M E M O R I E S:
Life and Time of
Pastor Rudy Bernal, his Glimpses on History &
The
People’s Struggle for Freedom
Chapter 22– Enrolled the 2nd Time at CPU College of Theology
in 1970, with the Students
Movements Brewing in Iloilo City
Yes! I went back to the College of Theology nearly
6 years after I’ve left October 1964. That time, I’ve finished 1 & ½ years in the College of
Theology. Why did I go back to the
College of Theology? Because there were things thak kept pestering my mind.
After working
with the Philippines Herald and Agence France Presse, for two years, I
felt I would not like to work all my
life in the news room or editing room. .
Writing and editing the lives of big
people –politicians, businessmen, diplomats- will be the daily chores. I realized
I cannot live all my life writing
stories of rich and powerful people in
society.
The poor only comes out
in crime stories in newsapers. I began to
think, that I will take part in
helping developed lives, specially the poor and the deprived. And I thought
the ministry or labor organizing
will be the work, that will soothe me
better.
Some years before, I’ve read lives
of pastors and labor leaders. I thought I could make good as a Pastor. Or I can
be a good labor leader. Or, I could be both, a pastor and labor leader at the same time..
So, I enrolled in the College of Theology
again, first semester in
June- 1970. This time, the situations in Iloilo City was different
than in 1964. Six years have passed since then. There was
now a slow, brewing political ferments in the
atmosphere of CPU and other universities and
colleges in Iloilo City. By this time the Kabataang Makabayan, the most militant student movement that started in
Manila in 1965 has now chapters in almost all colleges, universities and communities, specially what could be
considered slums of Iloilo City.
Another group of
young people, the Young Christian Socialists of the Philippines (YCSP),
has organized chapters in CPU and other colleges and universities in Iloilo
City.
My classmates in the College of Theology, were interesting young people. Most of them were 4 to 7 years younger than
me. My classmates were young, lovely
and handsome people. It’s a great
feeling to think and remember them-- Enriquita Amolar,
Roquita Poras, Grace Coloso, Leonardo Camarig, Joel Valdez, Manuel Arcenas, Samuel Galuego, Bert Bancolo, Eprodito Magno
and Floripe Herradura. They were
studious students, committed to make good in their studies. Later, they really
made good in their ministry.
Floripe Herradura was the oldest of
the group. He was already an experienced
pastor that time. He has pastored
Nabitasan Baptist Church in Leganes,
Estancia Evangelical Church in Northern
Iloilo and Lambunao Baptist Church, in Central Panay.
All the others were fresh students of the College of Theology. But all
made good in their callings. Eprodito
Magno, reached the top of his career as Senior Chaplain of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. Samuel Galuego, transferred to the College of Law and became known law
practitioner.
Enriquita Amolar worked in Buga Baptist Church and continued there for
years. Roquita Poras went to a pastora
ministry. Grace Coloso worked faithfully as instructor in the College of Theology.
Leonardo Camarig pastored several churches in Iloilo. Joel Valdez worked wit Pototan Baptist Church, then joined the Convention
Baptist Woodcraft and Skills Training Project.
Later, he served in the ecuemical ministriy with Western
Visayas Ecumenical Council (WVEC).
Manuel Arcenas, pastored several
churches in Iloilo, later, Iheard he went to Palawan and continued his ministry there. Bert
Bancolo, pastored several church in Iloilo, went to the United States.
My subjects in First Semester of 1970 were Old Testament Introduction, Early
Medieval Church History, Research Technics in Theology, Homelitics 1, Christian Worship, Church Music Fundamentals
and Choral Work, I tried to make the
most of my studies. I read lots of books related to the subjects.
Dr. Johnny Gumban was the Dean of the
College of Theology. Professor Rudy Acosta taught us history and Christian worship. Dr. Floyed Roseberry, New Testament and
Homelitics. Mrs. Elora Jordan, teaches
us Music and Choir directing. Rev.Hawkins, an American Missionary Professor, taught Old Testament and Research
Techniques in Theology. It was fun learning
the arts and technics of future pastor
and ministers with more younger men and
women, some 6 years difference in age,
as my classmates.
We were all living at Johnson Hall.
Most of our subjects were taken at
Johnson Hall. We eat our meals at Johnson Hall. We were scholars. It’s good to
live a student intern again. Free
tuitions and free board and
lodging. The university pay for our
courses and our meals. It was a great
privilege.
The women
Theology students were housed on the 3rd
Floor of Johnson Hall. This was the women’s
dormitory. Their bathrooms were on the first floor of the dorm. The boys were living in a small wooden house
attached at the back of Johnson Hall. We call the Boy’s Dorm “Stalag”. I don’t
know how the name came about. And who coined it. But we enjoyed our stay at the
Stalag.
There were important developments from 1968, - 1970 & 1971. The Founding of Christian Social Movement by
Sen. Raul Manglapus, the elections of
delegates to the Constitutional
Convention in 1970 and the Senate Special Electin on November 10, 1970.
There was the action
to hold a Constitutional Convention. The ConCon will
re-write the Constitution of the Philippines. This will make changes on the Constitution that was approved many years ago,
that establish the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
Mn of its provisions, were now outmoded
and need to be changed or amended. Special Election will be held on November 10,
1970.`
By this time, Dr. Rex Drilon was President of Central Philippine University.
Dr. Drilon decided to run as delegate to
the 1970 Constitutional Convention.
The ConCon delegates were elected in every
congressional districts in the country. In the Second
District of Iloilo, which include 8 municipalities, with Iloilo City and
Guimaras, the prominent candidates were Emilio M. de la Cruz 11, Oscar Ledesma and Rex Drilon. Elected were
Emilio de la Cruz 11 and Oscar Lesesma.
I’ve joined Dr.
Rex Drilon, Central Philippine
University president’s campaign for ConCon delegate. Many CPU leaders, church
leaders and students help in the Dr. Rex
Drilon’s campaign. Some of us in the College of Theology join in his campaigns.
I joined him with some young people in the campaign.
The students go around different markets in Iloilo City with Dr. Drilon. They carry leaflets giving it to every one
they met in the market. When, there was no class, I joined them, introducing him to
store keepers and people around. Dr.
Drilon, continue shaking hands of every
one most of the days. In the afternoons, after the campaign, with a
hundred thousands hands he shaked, Dr.
Drilon got tired. Heavily tired. But the following day, after most of his task
were done, he went with different groups, campaigning in slums of the city. Visiting slums were easier, for the residents
are open, even just to shake hands with
the candidate. It’s was hard to aspire for positions that needs people’s vote,
if you do not have he needed money to mount a campaign.
Elected
ConCon delegate were Emilio de la Cruz
11 and Oscar Ledesma. Dr.Rex Drilon lost. But
it was a good job. He had visited all the markets of Iloilo City,
visited almost all slums in Iloilo
City.
Another
event that year, was the senatorial r elections that was held on November 8, 1971. It was also a hard elections. At the College of Theology
and CPU many of us joined and helped in the campaign of Senator Jovito Salonga.
The opposition Liberal Party won 5 seats
in the Philippine Senate.
The
Nacionalista Party, the administration party won 3 seats. This was the result of the Plaza Miranda
bombing on August 21, 1971. The grenade
thrown at the Meeting de Avance of
the Liberal Party at Plaza Miranda, wounded
all the Liberal Party’s candidates. Senator Jovito Salonga and John Henry Osmena nearly died in this deadly
incident
Elected Senators
that time were: Jovito Salonga, Genaro
Magsaysay,
John Henry
Osmena, Eddie Elarde, Eva Estrada
–Kalaw, Ramon Mitra and
Alejandro
Almendras
But their terms as senators were shortlived. President Marcos declaration of Martial Law in
September 1972, ended their senatorial aspirations.
On the political arena, President Ferdinand
Marcos, was on his second term as
President of the Republic. He was elected in 1965. He ran for reelection 1969. This will end in 1973. President Marcos Nationalista Party will battle with the Liberal Party in the next elections.
Senator Raul
Manglapus, was set to challenge the elitest and oligarchical politics in the
country. He started mobilizing and
founded 1968 the the Christian Social Movement (CSM).
The people behind
the Christian Social Movement (CSM) were intellectual giants – the likes of
Father Francisco Araneta, Fr. Jose Blanco, Jose Feria, Edgardo Kalaw, Jeremias
Montemayor. F.Sionil Jose, Jose Concepcion and many others.
The also
organized the youth group – Young Christian Socialists of the Philippines
(YCSP). Heading the youth
group was Benjamin G.Maynigo, President.
He is the son-in-law of Senator Raul Manglapus..
In Iloilo City, CSM was under the leadership of Atty. Alfredo Banares and Atty. Edgar
Villalobos and others. They were going
around Iloilo City, Leganes and Pavia making
campaigns. During village fiestas, they
often crown the village Queens. They gave short
political speecheson the misson of the
Chistian Socialist Party of the Philippines.
When President
Marcos declared Martial Law, Christian Social Movement, the Young Christian
Socialists of the Philippines and the Christian Socialists Party of the
Philiipines have greatly weakened. In a
few years, we did not hear anymore of CSM, YCSM nor the CSPP.
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