M E M O R I E S:Life and Time of
Pastor Rudy Bernal , hisGlimpses on History &
The People’s
Struggle for Freedom
Chapter 16 –Ventured in Baguio City, Enrolled Summer Classes at St.
Louis University
In November 18,1964 I went to Manila. I was thinking of going to
Baguio City. About a year ago, my mother’s
cousin, Modesto Bartolome who lives in
Baguio City arrived in Carles. We have
some talks. And Nong Didong Bartolome told me, if ever I will venture in Baguio
City, I will come to Baguio Ciyt, I will see him. He said, “ You can easily
find work there as a photographer. There
were a hundred thousands tourist that comes to Baguio. Each of them is a
potential customer.” He gave me his Calling Card.” I looked at his address. Visayan Studio, No. 77, General Luna Road,
Baguio City. I kept his Calling
Card.. I may need it in the future.
That October 1964, on the 2nd
Semester, I did not enroll at the College
of Theology. I did not tell any one that I will stop studying at the College
of Theology. In November 12, I went home
to Carles. I told my parents, I will go to Manila. I have some transactions
there. I will explore possibility to
continue to study there. I will use the Educational Benefit given me him.
My father gave me his permission. Also my mother. And I will use the scholarship given by the Philippine Veterans Administration, which was waived to me by my father, a USAFFE veteran.
On November 18, I went to
Estancia.There was a ship that will sail
to Manila. It was a passenger and cargo ship. It will leave at 2:00
PM. In my pocket I have P40.00. My
father gave me P20.00. I have also P20.00. I will pay P16.00 for my boat fare.
I still have P24.00 to reach Baguio City. I don’t know how much the fares from Manila to Baguio City. I
don’t know what expenses I will have to pay along the way. It was quite an adventure. Except for Didong Bartolome in
Baguio City, I don’t know anybody in the world,
exceptthose I knew in Iloilo. But, I am already 22 years old. Third Year college. Single. It’s worth to
make some ventures in life.
With P16.00 travel fare, we’re
entitled to 3 meals a day, with coffee in early
mornings. The ship has a miss hall for 3rd Class Passengers.
The Second Class passengers were were
in the aircon ward, with 20 passengers. The First Class passengers were in the private
rooms.
I got my bed. I put my luggage
on the bed. Then , I took a ¼
shet of paper. I wrote my name on 3 ¼
shet of bond paper with my complete address in Cawayan, Carles, Iloilo.. The I folded it. One piece I put inside my
wallet. One piece of paper with my address, I
put inside one of my shoes. And the 3rd piece, I put it in inside my bag. In case
anything happened to me, my parents will know where I am.
I walked to the side of the boat. I looked to
the open sea. I looked up to the sky
.I looked at the horizon. I closed my eyes. Then whispered a prayer. “Dear Lord, I need you to
guide me. I am making this venture in life.
Please Lord, guide me. Please protect me. I don’t know any one here in the boat. And I don’t knew anyone in Manila. I
need somebody to tell me where & how to get to Tububan Bus Termnal for the trip
to Baguio City. Lord, I knew you will guide me. Thank you Lord.” When I opened my eyes all were the same. The
sea. The sky. The people around. All were the same before I prayed.
When I went to the other side of the
boat, a middle aged woman was trying to stand. I saw her. I went to her immediately and hold
her hands. She wants to stand so she could go to the side of the ship. Perhaps, she wants to breath the sea breeze, Or looked at the sky. And see the horizon. She may be strong. But when she sat long, it’s
quite hard for her to stand. I helped her. I guided her to the side of the ship. There she
can see the sky and breath the sea breeze.
We started a conversations.
She was from President Roxas, Capiz. She have
relatives in Carles. Now she was residing
in Makati with her 20 year old daughter.
She was a widow. Her husband, died
several years ago. He was from Zarraga,
a town 25 kms north of Iloilo City. She told me her name -- Caridad Sobremesana.
I told her my name. I told her my
father was Restituto Bernal. We are living in Cawayan, Carles, Iloilo. She told
me she knew my father. Just two weeks ago,
she was in Cawyan, my village and visited her relatives.
She asked me where will I stay in Manila. I told her, I will go to Baguio City. I will find some work
there. I want to continue my studies.
She asked me when will I go to Baguio City. I said, immediately, when we I arrived. For I do not know anyone in
Manila. Then she said, your father is my
relative. I think you are my nephew. You join me at home. I have my two nephews
here who will also try to find jobs in Manila.
You stay with us. If you want to see other places in Manila before you
go to Baguio, I will asked my nephew to help you. Do not worry. I will pay for
your fares going around Manila.
As
I listend to Nay Caring Sobremesana, I relialized God’s fast answer to my prayers. It was really fast. It was direct. It was all,
I needed for that day. God used a woman, a relative I never met before. But she
was God’s instrument so I could stay for a few days in Manila, before I proceed to Baguio City.
In Makati, Nay Caring Sobremesana asked her
nephew, Ernesto Blancaver who lived in
Manila to accompany me to visit some places in Manila. I heard of Manila
Underpass and Luneta Park with the Statue of Jose Rizal, the Philippine National hero. I heard also of Tondo, the place with the biggest squatters in Manila. . That day, together
with Erning Blancaver we went around Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Pasay and
Tondo.
First we took a bus from Manila
Underpass, passing Quezon Boulevard to Edza up to the University of the
Philippines in Diliman. We did not go down the bus. We paid our fair. And rode back to Manila
Underpsss. I got familiarized of the area. Then, we took another bus ride. This
time, we rode from Arlegue Street, near Manila Underpass, going to Singalong to
Makati and back again to Arlegue Street. At 4:00 PM we have gone around Metro
Manila 7 times. I felt I knew a little of Manila now.
On the 5th day, Erning Blancaver accompanied me to Tutuban Bus Terminal, where I took a bus to Baguio City. I left Manila about 10:00 A.M. We took lunch about 2:00 PM in Tarlac. We arrived Baguio City at 5:00 PM
My trip to Baguio was prepared. About a year
ago, my mother’s cousin from Baguio City, Modesto Bartolome arrived in Cawayan. We met. And Nong Didong Bartolome told me, if
I ever go to Baguio City, I will go to him. He will find a way to get me a job. He was in
real estates and photography business. He owns
Visayan Studio in General Luna Road, Baguio City. I could be a real
state agent. Or I could be an Itenerant photographer. Either, I could make a liitle income, if I work hard. But photography, he said was fast and easier. What with some hundred
thousand local tourists that visit Baguio City during summer.
Two days latar, I went to Baguio City Hall to get a license as a photographer. We were about 20 who were
applying for license. I gave all the needed documents. After 2 hours the 19
applicants were given notice to report in two days time to get their license.
But I was told just set and wait, until I was called. After nearly 3 hours, I was told to return two days later for my license. I was told, they have to hold me whle verifying my records. I have a
similar name, Rodolfo Bernal, who was on
a Wanted List in Baguio City. But our family name was different. And aur Finger Prints were different. After getting my
License as photographer, I tried to see the colleges in Baguio City to
enroll for summer.
I visited University of the Philippines –Baguio City.
There was some requirements to enrole at UP. There were lots of documents
needed. I went to St. Louise
Universsity and I permitted to enroll . But before enrollment, I will have to present my Transcript of Records and Honorable Dismissal. I don’t have these documents. .
I wrote CPU requesting for my
Transcript of Records and Honorable Dismissal. I sent photo copy of my letter
to Mrs. Wanda Kelly, Dean of the College
of Theology I need this to enrol at St;
Luise University. Two weeks later, I received a letter from CPU Registrar’s
Office. It said, they cannot sent my
Transcript of Records and Hoorable Dismissal.
I have accounts with CPU for my tuition and fees and board and lodging
in the College of Theology. It’s only then, I remembered that my enrollment at
the College of Theology has conditions. After finishing my course, I will work
in the churches under the Convention for 3 years.
Then, I will be free to go to other works and callings.
I felt downhearted. I cannot enrol any more. I will have to pay
all my exenses in 3 semesters at the College of Theology –tuitions and fees and
board and lodging. I must worked. Pay my accounts and only then I will be able
to get my Transcript of Record and
Honorable Dismisal.
That night, I prayed. Again, I asked
God for help. I said, “Lord, I made a
mistake leaving CPU and the College of Theology. I don’t know what to do at the moment. I just surrender things to you. I would lke to continue my studies, not any
more in the College of Theology. Please
help me. I do not know what to do
today. And please guide my way, Dear Lord.” But I prepared for the
worst. I will work to pay my arrears at CPU.
A few days later, I received another
letter. It was from Mrs. Wanda Kelly, Dean of the College of Theology. She
said, she was sad, I did not tell her I was leaving the Collegte of Theology.
She has sent me a letter in Carles, asking why I did not enrol. She said: At first,
the Committee decided not to send, your Trascript of Records and Honorable Dismissal.
I discussed with the Committee again,
and after reviewing your case, we decided to send your Transcript of Records and Honrable Dismissal”. Mrs. Kelly
said, she do not know what God’s purpose for me. Now, I can take the course I want. But in
the future, if God asked to proceed with
my training in the College of Theology, I will respond to Him. I must no hesitate to come back to
CPU.
I wrote Mrs. Wanda Kelly my thanks. I
told her, I will remember her words and advise.
I enrolled at St. Louse University summer class of 1964. It was a Catholic university. I just left CPU,
a Baptist university. St. Louise
University was also a good school. I loved my short stay there. It was on the top the
mountain. About 30 steps. On the other
side of the school, is Baguio Cathedral.
And going down the Cathedral requires
more than a hundred steps down to Session Road. It’s great to study in Baguio
City . Even in summer, the air was cool
and the breeze penetrates my forehead. The temperature was condusive to study
and learning.
While studying at St.
Louis University, I pay my tuition and other expenses by working as Itenerant photographer. I was in
business taking pictures in the city. I accompany my customers to different places, mostly Burnharm Parks,
Malacanang of Baguio, Pines Hotel, Philippine Military Academy, Mines View
Park, Baguio Cathedral, La Trinidad Gardens, the Zigzag Roads, UP Baguio, and
other sites of Baguio City. Taking
pictures and delivering them a few hours
later.
I often get customers, a group of them who like to do business with me. Often times, I got 1 role of film, with 72
shots for 2 or 3 customers. After shooting this, I immediately ran to the studio to have it developed and
printed. In about two hour,
I am paid P176. My capital is P2.00 cost of the film and P48 for printing of the photos. I got a profit of P120.00 working 3 days. The fare during that time is P0.10. And the
daily wage of labor and employees was P4.00 daily. But there were times too,
when I got a couple days with no customers. And also no income..
Saint Louis University is good
university to pursue studies. And Baguio City is beautiful place to stay,
clean, temperate climate, little dust. Student were friendly. But I am looking for new environment, where I can met students and
professors who were top in their fields. I
just like to listen to them.
At
St. Louise University, there were some books that I cannot borrow from the
library. I need a special permit, from the University top leaders to read some
books. When I borrowed a book “History of the Rise and Fall of the Roman
Empire”, I was not permitted to read. I was told by the Librariam to ask
permission from the University Rector. I
decided not go to the Rector.
I thought,
their were lots of control in the university. I decided
to go down to Manila and find a school where I could learn the arts of living,
reading books, I want to read and work with some kind of adventures along the way.
That May, I decided to go down to Manila.
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