ten years or so of being with her in one school are more than enough for me to be able to stand witness to her quality as a teacher

In a classroom packed with more or less 55 pupils, that come in different shapes and sizes_ two sets of twins that keep on exchanging seats to confuse the teacher, a retarded who keeps popping her saliva, making her seatmate complain to the teacher from time to time about the droplets of saliva sprinkling her face, the over aged bully who poisoned her goldfish in the aquarium with pepper (katumbal koritot), the truant who skinned the electric wire of her electric fan, the non- reader who urinates in his seat, and the deaf mute who brings his pet snake (managwati) ,tied on the neck inside the classroom and ties it on the leg of his chair, causing screams and shrieks of his classmates, _ there ,in their midst, stands Jovita ,sturdy as a narra tree ,in her unswerving advocacy to deliver the young from ignorance.

I have seen how she patiently coached her weak pupils individually during the hours when she was supposed to be free and relaxed. I have heard her from the adjacent room which is my own classroom, how she tirelessly reviewed the past lessons over and over until they gained permanence in the children’s slow-reacting minds. As a matter of fact, I tried to imitate her repetitive instruction because I envied her great capacity for patience and perseverance.

Jovita also possesses an inherent talent to transfer words into action, making her the best trainer for English declamation in the school. Many pupils love and admire her as a teacher. They remember her as a very proficient teacher. She has indeed left tracks of her unselfish services in the school where she spent the best years of her life.

As a person, Jovita is very hard-working, frugal, honest, practical and sensible. As a friend, she is sincere, loyal and frank. She is very thoughtful, caring and helpful .Once she is your friend, you have found a treasure to keep because she will love ,like and defend you all the way. But once you happen to be her enemy, she will be your worst nightmare. Daw nakaku-ot kaw kang linti sa pasok! You will curse the day your paths have crossed.

At one time someone remarked: “Idol mo gid si Vita bah!” I answered, “Yes! because I likened her to ‘the little boat that refused to sink ‘, in spite of being beaten and battered by the raging storm and turmoil in the rough seas of life. At the face of crises, she is the kind of person who could remain stoic as a Spartan mother.”

In the field of teaching, those who know her very well, can justly say that “Jovita Tangente” is a name to be highly regarded.

Ang Flores de Mayo kag Santacrusan

Ang bulak simbolo sang kaputli , katahum kag paglaum.Ang mga bulak nga ginahalad kay Birhen Maria nga amo ang ginakabig nga reyna sang kabulakan ginatawag nga “Flores de Maria”.

Ginahiwat ang paghalad sang mga bulak kay Birhen Maria bilang pagsunod sa ginhimo sang tatlo ka bata nga sanday Jacinta, Francisco kag Lucia didto sa Fatima, banwa nga sakop sang pungsod Portugal. Nangin batasan sang tatlo ka bata nga samtang nagapangahoy, nagpanguha man sila sang mga bulak nga ilahas kag ginhalad sa Birhen Maria. Sang ika-13 sang Mayo, tuig 1917, nagpakita sa ila ang Birhen sa una nga kahigayunan. Ginpangayo sang Birhen sa ila nga padayunon ang pagdebosyon sa iya kag ang pagpangamuyo sang mga tao para sa kaluwasan sang bug-os nga kalibutan.

Gindala sang mga pari nga Catolico sa Pilipinas ang tradisyon sang “Flores de Maria”agud mahagad ang mga kabataan sa simbahan kag makilala kag higugmaon ang Birhen Maria bilang iloy kag modelo sugod pa sa linghod nga pangidaron. Paagi man ini nga makabaton sila sang Catecismo kag mawili sa simbahan kag mahilayo sa mga malain nga buluhaton.

Sa katapusan sang Mayo ginaprusisyon ang Mahal nga Birhen kag ginaupdan sang mga dalaga nga nagarepresentar sang lainlain nga titulo sang Birhen Maria nga ginpatungod sa iya suno sa ginamitlang sa litaniya. Ini nga mga dalaga ginatawag nga mga “Birhenes”.

Kadungan sa selebrasyon sang “Flores de Maria”amo ang “Santa Cruz de Mayo” o Santakrusan. Ini ang paghanduraw kay Reyna Elena kag kay Rey Constantino sang Roma. Suno sa kasaysayan, si Constantino nga isa ka pagano nakakita sang nagadabdab nga krus sa kalangitan samtang nagapakadto sa patag-awayan. Sa idalum sang amo nga krus, nabasahan niya ang nakasulat sa Griyego nga mga tinaga nga, "Sa sini nga timaan, ikaw magadaog”. Nagdaog siya sa inaway kag nakonbertir siya sa pagka-Kristiyano. Iya ginhimo ang Kristiyanismo nga relihiyon sang iya ginharian kag ginpalapnag ini sa bug-os nga estado.

Ang iya iloy nga si Reyna Elena pirme ginatublag sang isa ka damgo nahanungod sa krus nga ginlansangan kay Kristo. Gani, upod sa iya anak nga si Constantino kag pila ka mga hangaway,iya ginpangita ang balaan nga krus sa Kalbaryo. Iya ini gindala sa Roma kon sa diin ginhamtang sang obispo sa Basilika.

Sa Pilipinas, ang Santakrusan ginapangunahan ni Reyna Elena, upod kay Rey Constantino, ang obispo kag ang iban pa nga mga reyna nga maisog nga nagpangapin kag nagpalapnag sang Kristiyanismo,katulad nanday Reyna Isabel,Reyna Esther kag Judith.

Ang “Flores de Maria kag Santa Cruz de Mayo” mga selebrasyon sang Simbahan Catolico nga nagapahanumdum sa bug-os nga kalibutan sang papel ni Birhen Maria bilang iloy sang Dios, iloy naton tanan kag modelo sang mga kababaehan. Nagapadumdum man ini sang importansya sang mga babae sa kaluwasan sang mga kataohan kag mga kapungsoran.

Constantine the Great and St. Helena

Constantine I, (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus), surnamed “the Great” the first Christian emperor of Rome, was born in Naisaus, Upper Moesia (now Serbia) between 274-280 A.D. He was the son of Constantius I and Flavia Helena.

In 312 A.D., on the eve of the battle of the Melvian Bridge,near Rome, Constantine is said to have had the vision to which he attributed his conversion to Christianity. According to the historian, Eusebius, Constantine beheld a fiery cross in the heavens beneath which was written in Greek, “By this sign, thou shalt conquer”. According to Lactantius, however, Constantine had a dream telling him to place the Greek monogram representing Christ (a combination of letter X and P) upon the shields of his soldiers. Whatever the inspiration for the legend, the fact remains that on the following day, Constantine was victorious and as a symbol of victory, he adopted the monogram for his labarum (imperial standard). In 313 A.D., Constantine published the Edict of Milan,granting freedom of religion in the Empire and establishing Sunday as a day of worship. Starting that same year,and for ten years, Constantine governed the Empire together with his brother -in -law, Licinius, but in 323 A.D.,however,Constantine attacked Licinius,allegedly because of the latter’s persecution of the Christians. Licinius was put to death. Constantine became the sole emperor of Eastern and Western Europe and his reign was largely a period of peace.

Constantine’s reign marks a turning point in European history, for he is in a large measure responsible for the fact that Christianity became the dominant religion in the western world. He encouraged the growth of the Christian Church and took an active interest in its development. He convened the Council of Nicaea to formulate Christian doctrine and personally directed much of its work. He consolidated the Roman Empire and his decrees were based on the moral tenets of Christianity.

Seven years after the death of Helena, Constantine died at the age of 57. he died in Achyrona, a suburb of Nicomedea, on May 21,337 A.D. while preparing for a war against the Persians. He was baptized on his deathbed.

St. Helena (250-330)_mother of Constantine. Constantius abandoned her , but Constantine remained loyal to her. When Constantius died in 306, Constantine who succeeded him,summoned Helena to the imperial court,conferred on her the title of Augusta and had coins minted which bore her effigy. After the victory of Constantine in 312, Helena followed her son’s example and became converted to Christianity.Her influence and piety did much to spread the faith,and she built many churches in the West. In spite of her advanced age,she then traveled to Palestine and founded churches near the place of the nativity of Jesus at Bethlehem and on the Mount of the Ascension near Jerusalem. These activities gave rise to the tradition that she discovered the true Cross buried under the hill of Calvary. She was also widely revered for her munificent gifts to the individuals and communities alike.

In 327, Constantine decreed that his mother’s birthplace, Drepanum, be called Helenapolis, and it was about this time that Helena returned from Palestine to join her son who was then living in the eastern part of the empire. She died about 330 A D. at the age of 80 years old and was buried in the imperial vault of the Church of the Apostles at Constantinople (Istanbul). Her remains were presumably transferred to the Abby of Hauterilliers, near Rheims in 849. From the moment of her death, she was venerated as a saint, and devotion to her spread to the western parts Her feast day falls on August 18.

The life of Constantine the Great and St. Helena shows to us the example of how a child treasures and honors the person called MOTHER.

References: One World : Old and New _by Teodoro Agoncillo : and _ Colliers Encyclopedia

The Untold Love Story of Josie and Butch

Once upon a high school day, there was a teenage love that blossomed through the spur of a song. It happened on a Linggo ng Wika program when a young girl who was a sophomore then,sang “Tiririt ng Maya”.Across the crowd, a young lad who was a senior, heard her voice_alluring as the nymph of the sea, and his heart fell at her feet.

From that time on, the enamoured young lad followed his ladylove, but only up to the approach of the Buyu-an bridge. If the bridge could tell a story, it would tell of the countless times he would stand there, and sadly watch her vanish through the dusk. Afraid and shy ,he could not cross the short bridge that seemed longer than a mile to him, because the girl of his dream told him that she wasn’t ready yet to entertain male visitors. But then, her smiles and tender looks revealed her secret feelings for him. And that was that. They nurtured a love for each other in silence.

Then it came to pass, high school days went by and came to end. The two parted ways. The young lad had other flings, while the young girl kept busy preparing to be a teacher, wanting to please her strict father whom she loved so much, to the point of hero-worshiping him.

Things happened so fast,the years reeled swiftly in the wings of Father Time. In 1995, when cellular phones were not yet in fashion, radio communication was in common use. My daughter, was also among the youngsters who got crazy over the trend. Once she happened to talk with Butch over the radio,and because she was the best friend of the object of his affection, he opened his pent-up emotions to her, saying something like, "Just say I love her . If you chance to meet her tell her how much I care”. ( It seems I heard these familiar lines from Vic Damone”). By mere chance and coincidence, Josie was there, standing behind my daughter, for she dropped by to visit her best friend; and she heard everything. She was shaken to a reality that through all these years, their love for each other has not waned and withstood the test of time surviving against distance and silence.

And now, here they are, after eight long years_ All of a sudden,love flourished once again, blooming like the first bud in the advent of spring. And on February 14 of that year, her Prince Charming gave her a teddy bear. That was it. According to Elvis Presley when a man gives a teddy bear as a gift to a girl, it means he wants to belong to her. Or it was some sort of unspoken proposal.

Josie was already teaching then, and one time she confided to me about her lovelife and asked me if I could write a song which she will dedicate to Butch. That was how the song “Listen to My Love Song” came into being. I wrote the lyrics and was set to music by Josie, dedicated to Butch.

Then Butch went away. It was then that he realized how he missed her, because almost everyday he called up until he would run out of load. True enough is the saying that “distance makes the heart grow fonder, because upon his return from across the China Sea, he decided once and for all to be Josie’s ever loving, huggable teddy bear for life.

The Father of the Philippine Military Academy

General Antonio Luna, the younger brother of Juan Luna, was born in Urbistondo, Manila on October 29, 1868. He studied at Ateneo Municipal de Manila where he finished Bachelor of Arts. He was the most excellent student and received the highest grade among those who graduated with him in that course. He studied pharmacy at the University of Santo Tomas and finished the course in Barcelona, Spain. He received his degree of Doctor of Pharmacy at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He studied in France where he became an assistant chemist to the famous chemists, Dr. Tatteaix and Dr. Laffen. In recognition of his brilliance, he was appointed by the Spanish government as a Commissioner and study matters relating to infectious diseases. In Spain, he joined the propaganda movement. He published his writings in the La Solidaridad, using a pen name, “Tagailog”. When he returned to the Philippines, he served in the Spanish government as a chemist. He was suspected to have connections with the revolutionary movement, so he was exiled to Spain in 1897, and was imprisoned at the Carcel Modelo de Madrid. When he was released, he specialized in military tactics in Belgium.

Gen. Antonio Luna was a military genius. He was an expert in any kind of weapon, a master swordsman, and a sharpshooter. When the Philippine-American war broke out, Gen. Aguinaldo appointed him as a general. He founded the Philippine Military Academy to give the Filipino soldiers the proper training in modern warfare, proper discipline, and obedience to superiors. He founded and edited the newspaper, ”La Independencia”, the first issue of which was on September 3, 1898. Because of his expertise in military strategy and warfare, Gen. Aguinaldo made him Director of War. He was one of the 19 members of the committee that drafted the Malolos Constitution which was adopted by the Malolos Congress on Nov. 29, 1898. Gen. Antonio Luna was the best general of the Philippine Army. He was known as the Mainstay of the Revolution. The Americans were surprised at the splendid discipline of the Filipino army confronting them. His valor won the admiration of the Americans. His military knowledge and personal courage won for him the position of Commander in Chief of the Philippine Army. His fast rising rank and fame became a threat feared by others. Like Bonifacio, he was a thorn in the path of the less competent but power greedy and ambitious one. So, his death was plotted. The first attempt to assassinate him failed. In writer Leopoldo R. Serrano’s interview with the survivor of the Battle of Tirad Pass, Captain Isidro Wenceslao said:...I was ordered to shoot Gen. Luna on a train he was supposed to be riding. I remember being ordered to pick out 16 sharpshooters in my company and to arm them with good Mausers. I was ordered also to select for myself the best and newest Mauser in my company. My order was to shoot Gen. Luna on sight, but the train had already left when we arrived".

On June 2, 18 99,Gen. Luna received a telegram signed by Gen. Aguinaldo stating that he was badly needed in Cabanatuan. He immediately obeyed the order of his superior. When he arrived there, Gen. Aguinaldo was in San Isidro. When he was leaving the headquarters, he was treacherously shot by Gen. Aguinaldo’s men. He was murdered in cold blood in front of the church of Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija , in the afternoon of June 5, 1899 . His death was more tragic than those who were felled by the enemy’s bullets because like Bonifacio, he was slain by his own countrymen. His strict, stern , fiery. bad tempered nature was mere alibi to justify an evil scheme for a selfish motive. By Gen. Luna’s death, the Filipino cause suffered an irreparable loss. In his will written while marching to San Fernando,, he expressed a true patriot’s last words: “Should I be killed, enshroud me in a Filipino flag, with the same clothes in which I die and bury me in the soil of my country.”

References: A Brief History of the Philippines, by Leandro H. Fernandez; The Philippines: A Unique Nation, by: Dr. Sonia M. Zaide :Bulwagan ng mga Bayani by: Domingo Ma. Panganiban

Ang Mga Isda sa Kadagatan

Dunggi, akon asuyon,bida sang kaisdaanon, Senyores pamati-i, ining panalambiton: Ang tanan nga mga isda nga nagapuyo sa kadagatan, Pulos may opisyo, pareho sang mga tao.

Dinhi namatay si Umang,teniente mayor ang kagang, Si Kasag ang napreso, inaway sang alimango; Malasugi ang guardiamente sa suba sang San Jose, Didto kag madakpan si Parangan kay naalangan

Butete ang tambolero, marot mga soldado, Bolinao amo ang hepe, ubakan ang ila sarhento, Guno ang konstabularyo, tabagak ila kabo, Bagis ang gobernador, alimosan ang bakunador

Katang ang hari-hari, pawikan ang pari-pari, Si Lapis ang maestro, bagongon ang obispo, Pasayan ang maestra, hipon mga eskwela, Sapsap gid ang pobre, wala pagtambok,niwang pirme

Bulao ang empleyado, dalangdang ang tesorero, Kugtong gid ang mayor, tulisan ang konselor, Yadto si Tulisan, apo si Ba-olo,

Ato si Ba-olo, naglalapad iya ulo.

Pugita ang presidente,lukos amo ang bise Sibingan ang senador, balantyong ang diputado, Aloy ang abogado, bantala-an man ang hues, Pakol ang sakristan, pirme guardia sa simbahan.

Tipon mga hipon, sa balay ni Uli-balay, Nagbando si Senior Abo , si Senior Gusao ang manueldo !

The Leonidas of the Philippines

Gregorio del Pilar attained immortality through his courage and patriotism. He had been called with a reason, the "Leonidas of the Philippines" for, like the Spartan king, he was a lion,defiant and unvanquished even in death.

Gregorio del Pilar was born on November 14, 1875 in Bulacan, Bulacan. He came from a family of patriots. He himself was a patriot for he secretly distributed the propaganda papers he received from his uncle Marcelo in Spain.He finished Bachelor of Arts in Ateneo de Manila. While a student, he enlisted in the secret revolutionary movement of Bonifacio, the Katipunan. He believed that life is not worth living unless it is dedicated to the defense of his country.

When the revolution broke out in 1896, Greorio joined the Katipunan as a soldier. He, his elder brother Julian, Juan Socorro, Adeodato Manahan, Isidro Wenceslao, Felix de Jesus, Juan Katindig and other friends formed a group of inseparables that stuck together through thick and thin. As a revolutionary leader, he had a deep sense of justice. He never allowed his dignity to be tarnished with corruption. He strictly prohibited banditry, stealing and disrespect of women.He gave their captives a chance to defend themselves. He was distinguished for three traits, namely: 1) his personal courage and valor, 2) his loyalty to his chief, and 3) his gallantry to women.

In the battle of Kakarong on January 1, 1897, for his bravery and calmness in the fight, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He acquired his first Mauser gun when, single-handed, he fired and killed the last soldier in the last passing carromata of the group that conducted the curate from Bulacan to Malolos. The rest of the soldiers and the curate fled. He picked up the gun of the dead man. They found in the carromata four sacks of money in silver coins . Gregorio distributed the money _ twenty-five pesos for the single and fifty pesos for every married man. The rest of the money was sent to Manila for purchase of blankets and cloaks for the soldiers. On September 3,1897, Gregorio and his men, disguised in women’s clothes, attacked Paombong, Bulacan. He delivered 23 Mausers which he captured from the Spaniards to Aguinaldo in Biak -na-bato. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

When Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines from Hongkong, he appointed Del Pilar as director of war in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. The Bulacan leaders and patriots enlisted in the Del Pilar Battalion. He won the complete devotion to duty and the loyalty of his men to him when he reorganized his brigade. He allowed the old and married soldiers to return to their homes and be with their families and loved ones. He replaced them with younger and unmarried men. His greatest triumph was the taking of his native town on June 24, 1898, where 900 well-armed Spanish soldiers surrendered. They captured hundreds of Mauser rifles and plenty of ammunition. This victory earned for him the rank of brigadier-general.

Not long afterwards, the Filipino-American war broke out the Americans, confident of crushing the Filipino army in two weeks time, were suddenly confronted with stubborn and bitter resistance. The Filipinos fought for three, long, weary years with nothing but bolos, bamboo spears, a few captured rifles, some reloaded cartridges and a passionate love for liberty. In the battle of Sta. Rita, Del Pilar lost two of his leaders: Major Adeodato Manahan and Capt. Delfin Vililia. But in the bloody encounter in Quingua, (now Plaridel), Del Pilar and his troops repulsed the cavalry charge of Major Franklin Bell and killed Col. John Stotsenburg. On June 24 1899, Del Pilar attacked the town of Bulacan. The battle lasted for 20 days.

At Aguinaldo’s order, 24-year old General Gregorio del Pilar, with 60 picked riflemen, stood guard at Tirad Pass to intercept Major March’s battalion of the 33rd Volunteer Infantry of 300 soldiers. The handful of valiant men, with fiery courage fought fiercely to death, though they were outnumbered, until they fell one by one. Mr. Richard Henry Little, a U.S. war correspondent of the Chicago Tribune and eyewitness of the battle narrated:

“On that Saturday morning of December second, 60 men came down into the pass to resist the American soldiers. Seven were all that went back over the pass that night to tell Aguinaldo that they tried and failed. Fifty-three of them were either killed or wounded. From the side of the cliff where Del Pilar had built his last entrenchment, he was heard cheering his men in the fight, urging them to greater effort, scolding them, praising them, cursing, appealing to their love of their native land, and the next instant, threatening them to kill them himself if they did not stand firm. Not until every man around him was down did he turn his white horse and ride slowly up the winding trail, profusely bleeding on one shoulder. An Igorot guide, Januario Galut, led the American sharpshooter to a path at the other side of the pass, who shot Del Pilar from the rear, while Major March was charging in front. He was hit in the neck and from his horse, he rolled to the ground. The Boy General of the Filipinos was dead.

Major Peyton C. March got from Del Pilar’s breast pocket a little red notebook on which had been written his last words which ended on the day of his death:” I am surrounded by fearful odds that will overcome me and my gallant men, but I am well pleased with the thought that I die fighting for my beloved country.” With the diary was a letter from his fiancee. A private got the white handkerchief which the General borrowed from his fiancee’s elder sister, to wipe away the tears from his sweetheart’s face in the final hours of parting. He carried it as a keepsake to his last destination. Pvt. Sullivan got his pants, Snider got his shoes, a soldier got off his neck the golden locket containing a curl of his sweetheart’s hair, the sergeant had the spur and the lieutenant had the other spur, and the other man had the cuff buttons, and still another man had the shoulder straps. The column marched to the summit of the mountain. There had been no time to bury him They left him alone with his glory. His glory was about all they had left him. A crow sat on his feet. Another perched on his head. The fog settled down upon him.

In 1929, with several revolutionary leaders and government officials, Captain Isidro Wenceslao visited Tirad Pass to locate and recover Gen. Del Pilar’s remains. When exhumed, on the spot where he fell, Lt. Dennis P. Quinlann, ordered his remains to be buried with military honors, and marked the grave with a headstone bearing the following inscription:

GENERAL GREGORIO DEL PILAR KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF TIRAD PASS December 2, 1899 Commander of Aguinaldo’s Rearguard An Officer and a Gentleman

References; a Brief History of the Philippines by Leandro H. Fernandez In the Grade School_Leopoldo R. Serrano _ November 1965 In the Grade School _ Dan H. Dizon _April 1966 Expressweek Magazine , December 18, 1975

Home is the Sailor

(A sonnet for the sailor named Joseph)

To rhythmic lull of wild waves, slumbered he, 

From gusty roar of icy winds, awoke; 

All dreams that haunted sleep left hastily, 

Yet hope remained with him; serene, unbroke.

The boat refused to sink in ocean’s realm, 

It fiercely sliced the raging open sea; 

At last, it reached the earth’s warm, sandy seam, 

As radiantly shone the sun so free.

With hurried steps, he rushed with outstretched arms, 

And hugged each loved one he missed very long; 

The tears were dried by every kiss that warms, 

Fears vanished; once at home, the heart is strong.

The sailor, now at last, is home to me, 

He came home where he will forever be.

Salamat Gid,Msgr.Rolando A.Haguisan

November 30,2o17 Suno sa dinalan sang isa ka daan nga ambahanon,”After the ball is over,after the day is done ,many a heart is broken,many a love is gone”...Pero sa kaso sang mga Tigbauanon, kon ang siyam ka tuig nga pagpakig-upod sang aton mahal nga Msgr. Haguisan diri sa aton parokya isa ka binayle, wala ini nagatapos sa isa ka broken heart kundi sa isa ka malipayon nga mga handurawan; wala naalimunaw ang pagpalangga, kundi nagpabilin sa tagipusuon.Ini tungod kay si Msgr. Haguisan isa ka halandumon kag indi malipatan nga amay sang aton parokya.Instrumento siya sang paghiliusa sang mga tumuluo kag pagsanyog sang Simbahan.May panimuot siya nga very approachable,accommodating, warm,cordial and very generous.Dugang pa sini, may aura siya nga cute and lovable ,kasubong sang isa ka inosente nga bata,pero ang iya amaynon nga pagpakigbagay sa tanan, nakahaylo sa mga katapo sang Simbahan nga magkooperar kag mangin matinumanon. Gin-ubayan niya ang iya mga sinakpan paagi sa good counsel and inspiration.Wala sing unkind words and indignation nga mabatian sa iya gani nangin tayuyon ang harmonious endeavor para sa kaayuhan sang parokya;amo nga ang Tigbauan may pinakadamo nga seminarista kag katekista sa diocese. Pero sa aton kabuhi may panahon sang pag-abot kag may panahon sang paghalin.Isa ini ka proseso sang kinaugali nga indi malikawan ka wala kita sing choice kundi atubangon.Ano man ka malahalon sa aton ang isa ka bagay ukon tao,kinahanglan batunon naton ang masubo nga kamatuoran sang paghilayuay. Sa mga Tigbauanon,ginaindian gid nila ang tinaga nga “Paalam”.Tama ini ka sakit nga tinaga nga indi nila mamitlang kay indi nila luyag ang ideya nga sila ginabayaan.Gani nga wala sing katumbas nga tinaga ang “paalam”sa pulong nga Tigbauanon.Ang sarang lang nila mabungat amo ang”Mayad lang nga pagpanaw”. Sa aton mahal nga ispiritwal nga amay,Msgr. Rolando A. Haguisan,kabay pa nga ubayan ka unta sang Makaako sa imo paglakat padulong sa bag-o mo nga destinasyon.Salamat gid sa madamo nga mga matahum,malipayon kag maayo nga mga handumanan nga imo ginabilin sa amon tagipusuon. Sa katapusan, amon ginabayaw kag ginasantik ang amon mga kopa sang Kristohanon nga alak kag ginatibyong para sa kadalag-an sang aton huwaran nga ispiritwal nga amay!

A Message to History Teachers

.Once there was a soldier who was reprimanded by his officer for playing cards inside the church during the mass. The soldier explained : “Sir, I was not playing cards; I was reading the bible. You see, Sir, when I look at the ace , I am reminded that there is but one God, the maker of heaven and earth. When I see the two, I think of the bible which is divided into two , the old and the new testament. When I see the three, I remember the Divine Trinity; the God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The four reminds me of the four evangelists; Mark, Luke Mathew and John. The five reminds me of the five wise women who trimmed their lambs, and the six reminds me that God created man on the sixth day. When I see seven, I remember that God rested from His great work. The eight reminds me of the eight righteous that God spared when He destroyed the earth; they were Noah and his family. The nine reminds me of the lepers that God cleansed, Nine out of ten didn’t thank Him. The ten reminds me of the ten commandments that God passed on to Moses. The king reminds me of the King of heaven and earth, the God Almighty. when I see the queen, I remember the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Angels and Saints. The Jack of Knave reminds me of the devil....” and so, the soldier continued narrating until he finished shuffling the deck of cards. (My apologies to T. Texas Tyler for his “Deck of Cards “, narrated by Wink Martin Dale )

Ladies and gentlemen, believe it or not, I have not read the bible; but I know the contents of it. This is because since I was five years old my grandmother who was a daily communicant took me along with her to the church to hear mass every morning .She made me kneel beside her until the mass was over. I did not understand the masses because they were said in Latin ,but my interest was caught by the part where the priest would say,”Sadto nga panahon,...” and would end it by saying,...”Amo ini ang ebanghelyo sa karon nga adlaw.”As the years went by, I observed that the priest read the same “ebanghelyo” on the same day of each year. I discovered that the “ebanghelyos” I heard for the whole year were what the entire bible is all about. I realized that the bible is a history book on which were written not only the past but also the present and future of mankind.

When I became a teacher, I taught history. I noted that the pupils hate, dislike, or were afraid of this subject. They regard it as boring, useless and very difficult, as evidenced by what a Graduation guest speaker who was my former pupil said: “Nagahiribi ako kang saulo. Nagakurudog ako kon magsulod ron si Ma’am sa classroom ay manukso ron kanamon it isa-isa.” Hearing this, I felt very sorry for forcing my pupils to digest what they have not swallowed. In my desperate desire to make my pupils learn history the easy way, I meditated, contemplated and reflected. My wandering mind stumbled upon the life of the Greatest Teacher in the world Whose teachings by means of parables spread throughout the world through all ages. So I gave up the inductive, deductive, dogmatic, rote memory, spoon feeding and all other methods of teaching I learned in the service. I returned to the biblical way of teaching which is story -telling by means of parables. I saw that it was good as proven by the weakest boy in my class when he gave me an answer I never expected of him. I asked where he learned the idea. Looking down but smiling shyly, he answered,”Ikaw man nagkuon kara; gin-istorya mo kanamon.”I was shocked with the realization that the stories I tell I may forget but in the minds of the children, they are kept .Since then, I became very cautious in teaching history. I did tremendous research before saying or writing anything. I saw to it that the children will value history and learn it with pleasure and assurance that they are not being misled. I bound myself under the pain of mortal sin to teach history with veracity and never twist, distort or invent it because to teach a wrong fact is a crime. According to my cousin who is a writer, a bullet can kill only one person, but a wrong information or idea can kill or wreck a multitude of minds and lives.

What's in a Name?

What's in a Name?
(" A rose is a rose; you may call it by another name,yet it would still smell as sweet.")

Ako si Maria Luisa Tejero Acupan.Bunga ako kang marriage by parental arrangement ni Marina Gonzales Tejero kay Jose Arevalo Acupan kang Mayo 25 , 1943.Natao ako kang Agosto 28,1944. Ang pari nga nagkasal sa akon ginikanan nga si Padre Melecio Robrico amo man ang nagpili kang akon ngaran kag nagbunyag kanakon.Kang mga anum pa lang ako ka bulan,ginpabulag ni Lolo Eliseo Gonzales nga magurang kang akon lola ang akon mga ginikanan.What man has joined together,man can put asunder.Kon gin shotgun wedding ang iba,ang akon tana ginikanan gin shotgun divorce.Gintayaan ni Lolo Seoy si Tatay kang shotgun kag isipan asta sa tatlo kag kon indi manaog sa balay, tirohon na.Ginpaandaman na nga indi gid magtapak sa Tigbauan ay bisan haron na pa lang ang maglitib sa banwa, tirohon na.Gani, napatay lang si Tatay nga wara ko gid makita.Kang manog-anum ron ako ka tuig,gindara ako ni Lola ko kay Lolo Seoy kag ginlisensya nga paeskwelahon ron.Nabatian ko kang maghambal si Lolo Seoy nga andam ako pagpasundon kang apelyedo ni Tatay.Gani, gin-enroll ako nga Maria Luisa Tejero.Tungod sa apelyedo ko nga TEJERO,nakaangkon ako kang sarisari nga titulo.Gintawag ako nga "naglitik sa pusog","pinamataan","unon","wara man-I kon sin-o tatay na","hija de bastarda","remnant of the Japanese war","born of the virgin mother","anak sa pagpakasala","may madulom nga family background",kag kon anuano pa.Ang pagka-Tejero ko daw sobra ka labog nga krus nga ginpaguyod kanakon halin sa Grade I ko asta sa kamatayon ko.Pay may isa ako ka classmate sa high school nga nag sulat kanakon kag gintawag ako nga "poet".Ang isa lang ka tinaga sarang makabaylo kang kasaysayan.Ginpanindugan ko na lang ang pagtawag kanakon nga "poet".Nagpublish ako kang sobra napulo ka poems sa English kag Filipino sa Philippine Journal of Education,The Modern Teacher kagThe Filipino Teacher.Gindara ko ang ngaran nga Maria Luisa Tejero Torrento bilang author.Ang pagdara ko kang Tejero sa tanan ko nga sinulatan kag pirma indi style kundi vindication.