Chapter 28– Bagiuo City Adventure With A Borrowed Camera
On November 12,1964 I went to Manila. My plan was to go to Baguio City. A year before, my mother’s cousin Modesto Bartolome who lives in Baguio City arrived in Carles. We had some talks.
Nong Didong Bartolome told me. "Rudy if ever you a have a chance, you must go to Baguio City. Baguio City is different from any city in the Philippines. It is cool. It is very clean. It is a place good to study, Baguio City is the Summer Capital of the country. You will learn lots of things when you come to Baguio City.”.
He try convince me. “Every summer, hundreds thousands tourists come to Baguio City, professionals, students, world leaders, local and international travelers come to enjoy Baguio City. On summer, top leaders of the country, the President. Vice President, the Senators, the justices of the Supreme Court together with the Chief Justice go to Baguio City to study and relax. They bring their works there.
“Many lovely girls, who are rich from universities in Metro Manila and the provinces, go to Baguio City to attend summer classes.
“And many graduating students all over the country like engineering, medicine, nurses, education, etc., go to Baguio City for a week attending conferences.”
“You can easily find a job there as a photographer. Or you can join me in Real Estate business.”
My uncle was the manager of his photo shop. He has some 15 Itenerant photographers working with him this summer. He was also a Real Estate Broker. He said: “There are hundreds thousand tourists that go to Baguio every summer. Each of them is a potential customer in photography.” He gave me his calling card. I looked at his address. “Modesto Bartolome. Visayan Studio, No. 77, General Luna Road, Baguio City.” I kept his Calling Card. I will need it in the near future.
On November 18, I went to Estancia. There was a ship that would sail to Manila. It was a passenger and cargo ship. It will leave at 2:00 p.m. In my pocket I had P40.00. My father gave me P20.00. I have also P20.00, I kept it in my pocket. I will only pay P16.00 for my boat fare for I was given a P12 discount by my friend, Pio Villanueva who was a dealer of live pigs and carabao to Manila. Otherwise, I would pay P32.00 as fare to Manila.
I will still have P24.00 when I reached Manila. I didn’t know how much the fares from Manila to Baguio City. I did not knew what expenses I would incur along the way. It was quite an adventure. Except for Nong Didong Bartolome, I do not know anyone else in Manila and Baguio City. But, I am already 22 years old, third year college. Single. I had a girl friend. I courted her three years ago. She accepted my offer of love. She is taking education. She is 2nd year college. She is from Ajuy, Iloilo. She is lovely, slender and tall. Her first name is Xz, a lovely name. A unique and beautiful name. I had not met a girl with the same name in my life. I am happy to have her as my girlfriend in my adventures in life. I felt it was worth to gain some new experiences in Manila and some areas in Luzon in my early days.
With P16.00 boat fare, I am entitled to 3 meals a day, with coffee in morning. The ship had a miss hall for 3rd class passengers. The second class passengers had Air Con wards with 30 passengers each ward. The first class passengers were on private cabins.
I got my terras (bed). I put my luggage on the terras. I took 3 one fourth (¼ ) sheet of paper. I wrote my name on each of the 3 one fourth (¼) sheet of bond paper. I wrote my complete name and address - Rodolfo C. Bernal Cawayan, Carles, Iloilo. I folded it. I put each piece of papers with my name and address inside a small plastic envelope. One piece I put inside my wallet. Another piece of paper with my name and address, I put inside my right shoes. The 3rd piece of paper with my name and address, I put inside my bag. If anything happened to me, say, I will get killed in the trip or imprisoned, the police would know and inform my parents so they would know where I was. That way the police will find a way to reach my parents.
Then, I walked to the side of the boat. I looked at the open sea. I looked at the northeastern side. I looked up to the blue sky. We just passed the Gigantes Islands, Carles and moving to Romblon. It was a clear day with some little clouds. I gazed at the wide horizon. I closed my eyes. I tried to think and meditate.
I whispered words of prayer. “Dear Lord, I need You to guide me. I am making this new venture in my life. Please Lord, guide me. Please protect me. I don’t know anybody in this boat. And I don’t know anyone in Manila. I need somebody to tell me how to go to Manila and Baguio City. Please teach me how to reach Tutuban Bus Terminal for the trip to Baguio City. Lord, I know you will guide me. Thanks Lord.” Then I opened my eyes. But all were the same. The sea. The sky. The people around. All were the same before I prayed.
Then I went to the left side of the boat, I saw a woman, about 50 years old, trying to stand. She was struggling. I went to her immediately and held her hand. She wanted to stand on side of the ship. Perhaps, she wanted to enjoy sea breeze, Or just look at the sky on the southwestern side. Or she wanted to look to the horizon. She was still strong. However, she found it hard to stand if she sat too long. I helped her. I guided her to the left side of the ship so she could hold on to the railings.
She could see the sky and breath fresh sea breeze. We started a conversation. She told me, she came from President Roxas, Capiz. She had relatives in Carles. Now, she was residing in Makati with her 20 year old daughter. She was a widow. Her husband died 5 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 is Restituto Bernal. We lived in Cawayan, Carles, Iloilo. She said she knew my father. Just two weeks ago, she was in Cawayan and visited her relatives.
She asked me where 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 arrived, I would go to Baguio City. I do not know anyone in Manila. Then she said: "Your father is my relative. You are my nephew."
She said: "You join me at home. I have my two nephews here who will also try to find jobs in Manila. You stay with us for a few days. If you want to see other places in Manila before you go to Baguio City, I will ask one of my nephews to help you. Do not worry. I will pay for your fares going around Manila."
As I listened to Nay Caring Sobremesana, I learned God’s fast answer to my prayers. It was really fast. It was a direct and immediate answer to my prayers whispered a while ago. It was all, I needed for that day. God used a woman, a relative I never met before to help me. She was God’s instrument so I could stay for a few days in Manila before I proceed to Baguio City. She was God’s answer to my prayers.
In Makati, Nay Caring Sobremesana asked her nephew Ernesto Blancaver who lived with them, to accompany me visit some place in Manila. I heard of Manila Underpass and Luneta Park with the Statue of Jose Rizal. I heard also of Tondo, the place with the biggest squatters in Manila. The following three days, together with Erning Blancaver, we went around Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Pasay and Tondo.
The first irst day, we took a bus from Manila Underpass, passing Quezon Boulevard to Epifanio de Los Santos (EDSA } up to the University of the Philippines in Diliman. We did not go down the bus. We paid our fairs. Then rode back to Manila Underpass. I got to familiarize myself with the different areas. We took another bus. This time we rode from Arlegue Street, near Manila Underpass, going to Singalong to Makati. Then we rode back to Arlegue Street.
At 4:00 p.m. we had gone around Metro Manila 6 times. I felt I knew a little of Manila now. I had visited Makati and reached outside Forbes Park. I also reached Tondo and saw the biggest squatter area. I visited Luneta Park and saw the Jose Rizal monument. I have seen lots of places in 4 days time
On the 5th day, Erning Blancaver accompanied me to Tutuban Bus Terminal, where I took a bus to Baguio City. I left Manila about 9:00 a.m. I eat lunch in Tarlac. We arrived Baguio City at 5:00 p.m.
My uncle Modesto Bartolome was prepared for my arrival. He and his wife told me, I will eat with them. I was given a room at the Visayan Studio, about 20 meters away from their house. I stayed in a room near the room of his chief photographer in the studio. My uncle had an office in Real Estate and Photography business. He owned Visayan Studio in General Luna Road, Baguio City. I could be a Real Estate agent, too.
Or I could be an Itinerant photographer. Either way, I could make a little income, if I work hard. Photography was fast and easier. What with several hundred thousand local tourists that visit Baguio City during summer!
Two days later, I went to Baguio City Hall to get a license as anItinerant photographer. There were 8 of us applying for license. Six of us were with Visayan Studio. I gave all the needed documents. After 2 hours the 7 applicants were given notice to report in two days to get their license. I was told to wait until I was called.
After nearly 4 hours, I was told to return two days later to get my license. The police hold me in four hours as they were verifying my records. I had a similar name, Rodolfo Bernal who was on their Wanted List in Baguio City.
But our MIDDLE name was different. Our finger prints were different. After getting my License as photographer, I tried to start business taking pictures of tourists. I also visited some colleges in Baguio City to see where I will enroll for summer.
I visited University of the Philippines (UP) , Baguio City. There were lots of requirements to be enrolled at UP-Baguio City. There were lots of documents required. I went to St. Louis University and I was permitted to enroll temporarily. But before final enrollment, I would present my Transcript of Records and Honorable Dismissal. I did not 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 Kelley, Dean College of Theology. I needed the documents to enroll at St. Louis University. Two weeks later, I received a letter from CPU Registrar’s Office. It said they could not send me my Transcript of Records and Honorable Dismissal. I have accounts with CPU for tuition, fees, board and lodging in the College of Theology for 3 semesters. Then, I remembered that my enrollment at the College of Theology had conditions. I was given a scholarship but will have to finish my studies and work as pastor of a church in the Baptist Convention for 2 years. Only then, I will be free to go for other work and calling.
I felt downhearted. I could not enroll any more. I would pay first all my expenses in 3 semesters at the College of Theology. I must pay my accounts at CPU and only then, I will be able to get my Transcript of Record and Honorable Dismissal. I could not enroll even if I have my Educational Benefits that allowed me to enroll anywhere in the country.
I sat down. I was forlorn. I felt defeated. I lost before I started.
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