Chapter 19- My Third Year in Dumangas High School

It was in May 1958, when I came to Dumangas, Iloilo to continue my 3rd and 4th- year studies in high school. My uncle, Rev. Ernesto Carvajal encouraged me to enroll at Dumangas high school.

Dumangas was about 42 km., north of Iloilo City during that time when circuitous and winding roads were not well planned. It was a coastal town facing Guimaras Island. Dumangas is a very progressive town. It had a lively farming and fishing communities. It had wide farming areas, with lowlands suitable for rice farming. That time commercial fertilizers, poisonous pesticides and herbicides were still not used.

Dumangas farmers enriched the fertility of the soil by planting only one rice crop during the rainy season. On dry seasons in November and December they planted mongo which was harvested in April and May. Farmers planted mongo all over the newly harvested rice fields. Mongo enriched the soil and the dried mongo seeds were sold providing additional income. Farming was a lucrative enterprise.

The town had also a well -developed fishponds and the coastal areas were abundant with different kinds of shells, snails and small fishes that were caught daily and sold in the market.

Bangus or milkfish culture used technologies mastered by Dumangas fishermen leading to improved sales. Fast growth, heavier flesh with better tastes of Dumangas bangus top in the markets of nearby towns, in Iloilo City and Manila.

The town has a strong business group. Dumangasanons catered to the need of most residents in town and villages. Dumangas is the only town where Chinese businessmen were not able to penetrate and established their business. Dumangas businessmen made sure that no Chinese businessmen came to compete with and control business.

Dumangas had very very good public transportation. There were small buses and jeepneys that cater to the needs of the passengers. Every time a bus was going out to Iloilo City, the drivers went around the town two times, blowing the horns, telling passenger they will soon go. But the joke persisted many Dumangasanons were still taking their baths, as jeepney or bus waits for them by the road.

Dumangas was one of the few towns in Iloilo where a national newspaper was sold or delivered every day in 1959, 1960 and 1961. I learned to love reading newspapers. Philippine Evening News came daily. Most Dumangasanons were newspaper reading people.

I studied as a working student. I do the work early Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m. preparing the church for prayer meetings in the afternoon. On Saturday, I work the whole day preparing the church for Sunday worship service. On Sunday, I worked two hours in the morning for the final preparation of the church worship service.

Most of my classmates were studious. The boys were mostly handsome. The girls were lovely. They have something unique, the kind of loveliness and sweetness found only among Dumangas young girls. I heard many Spaniards have inter-married with Dumangas women the last 350 years after the Spaniards arrived here.

Most of us were really serious in our studies. Of course, some boys came to classes in the afternoon after a bout with tuba. Still, they were good in our classes. Many students were of fair complexion. Most have high bridge noses. A lot have Spanish blood in their veins. My classmates were really committed to making good in our studies.

I remember one morning, a week after classes have began. One of my classmates called me. Somebody was looking for me. I went to the porch of the school. We are on the 2nd floor. I looked at a group of lovely girls down. After I showed my face, one of the them, Limbania Deza the leader of the group signaled that all was over. They saw me. They thought my being handsome was ordinary or great!

The next days in our classes, I tried to talk to the girls, mostly classmates from Section 1. I tried to win their friendships. They were really lovely and tough girls, Limbania Deza, Rosemary Digdigan, Cecelia Diancin, Priscy Resurrecion, Elsie Javelosa, Leticia Duller, Madoline Demabildo, Myrna Demonteverde, Fe Delariarte, Blonie Dolutan and others. For two years we study and worked. We played and joined some games. We go out to the fields to eat young coconuts. We become closed friends. The friendship that continued for years, until today.

Our male classmates were bright and talented. Rex Drilon 111, Jose Lusaya, Boy Dequina, Clement Doyo, Jesus Duller, Teodore Deramos, Warren Divinagracia and others. We were closed friends. One reason? We helped each other wrote love letters to our classmates and crushes. When all was well, we celebrated as a group. When we were busted, we have to find a way to forget the pain easily. Our friendship grew. One reason that most of us made good grades when we graduated in high school were our high school barkadas.

March 1961 was our graduation day. We graduated in high school. We were 98 graduates, 53 girls and `45 boys. In the graduation ceremony that afternoon, we were handed our diplomas. It was a great day for all of us. An old chapter in our lives had closed. A new chapter has opened, a college course for us to win had opened. A wonderful future was now before us. But we need to work hard to get it.

Our class historian, Jesus Duller had written each our future. Jesus seemed to see the future before us. It was inspiring. In few pages our class historian wrote and foretold a great and wonderful future for each of us.

The graduation night was a celebration of our success. We joined together in dancing a Square Dance. Two rooms were opened that serves as our dance floor as we celebrate. Our teachers joined us in the celebration. I danced first with one of my teachers. Then we started dancing with our classmates. Earlier, we have some drinks to drive away our fears. I danced first with my teacher. Then , I danced with several of my classmates. It was also a way to say goodbye. We do not know if we will meet each other again. Most of us enrolled in colleges in different schools and universities in several cities in the Philippines.

Last May 3, 2016, our classmates met on a beach for sharing. It was a time for recollections, reflections, thanksgiving and lunch. That afternoon at 4:00 PM we have some “kulabo” (young coconut meat) together.

Again, we made plans to meet the following years, God willing. We have been meeting together every May 3, the last 20 years with our classmates from abroad. This year was our 55th reunion since graduating in 1961.

Our teachers in high school were superb. They were strict in the classrooms. They were friendly outside. They find ways to help develop us to be creative. They tried to find ways to improve our knowledge, skills, talents and abilities. Whether our interests were on oratory, declamation, student journalism, creative writing and sports, our teachers and our School Principal, Mrs. Magdalina Sumagaysay were always there to assist us.

Mrs. Lilia Duremdes Palma trained me in oration. After several weeks of my training, she invited her brother, Mayor Duremdes of Dumangas to help and train me. Atty. Duremdes was one of the best orators and speakers in Iloilo during that time. Three times during the month, Mayor Duremdez came to our school, 3 times In 3 weeks time and listened to my delivery. Then she talked with her sister, Mrs. Palama. Then, he talked to her sister. Mayor Duremdes did not say anything to me. He just talked to Mrs. Palma.

Mrs. Palma told me our oratorical contest will be done the next Friday at 2:30 p.m. I prepared for it. That Saturday I and Mrs. Palma went to Iloilo Provincial High School at 12:00 noon. We arrive at 1:30 p.m. But there was no preparation for the Oratorical Contest at the designated place. We were told that the Oratorical contest was held Thursday afternoon. And the top winner is Meriam Defensor. We cannot understand what happened. We decided to go home.

I remember our high school teachers. They contributed much on how we are today: Miss Zenaida Alfeche, Mrs. Pilar Carmona, Mrs. Natividad Cudilla, Mrs. Dolores Delmonte, Mr. Oliver Demaisip, Miss Josifina Depra, Mr.Jose Dequita, Mrs. Natividad Diamante, Mrs. Lerna Diesmo, Miss Ana Devinagracia, Mr. Jose Divinagracia, Mrs. Leonore Divinagracia, Mr. Andres Donguines, Mr. Lorenzo Esquadra, Mrs. Adelaida Dusaban, Miss Dolores Mojo, Miss Constancia Natividad, Mrs. Lilia Palma, Mr. Teodoro Palma, Mr.Florentino Sodusta, Mrs. Gloria Togonon. Mr.Pablo Demaisip,Sr., our Property Custodian.

Our classmates made good in their lives, works, vocation and professions. Many were nurses in the United States, Canada, Europe and in the Philippines. One is a medical doctor. Some became engineers. Several were police officers. Some were in the Philippines military services. Others were in the US Army, Navy and Air Force.

Many were teachers here and abroad. A number became agriculturists. Some join the government. A number were businessmen. A few entered politics. Two were journalists.

Our classmates were all over the country and the world. I became a Baptist pastor and preacher. And tried to experiments life and its challenges as a journalist and writer. Today at 79, I am learning the arts and technology of natural farming and herbal medicine. We reached out with some of our classmates thru visits, the Internet and Facebook. Yes, life is a great challenge and opportunity for sharing and service.

Dumangas is a great town. It had wonderful people. Time and again, I tried to reflect on the history of this town and the great stories of its past. It has also a wonderful present. On the town’s plaza, General Quintin Salas’ monument stood together with the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero. Gen. Quintin Salas fought against the Spaniards during the Philippine revolution against Spain. And he fought against the Americans during the Philippine- American War.

Many Dumangasanon were involed in political struggles and fought for freedom, equality and justice during different phases of our history. When I visited some villages in Dumangas, I heard stories of Dumangasanon who joined the HUKS to fight the Japanese in 1940-1945.

The liberation struggles in the Western Visayas continued to get inspiration and guidance from several leaders of the nationalist movement in Panay, some of them from Dumangas who continue to stir the spirit of freedom and justice in the hearts of people in Panay and Guimaras.