Chapter 25-–My 1st & 2nd Year College at CPU, Iloilo City

I enrolled for first - year college at Central Philippine University (CPU) in June 1961. Studying in college was a dream come true. It was hard and long to finish high school. It took me 7 years to finis high school after Grade VI. Most students finished high school in 4 years. Some reached only 1st and 2ndyear high. They have no choice. Poverty was the main reason why young people in the countrysides and city slums of the Philippines could not finish high school.

In March 1961, I graduated from high school. I am going to college. It was the 3rd day of enrolment at CPU. More than a thousand students were around, walking at CPU’s Half Moon Drive. Some sitting inside and outside Rose Memorial Hall. Enrolment was going on. I got my papers and entered the where the College of Arts and Sciences were already enrolling students. I enrolled. Then, I went out and looked at the surroundings.

I looked at the wide expanse of the 24 hectares area of the CPU campus. It was punctuated with beautiful buildings: Administration Building at the front, followed by Student Enterprise, the Elementary School, Weston Hall Dormitory, Johnson Hall Dormitory, Roselund, then the Executive House, where CPU President lived. It was followed by The beautiful American Missionaries homes on the eastern side of the campus.

Buildings on the western side were Valentines Hall, CPU Library, CPU High School, the Poultry and Piggery. On the southern side was Roblee Science Hall. Franklin Hall was men’s dormitory. The big Gonzaga Mansion sat by itself, followed by homes of community residents.

I have seen the pictures of some colleges and universities in Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City and UP-Deliman. I saw CPU campus was different, It was beautiful and spacious with bigger area than most universities in Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City and UP-Diliman. I felt proud to be called a Centralian.

By March 2015, many big and beautiful buildings were built all over the CPU campus. There was the University Church, the new CPU Library, Loreto Tupas Nursing building, Agriculture and Engineering buildings. A big quadrangle was there for the Track and Field runners. The ROTC Training grounds and other big outside activities. Nearby, were a wide span of lots used for agriculture research studies and the production of rice.

I took an Associate in Arts (AA). It was a prerequisite for theological studies. I don’t know anyone at CPU when I enrolled, except Dr. Joseph Howard, Dean of the College of Theology. I had met him several times before. One time at home in Cawayan, Carles were he stayed two days when he preached at Cawayan Baptist Church in an Evangelistic meeting.

The second time, I met Dr. Joe Howard was in Dumangas when he preached April 15, 1960 during an evangelistic meeting in Bacay, a coastal Dumangas village. There, I was asked to share my testimony. Dr. Howard shook my hands after my testimony and said, " Rudy, you would make a good pastor".

The third time, I met Dr. Joe Howard, was during the Iloilo Kasapulanan Annual Assembly in Banate, Iloilo in 1961. I was one of 5 contestants in a Preaching Contest that afternoon. Dr. Howard shook hands with five of us, telling us all, we were good preachers.

Johnny de la Fuente was President of Iloilo Kasapulanan of Baptist Churches at that time. He was also sales manager of Darigold Milk Company in Panay. He gave several cartoons of Darigold milk and we drank it during breakfast at the Kasapulanan assembly. Jonnhy de la Fuente was one of the good President of Iloilo Kasapulanan of Baptist Church. When he was memberof the Board of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, he worked hard with other leaders and bought the big Homena building with the land that served as CPBC Headquarters.

I won First Prize on the preaching contest that afternoon. I had a short conversation with Tatay Joe Howard. I shared with him my plan to enter the College of Theology. He told me to visit to him if I got some problems at CPU. Sure, I have. After few months, I had no money to buy my uniforms, clothes and other necessities.

I went to Dr. Howard's residence at the Executive House at 7:00 a.m. I knocked. He opened the door. He was still in pajama. But he remembered me. He asked me what happened? Why I came so early? I told him I need to borrow money for my uniforms. He went to his room and came back fast. He handed me P20.00. He said to return it when I had money. I bought my uniform. I bought 4 ready to wear pants and 4 shirts. It costs P2.00 per pant and P2.00 per shirt. Some of the money I bought my other school needs. Two years later, I came back. I paid Dr. Howard P20.00 which I borrowed from him..

I kept dreaming to study in college. I have gone to 4 different high schools in four different places in the country. Now, 7 years after graduating from high school, I was enrolled in one of the well-known universities of Iloilo City, Central Philippine University.

In Dumangas , I tried to learn typing. I hoped to work in an office as a working student. I could type well. I learned “Touched System”. I typed without looking at the keyboard. I applied as Working Student at CPU. I was accepted. That morning I went to the Working Student station, I applied as typist. The secretary told me “No vacancy”. She immediately assigned me to Rooms 208 and 209 of Valentines Hall. I will worked as a janitor. I had no choice. I know I will be perspiring every 9 p.m. brushing the two rooms and riding on two coconut husks

I brushed the floors with coconut husk every evening. Every Friday we applied floor wax to the floors to make it shine. I can finished scrubbing the floors in 30 minutes. Then I close the windows. The next morning, I swept the floors, open the windows and the rooms were ready for classes at 8:00 a.m.. Scrubbing 2 classroom floors was quite easier than plowing the rice fields under the heat of Carles sun. Good, I worked as a janitor. I work only for 1 hour daily, but paid 2 hours. Those who were working at the office for 2 hours, have to work 2 hours before the can go out.

What I earned working 2 hours a day for 5 days was enough to pay for my tuition and other fees every semester. It was a humbling but necessary job. I developed a closed relationship with other working students. We had a working students association. Our leader in the janitorial services was Angel Tambora. He was taking Civil Engineering.

Years later, when I was working as a Newspaper Reporter, we visited the biggest water dam in Luzon that was built. Unexpectedly, there I met Engr. Angel Tambora working in the dam. We had a Press Conference with the Dam officers and engineers. It was also a beautiful moment, my meeting with Engineer Tambora. We remember CPU and my coconut husks for a year there with him. I did not met Engineer Tambora after that. He went to the United States.

One of my close friends as a working student was Teddy Sumaray. He was the President of our Working Students Association. Later, he became a newspaperman in Iloilo. He was Public Relations Officer of several Governors of Iloilo. When I was in Radio ministry with stations DYFM and DYRI in Iloilo City, we often shared thoughts and ideas. Teddy Sumaray had wonderful ideas. We planned to write a book. But Teddy Sumaray was called by the Lord early to be with Him. WE were not able to write the book, we planned together.

Every day at 6 a.m. the Rooms 208-209 were ready for the classes at 8:00 a.m. I immediately I went to Rose Memorial Hall. Every morning, two students of the College of Law Lydio Cataluna and Edwin Baldago, were there practicing public speaking and their oratorical pieces.

They will participate in the Oratorical Contest that coming month. They told me they did exercises to improve the strength, resonance, resilience and power of their voices and make pliant their body movements. I asked them to help me. I would like to improve my speaking voice and the pliancy of my body movements. They agreed.

There was a big mirror in the back room of Rose Memorial Hall. Lydio Cataluna and Edwin Baldago faced the mirror early morning and practiced their enunciations, dictions, and speech deliveries. The tall mirror helped align the actions with their speech as they stood before it at 6:00 a.m.–7 00 a.m. and delivered their speeches.

It was wonderful and also humorous to look at aspiring lawyer and a potential radio commentator early morning, trying to develop their voices, speech deliveries and speaking skills. They told me, it was their way to build their future. I tried to follow and learn from them. Lydio Cataluna was accomodating. He gave me tips on public speaking and oratory.

Lydio and Edwin told me to develop deep breathing exercises. They said I need to run long distance to help deepen my breath. They told me to go swimming. While about do dip my head in the waters, I should hold my breath long and slowly release the air from my stomach. I kept on doing the exercises even now, at 79 years of age.

They told me to read newspapers orally daily, part of it silently. Reading silently with lips closed, pronouncing clearly every word as I read. Pastors like lawyers and radio commentators must be masters of words. They must know and learn the power of words. Yes, the power of the spoken and written words.

I thanked them. I said, with God's help and guidance, I will also use expertly the spoken and written words, it’s power would be part of my life and future. The spoken words will help me in my preaching, lectures, and teaching. The written words would help me write and publish articles, booklets and books. The skills and knowledge I will continue to use daily.

Years later, in 2017, I tried to sing love songs. Singing love songs helped soften the pressures in our hearts. It lessens stress in my mind. With the singing skills, I learned more and understood the power of words

The love song "WORDS" taught me more of the power of words in most things I do. The Song said partly:

"You think that I don't even mean

A single word I say,

It's only words,

And words are all I have,

To take your heart away’

It’s only words,

And words are all I have

To take your heart away.

It’s only words,

And words are all I have

To take your heart away.”

Loving words, spoken softly, opens a person’s heart and give her heart away.

These two law students made their marks in their professions. Atty Lydio Cataluna became a well-known lawyer and politician in Mindanao. Edwin Baldago became one of the most well-known and influential Radio commentators in Iloilo City with DYFM-Bombo Radio as his flagship station.

His political commentaries were heard by hundred thousands radio listeners in the City and Province of Iloilo. He was also heard in Negros Island, Cebu, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Masbate, Romblon, Mindoro and Palawan. And also in Luzon and Mindana