The Lope M. Codilla, Sr. Story
by: Norberto Betita(Excerpts from my book)
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| The furniture maker-Lope U. Cudilla, Sr. |
Even in moments when he is carried at the brink of that cavernous and gloomy void, receiving several bags of blood for transfusion, he still can afford to do his brand of being a man of humor. In the depths of his miserable and almost hopeless condition at the hospital he nevertheless crafts pranks that generate a smile from his compassionate visitors and blood donors. This joyful character remains in his lifetime as an antidote of every suffering that he has encountered in his life. Even his children and friends after witnessing his condition of needing several bags of blood for transfusion thought that he will not live long, but he pulled himself away from that sure pathway to his ominous and foreboding fate. He was sustained by his enduring faith in God and his continuing belief that laughter is indeed the best medicine to every misery and woe.
Whenever he felt sad and lonely he calls for relief by doing some jokes that would attract attention of those who are truly concerned of his welfare. Once, while viewing the General Conference rebroadcast at church my wife noticed him drinking water from a wine bottle which still carried the label and name of the brand. My wife visited him and requested him never to do such an appearance of evil in a solemn spiritual assembly. He just laughed and expressed gratitude that he was recognized. He felt that there are still people who are most concerned of his spiritual welfare. He swore never again to do the same.
Whenever he felt sad and lonely he calls for relief by doing some jokes that would attract attention of those who are truly concerned of his welfare. Once, while viewing the General Conference rebroadcast at church my wife noticed him drinking water from a wine bottle which still carried the label and name of the brand. My wife visited him and requested him never to do such an appearance of evil in a solemn spiritual assembly. He just laughed and expressed gratitude that he was recognized. He felt that there are still people who are most concerned of his spiritual welfare. He swore never again to do the same.
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| With wife Laurencia |
Lope’s early life had been such a story of continued drowning into the depths of life’s whirlpools and swimming vigorously against the powerful adverse currents for survival. He is a native of Leyte. During his youthful years, life has been very difficult in their place. Nowhere could he find work to earn for a living. He heard about employment opportunities at Aras-asan, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur where a lumber company was regularly hiring employees. Moved by his passionate desire to find work, he wanted to try his luck and so he travelled from Leyte to Cebu and then to Tandag, Surigao del Sur. While aboard a pump boat from Tandag to Aras-asan the boat capsized and he was left floating in the sea. He was rescued by a man named Efren who brought him to Lianga, Surigao del Sur. He served with Efren’s family as house help, doing errands and household chores. In order to earn he went into amateur boxing. But he realized it has not done anything good for him. He felt frustrated by the turn of events in his life. He started to miss his family and he wanted to go home.
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| His eldest Lolita with children |
There came a time in his life when he felt encircled in complete darkness and all his hope vanished. The pragmatic hardnosed experiences of life’s dismal contests and grapple with hardest times somehow compiled thoughts that derailed the mind. While his capability and training was only for a four-round in boxing, he took the challenge of fighting for six rounds, wanting to be knocked down and die. But he won instead.
He requested his rescuer Efren to allow him to leave back home. But he was held back until a replacement arrives. While he had the excitement of having the opportunity to go home, when his replacement Laurencia---the younger sister of Efren came, he lost his every desire to be reunited to his family. He said, “When I saw her, I felt we had long since known each other.” He felt reinvigorated and thought that life was may be just like a joke. And from such short attraction their love story and eventual marital journey began.
He stopped his boxing career and instead trained in furniture making in Efren’s shop. For a while they lived and served together in his brother-in-law’s household. But when his wife became pregnant of their first born, they decided to return to Cebu. There he continued working as a carpenter and furniture maker and eventually became and expert craftsman. While in Cebu, their first born Lolita was given birth. At first life was a little easier. However as four other children---Lope, Jr, Letecia, Lorito, and Leonardo, came into the family, life again became harder and harder. In consequence of poverty two of their children died in infancy. That was such a very painful experience. He felt being pulled back again into the whirlpool of life. Yet he swam his way back against the resurging current of adversity and continued to fight his battle for survival.
He requested his rescuer Efren to allow him to leave back home. But he was held back until a replacement arrives. While he had the excitement of having the opportunity to go home, when his replacement Laurencia---the younger sister of Efren came, he lost his every desire to be reunited to his family. He said, “When I saw her, I felt we had long since known each other.” He felt reinvigorated and thought that life was may be just like a joke. And from such short attraction their love story and eventual marital journey began.
He stopped his boxing career and instead trained in furniture making in Efren’s shop. For a while they lived and served together in his brother-in-law’s household. But when his wife became pregnant of their first born, they decided to return to Cebu. There he continued working as a carpenter and furniture maker and eventually became and expert craftsman. While in Cebu, their first born Lolita was given birth. At first life was a little easier. However as four other children---Lope, Jr, Letecia, Lorito, and Leonardo, came into the family, life again became harder and harder. In consequence of poverty two of their children died in infancy. That was such a very painful experience. He felt being pulled back again into the whirlpool of life. Yet he swam his way back against the resurging current of adversity and continued to fight his battle for survival.
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| One Sabath Day with the whole family |
When Lope heard of a hiring for furniture makers, he applied and was hired to work in Surigao City. After a year working with Willy’s furniture shop, he was hired by a prominent furniture businessman, Mr. Kang. He felt secured with a salary of twenty pesos per day. However, another tragedy came into their family life when their son Leonardo died by drowning. In moments of reflection, as to why these things were happening to him and his wife, he again thought of life as being just a joke and he must have to press on.
His wife Laurencia was a full-time mother. While trying to make both ends meet from that meagre income of twenty pesos a day, another child was born---Lucresio. He was happy that in his circle of life, God was returning back one that was lost. But the whirlpool of adversity seemed not to surrender on him and another misfortune came when Lope was diagnosed with Hernia---a protrusion of an organ that descended into the scrotum. He was treated and was advised to rest for six months. There were no benefits for daily waged personnel during those times and that was real disaster for them.
His wife Laurencia was a full-time mother. While trying to make both ends meet from that meagre income of twenty pesos a day, another child was born---Lucresio. He was happy that in his circle of life, God was returning back one that was lost. But the whirlpool of adversity seemed not to surrender on him and another misfortune came when Lope was diagnosed with Hernia---a protrusion of an organ that descended into the scrotum. He was treated and was advised to rest for six months. There were no benefits for daily waged personnel during those times and that was real disaster for them.
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| Son Lucresio and family |
His wife Laurencia decided to start buying and selling corn from out of the very little assistance that Lope’s employer had given for them to survive. All that Lope could help was to cook the boiled young corn for Laurencia to peddle around the city, walking a total of six kilometres to and from downtown Surigao City, carrying the heavy basin full of corn for sale. When Lope’s condition began to improve, he started going with his wife in buying and selling young corn, while the elder children would watch the youngest son. For six months they lived solely from the little earnings that they have.
When Lope resumed work his wife continued to do buying and selling young corn to supplement his income. For a while they were able to support their needs, but two other children came into the family---Aleja and Louie. As these children came in succession, he always felt that God was slowly returning back all that were lost from him. Still he thought that life is a joke. When the two elder children begun school, their wallet became regularly empty. But they strived to meet their growing needs. They do not want their children to be deprived of their only hope for relief from the bondage of poverty. They wanted them to be educated for their future.
Then the most devastating pull from the whirlpool of life came. His employer closed business and he was left without a job. He was doomed to hopelessness. The wonderful visions for his children’s future became fogged and obscured. Being without a job while family needs were increasing was truly overwhelming. He and his family suffered the excruciating pain of extreme poverty. But with his guts to laugh even against the tearful experiences of their pitiable circumstance, he arose back with greater determination and profound conviction to win his battle together with his wife. He kind of heard a voice, “You can start over again and change your course from a downward, twisting, disappointing path to a superhighway to peace and happiness” (Richard G. Scott). Hence, he did not dread the winds of adversity against them but faced it with more courage and faith.
When Lope resumed work his wife continued to do buying and selling young corn to supplement his income. For a while they were able to support their needs, but two other children came into the family---Aleja and Louie. As these children came in succession, he always felt that God was slowly returning back all that were lost from him. Still he thought that life is a joke. When the two elder children begun school, their wallet became regularly empty. But they strived to meet their growing needs. They do not want their children to be deprived of their only hope for relief from the bondage of poverty. They wanted them to be educated for their future.
Then the most devastating pull from the whirlpool of life came. His employer closed business and he was left without a job. He was doomed to hopelessness. The wonderful visions for his children’s future became fogged and obscured. Being without a job while family needs were increasing was truly overwhelming. He and his family suffered the excruciating pain of extreme poverty. But with his guts to laugh even against the tearful experiences of their pitiable circumstance, he arose back with greater determination and profound conviction to win his battle together with his wife. He kind of heard a voice, “You can start over again and change your course from a downward, twisting, disappointing path to a superhighway to peace and happiness” (Richard G. Scott). Hence, he did not dread the winds of adversity against them but faced it with more courage and faith.
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| Daughter Aleja with husband |
He had nowhere to go but to join with his wife in the boiled young corn peddling. In the early dawn while the children are asleep, they would ride a bus to buy young corns from farmers and back home boiled them for peddling. Together they walked daily under the heat of the rising sun into the city proper, carrying over their heads the basins filled with boiled-young-corn. They did not send their children into the streets to beg, but to the schools to learn and educate.
He joined hands with his wife in the work which by then was their only hope for survival. He continued accepting occasional carpentry jobs, but not for long. Peddling boiled young corn became their regular source of income until their children went to high school and even through college. While others in their neighbourhood yielded in their battle with difficulties by employing their children into the same lowly occupation, Lope and Laurencia did not give up on the education of their children. He could not afford to have his children go hungry and stop schooling. He knew that education is the only way for his children to rise above poverty. It matters not to him if he and his wife have to continue swimming in the whirlpool of life, for as long as their children are safe in the shores to walk with backpacks full of provisions to confront their own challenges in life.
They planned their family life so as to make sure that their little income could provide all their needs. They were taught to live within their means and they obeyed. They tried to obey the Lord’s economic law, and they were blessed. There were times when they have to raise a pig or two for fattening and chickens to cover enrolments of their college students. In all his battles, his humorous character had helped him overcome stresses and defeating circumstances.
He joined hands with his wife in the work which by then was their only hope for survival. He continued accepting occasional carpentry jobs, but not for long. Peddling boiled young corn became their regular source of income until their children went to high school and even through college. While others in their neighbourhood yielded in their battle with difficulties by employing their children into the same lowly occupation, Lope and Laurencia did not give up on the education of their children. He could not afford to have his children go hungry and stop schooling. He knew that education is the only way for his children to rise above poverty. It matters not to him if he and his wife have to continue swimming in the whirlpool of life, for as long as their children are safe in the shores to walk with backpacks full of provisions to confront their own challenges in life.
They planned their family life so as to make sure that their little income could provide all their needs. They were taught to live within their means and they obeyed. They tried to obey the Lord’s economic law, and they were blessed. There were times when they have to raise a pig or two for fattening and chickens to cover enrolments of their college students. In all his battles, his humorous character had helped him overcome stresses and defeating circumstances.
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| Son Louie and family |
The road that he and his wife tracked together with their five living children was never comfortable, but to him it was worthwhile. He knew pretty well then that he and his wife will not be able to rise above their circumstances, but they labored hard to equip their children and their posterity with battle gears to conquer life’s adversities unto triumph and victory. They built in their children’s life the necessary foundations that will prepare them to hold strong when challenges of their own will be blown against their road towards growth and progress.
He and his beloved wife first experience the joy of victory when their eldest daughter graduated with a degree in Science Education and passed the Teacher’s Licensure Examination. Greater joy and gladness came when all their children graduated from college. All their five children earned baccalaureate degrees---three with bachelor’s degrees and two with vocational courses. Their eldest is now in the United States of America; the second also a teacher by profession is now a college instructor; the third, the kind of a straggler and adventurer earned a degree in computer science and is now in business; the fourth a two-year courser was married to an American and is now preparing for her Visa; the youngest, although was earlier strangled in the vulnerability of youth, also finished two years in college. All their children were already married and they have eight grandchildren.
He and his beloved wife first experience the joy of victory when their eldest daughter graduated with a degree in Science Education and passed the Teacher’s Licensure Examination. Greater joy and gladness came when all their children graduated from college. All their five children earned baccalaureate degrees---three with bachelor’s degrees and two with vocational courses. Their eldest is now in the United States of America; the second also a teacher by profession is now a college instructor; the third, the kind of a straggler and adventurer earned a degree in computer science and is now in business; the fourth a two-year courser was married to an American and is now preparing for her Visa; the youngest, although was earlier strangled in the vulnerability of youth, also finished two years in college. All their children were already married and they have eight grandchildren.
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| Son Lope, Jr with his son |
If he would be asked what is meant by the Lord’s promise that He “will pour out blessings where there shall not be room enough to receive”, he probably would joke that with all his five children now married and have children of their own, he really has no room enough to accommodate them.
Even when their children where already gainfully employed the furniture maker turned boiled young corn peddler with his beloved wife continued to enjoy the very humble trade they loved the most which prepared their children for future provident life enough to fight their personal battles with adversity and contribute to the good of society in which they live. Lope and Laurencia vowed to live together as one amidst hardships and misfortunes and the spinning whirlpool of life. In the dispersed twilight of their lives they sealed their marital covenants in a most sacred setting to live together not only for time but throughout all eternity.
They celebrated just this year 2015 their 50th wedding anniversary. Lope is now weak and feeble, deteriorated by long years of hard labor and ageing. While in the hospital he asked my daughter, “Kinsa man ka?” (Who are you?). My daughter surprised introduced herself and reminded that he knew her very well. He replied, “Wala man ko kaila nimo?” (I do not know you?) When he observed that my daughter was so worried about his condition, he told her “Ayaw’g banha sa uban, wala pa ko nawadan ug buot.” (Don’t tell others, I have not yet lost my memory). Even in his worst condition after a surgery, he still carried the thought that life is just a joke. The humorous optimism of the furniture maker turned boiled young corn peddler sustained him in his “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” He still lives to tell his story to inspire his posterity and others who might have the opportunity to read the chronicle of his life.
Even when their children where already gainfully employed the furniture maker turned boiled young corn peddler with his beloved wife continued to enjoy the very humble trade they loved the most which prepared their children for future provident life enough to fight their personal battles with adversity and contribute to the good of society in which they live. Lope and Laurencia vowed to live together as one amidst hardships and misfortunes and the spinning whirlpool of life. In the dispersed twilight of their lives they sealed their marital covenants in a most sacred setting to live together not only for time but throughout all eternity.
They celebrated just this year 2015 their 50th wedding anniversary. Lope is now weak and feeble, deteriorated by long years of hard labor and ageing. While in the hospital he asked my daughter, “Kinsa man ka?” (Who are you?). My daughter surprised introduced herself and reminded that he knew her very well. He replied, “Wala man ko kaila nimo?” (I do not know you?) When he observed that my daughter was so worried about his condition, he told her “Ayaw’g banha sa uban, wala pa ko nawadan ug buot.” (Don’t tell others, I have not yet lost my memory). Even in his worst condition after a surgery, he still carried the thought that life is just a joke. The humorous optimism of the furniture maker turned boiled young corn peddler sustained him in his “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” He still lives to tell his story to inspire his posterity and others who might have the opportunity to read the chronicle of his life.
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