Chapter 31 -Lyceum: Struggles for Social, Economic & Political Change
During my 3rd and 4th-year college at Lyceum of the Philippines. I met student leaders. peasants and workers leaders, like Ignacio Lacsina of the labor movement and Professor Jose David Lapuz who always spoke at student demonstrations. I also met and talked with Professor Pedro Lava,who taught at Lyceum. Prof. Lava is the brother of Jesus Lava, Chairman of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) who is in prison. His other brother, Jose Lava, was member of Political Bureau of the PKP.
In 1965 I met at Lyceum Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chairman of Kabataang Makabayan (KM). I applied for membership and became a member of Kabataang Makabayan (KM) with Joe Sison as chairman. After classes at Lyceum where he taught, we often stood on the street at Plaza Lawton, discussing issues that were hot political issues and of interests. I visited him sometimes at their home, where his wife Julie de Lima Sison was editing some books and periodicals. Joe Sison allowed me to browse and read some books in his library.
Later, when I was working as News Editor of Agence France Presse (AFP), Joe Sison sometimes visited me with his article for international release. We did not met for several years after that. A few years later, I heard he went underground and helped re-organized the Communist Party of the Philippines. It was believed, he wrote ”Philippine Society and Revolution” the bible of Philippine revolutionaries under a Pen Name, Amado Guerrero. Joe Sison and his wife, Julie de Lima lived today in the Netherlands.
By the middle of 1966, Kabataang Makabayan (KM), which was founded in 1965, became the strongest student movement in Manila. KM mobilized rallies in Malacanang, Congress and the US Embassy, demanding end of feudalism, US imperialism and bureaucratic capitalism, the three biggest evils of Philippine society. The shout of the demonstrators, “Down with US Imperialism” reverberated in the corridors of Malacanang Palace for years.
In the mid-‘60’s opposition to the US war in Vietnam reached a high crescendo in the latter part of President Diosdado Macapagal’s rule in 1965. It reached far with President Ferdinand Marcos presidency starting November 1965 with hard implications in the life of Filipinos and the Philippines in the coming years.
During rallies, I saw at a distance Nur Misuari, a prominent student demonstrator at that time. He went abroad and became the Chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). I did not meet Nur Misuari personally. But I saw him as a potential Muslim leader for our people.
Other student activists that I met were Carlos del Rosario, a militant classmate who went missing during our student days. Alberto Espinas was one of the leaders of the rally at Lyceum, when most of the glass windows of Lyceum were broken with stones hurled by the students. The demonstrations and breaking of university glass windows reached most of the colleges in the University belt in 1966.
Alberto Espinas, who was an Ilonggo, went back to Iloilo and helped organized Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in Panay. He also helped organized “Masang Prop” an organization of professionals in the struggle for social transformation. Alberto Espinas, was leader of the KM in Iloilo. But he was killed in early 1973 by the military together with several students activists who were branded by the military as subversives and rebels. Alberto Espinas was part of the activists’ movement that shaped the political horizons of the revolutionary movements for Panay Island and Negros Occidental.
During this time in Manila, the opposition to the US war in Vietnam became stronger in the latter part of President Diosdado Macapagal’s rule in 1965. I was in a students rally in Malacanan that students asked President Macapagal not to send Filipino soldiers to Vietnam. President Macapagal was planning to send Filipino soldiers to Vietnam. On the other hand, Senator Ferdinand Marcos who was running as contender for President, promised. If elected he will not send Filipino soldiers to Vietnam.
When President Marcos won the presidency in November 1965, one of the first decisions he made was to send PHILCAG to Vietnam. It was part of the efforts of United States to defeat communism in Vietnam. But the US failed. The United States, using all their skills and powerful war equipment, killing more than 2 million Vietnamese lost the war. The US and the allied forces lost to a ragtag army of Ho Chi Minh, the hero of the Vietnamese proletarian revolution. Vietnam defeated France and the United States for communism.
I took the opportunity and privilege to enroll as a student of former President Diosdado Macapagal. Some months after his defeat by President Marcos, President Macapagal was persuaded to teach at Lyceum of the Philippines. I took two subjects under him that semester in 1966, Philippine Foreign Relations and Far Eastern Relations and Problems. My background at CPU taught me to stand, even my knees were shaking and speak on issues that needs to be discussed.
I developed my mind to formulate questions to ask my professors. One of my professor told me, “Bernal, you have an analytical mind.” Often, I have some question raised on President Macapagal’s lectures. He liked to be asked any question under the sun. I enrolled in two subjects under him. I want to see at close range and view closely how the mind of a former President of the Philippines thinks and works.
Lyceum students came from different parts of the country, from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Many of my classmates continued in advance studies. They took courses in Foreign Service, Journalism, Public Administration and Law. In Iloilo during that time, these courses were not taught.
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1Wilson D Guanzon
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Chapter 30– Went Down to Manila & Enroll at Lyceum of the Philippines
In May 1965 I left Baguio and went down to Manila. It was raining slightly in Baguio City when I took the bus about 6:00 a.m. On the way down Cannon Road, I felt the winds and rains were getting stronger. Along the Pangasinan road I saw some fallen trees . More trees have fallen down along Tarlac highway. A typhoon was hitting northern Luzon.
It was 2:00 p.m. when I arrived in Manila. The city…
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1Wilson D Guanzon
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Chapter 29- Uncertain, Went to God Again!
I felt really uncertain. I could not enroll and continue my studies.
That night, I sat down in the corner of my room. I went to God in prayer. I opened my heart to Him. I asked for His help. I felt He would help me. How? I did not know. I just put to God my future studies. I asked God’s help in that hard time of my life.
“Lord, I made a mistake leaving CPU and the College of Theology. Yes Lord, I made a mistake. I don’t kno…
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1Myrna Bernal
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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 Sum…
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Chapter 27– My Three Semesters at CPU College of Theology
After finishing my two years Associate of Arts (AA), I proceeded to CPU
College of Theology. We were at Johnson Hall most of the time. We have our classes the whole day. We eat at Johnson Hall dining room. In the evening we went go College of Theology library that was also at CPU main library.
I entered the theological college with quite a good background. When I was 3rd & 4th year high school, I often joined…
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1Wilson D Guanzon
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Chapter 26- Washing Dishes Give Me Longer Life
At CPU, I took a lodging space in the house of Miss Carmelita Catedral. She was a Lady Minister working with the Iloilo Kasapulanan of Baptist Churches. For my food allowance, I worked two hours, 3 days a week on the grounds of Rev. and Mrs. James Long, American Baptist missionaries. The allowance they gave provided my daily subsistence and other school needs.
I tried to put my best in my studies. But I do not like my class…
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1Wilson D Guanzon
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Chapter 24- Rose Mary Digdigan-Divinagracia’s Letter, Nov. 4, 2016
One of our classmates in 3rd and 4th year high school is Rose Mary Digdigan. We often sat close to each other in our classes. Rose Mary, was a lovely girl who remained slender and sweet since our high school days.
Rose Mary is a Baptist. Even in our younger days, we were ecumenical in our faith. We were very closed to our classmates who were Catholics and Aglipayans, who are members Philippine Independent Ch…
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2Myrna Bernal and Wilson D Guanzon
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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 …
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1Wilson D Guanzon
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Chapter 23 -REV. ANGEL DUCO DOFELIZ MINISTRY
“Angel NOW, Angel THEN!”
“Angel NOW, Angel THEN!”
By Pastor Alpha Dofeliz- Sorensen
My father's Father traveled from Spain to settle in Patlad, Dumangas, ILOILO. As far as the eyes could see, my grandfather Antonio Dofeliz owned vast tracts of land. He & his wife, Celestina Duco lived in comfort and luxury until they lost their wealth due to gambling.
When Lolo Tonio lost in a cockfight bet, he'd point out a piece of land to pay his gambling debts!
My fa…
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1Wilson D Guanzon
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Chapter 22- Some Secrets of Rev. Ernesto Carvajal’s Ministry
Rev. Ernesto B. Carvajal shared with me some secrets and strengths of his ministry. He told me the highest secret is prayer. He was a man of prayer. I saw him often in his studies, in his room with head bowed in deep meditation. He asked God for a message to share with his people. When he mounted the pulpit to preach on Sunday, he asked some of the church deacons to support him with their prayers. Some prayin…
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