HOW THE DRY-MUD FLOOR TURNED INTO GLOSS-TILES FINISH

The Candelaria Signar Lanugon Story

By: Norberto G. Betita

The address I was seeking was right at the town proper of Sison, Surigao del Norte, a small farming Municipality about 20 kilometers from Surigao City. I inquired from several residents until I was finally directed to a small nipa hut. I have seen so many actual representations and pictograms symbolic of abject poverty, and I was standing right in front of one which was an even more tangible dejecting view of a very depressed circumstance. I saw no door and the dry-mud floor inside was very clear before my naked eyes. I called for ‘anybody home’ because I have nowhere to knock. A man who looks older perhaps than his age came out from an elevated enclosure inside the house, greeted and invited us in. In the interior I saw one small bedroom with wooden floor. I did not know then how many children they have, but with the size I only guessed at least one or two. The man then introduced to us as the father. He is a farmer and his wife is a fish vendor in the small town market. I was very surprised to have been told that they have seven children. My thoughts wondered how they were accommodated in such a very small dismal room.

Such was the very memorable experience of one of my first assignments as a designated Credit Investigator of the Philippine National Bank (PNB). I was commissioned to conduct a character investigation on CANDELARIA SIGNAR LANUGON, a PNB qualifier who was then ready for hiring. With much compassion on the miserable condition of her family, although she was already married, I rushed my investigation report for her to be employed soonest at PNB which at that time was one of the highest paying employers. My thoughts then were focused with empathy that perhaps the employment might help her assist her biological parents in their distress. In a month or two after employment it was discovered that she was pregnant and I was blamed by the officers for not disclosing the matter. She has to avail of the maternity benefits even before her employment reaches a year. If it was known earlier and reported she should have been employed after her delivery. Yet deep inside, I was grateful that I failed to discover and disclose her physical condition for at least it relieved her of added financial difficulties associated with childbirth.

Candy as she is fondly called, entered Mindanao State University (MSU) clutching her belief in the words of George Washington Carver that, "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom."---her desired freedom from extreme poverty. She eventually graduated with a degree in Business Administration as a college scholar from MSU in Marawi City. She married immediately after her college graduation to Rolando Lanugon a schoolmate at MSU who is also a graduate of a degree in Chemical Engineering. But she determined to remain the bridge for her siblings to cross the chasm that divides poverty and success. She had been into two local employments before she was employed at PNB. It was known that she was principally supporting her siblings who were in college also at MSU. This expression of benevolent financial provision for her siblings was kind of difficult for her considering that she is already married, yet in her thoughts were the motivating words of an unknown author: “When it rains tribulation, it pours mercy. When you are drowning in the seas of difficulty the life boat of ease comes to pull you out.” When her younger sister Myla graduated and could find no better employment, she encouraged her to go abroad. Candy supported her sister of every needed requirement until she was able to leave for employment in the Cayman Islands.

Her husband Rolando on the other hand could not find an appropriate job and therefore decided to consider better hands-on opportunities by thinking and creating concepts that could help him earn and perform best his imperative paternal responsibility as provider to give way for Candy to help her struggling family. With their combined efforts they started an internet café business from second hand computers repaired and refurbished by her creative husband. With her husband’s ingenious practical computer application and programming knowledge, they earned added income by preparing programs for local businessmen and graduating students. Their small business did not only provide for the family but also assisted Candy’s parents and siblings.

Despite her parent's awfully difficult circumstances, she encouraged her siblings to do well at school reminding them that "Education is the movement from darkness to light."(Allan Bloom). She knew that it is only through this means that they will be able to rise above their unimaginable deprivation. When her younger brother graduated from MSU and prepared for a Chemical Engineering Board examination, her hand of undying support was always extended even until he passed the board and was still seeking for employment. Now he works for the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory. As these siblings started to harvest from their employments they together pooled their resources to assist their younger siblings. One brother studied Marine Transportation in Manila and eventually became an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Another brother also finished college and worked at RFC. At this time they together look back to that dry-mud floored small nipa hut were they were raised from infancy and childhood. Their parents were getting older and they wanted them to experience a modest but comfortable home for their old age. While they were sharing resources through Candy for the support of their younger siblings, they prepared plans for a new house for their parents. Materials were procured, foundations were laid and problems encountered. Candy being the eldest was always at the helm to resolve misunderstandings. All siblings felt bound to sustain her, she being the captain in their individual journey towards success.

Another younger sister graduated with a degree in Accounting from the MSU. When she failed in her first attempt to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Candy was first to comfort and motivate her to prepare for an immediate retake with Candy supporting the needed finances. And her CPA title eventually afforded for her a comfortable work abroad. Finally her youngest brother also graduated from MSU and became a CPA and is now working abroad. All these achievements were attained by the collective effort of everybody in the family with Candy at the lead and under their parents’ humble direction.

From that questionable investigation report that I submitted many years since, Candy rose from the ranks of PNB Surigao Branch. She knew that, “In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life.” (Albert Bandura). Her ability to deal with customers and her marketing prowess gained for her the attention of PNB Management. She was eventually given the prominent position of Branch Manager, one of the youngest in the Region. Her husband Rolando was also appointed as Financial Advisor and later became SM of PNB Life. Their internet café business is still in operation. They have since grown into a family of six. Her children are now grown. Her eldest daughter earned a degree in Nursing and is now taking a review for the Nursing board. Her son who is now at MSU will be graduating this school year. The two daughters are still in high school and elementary.

The girl who was raised in that little nipa shelter with dry-mud flooring has since been blessed with greater and brighter opportunities for growth and advancement. Her "Strength grows through struggles. Courage develops in challenges. Wisdom comes from wounds." (Unknown). Recently she was hired by Asia United Bank (AUB) as Manager for their newly opened branch in Surigao City which is just across the PNB Surigao Branch. The salary must have been very competitive as for her to readily accept the offer. She resigned from PNB and now sits on the prominent desk as Branch Manager of AUB Surigao Branch. Yet as she left the portals of PNB her heart brims with gratitude for the institution which helped her triumph over her battles against abject poverty and destitution.

That little nipa shelter with dry-mud floor was long since gone, but the memories of mutually shared struggles and efforts among parents and siblings to move ahead in drumming beat towards success, remains a story of inspiration to tell for their coming posterity and for others to emulate. A more comfortable gloss-tiles finished home for the family was since erected in a permanent location. The once very crowded little room is now replaced with comfortable bedrooms to accommodate the families of siblings during homecomings.

Born on February 2, 1968, Candy is still young at 46 to have achieved success not only for her parents and siblings, but for her personal and family life as well. She now sports a brand new car on affordable installment. Her future is as bright as she moves forward with faith and courage strong. With her siblings now enjoying the harvest of their successes and supporting their parents in their age of grey, Candy now consigned herself to fully focus her priorities on her own family. She has dreams yet to be fulfilled long postponed while she was abetting her siblings’ journey to success. She persists with bold confidence that she could make up for those unfulfilled goals and aspirations. She believes the words of Dr. Seuss:

“You have brains in your head
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose
You’re on your own
And you know what you know
And you are the one who’ll decide
Where you’ll go.”

Candy almost always had tears of joy and gladness in her eyes as she now contemplates her despondent and impoverished beginnings and the most humble achievements which they are now enjoying. Her gratitude to God for His mercy is unfathomable and most profound. She was superbly grateful that the sacrifices of her parents were recognized and acknowledged by the community, giving them an award as model parents for the Municipality of Sison, Surigao del Norte. Their story of family unity, harmony, peace, and love which in the end brought them all towards their individual victories against the stings and pangs of penury may not be in the chronicles of popular narratives among Surigawnons. Yet the anecdote of their family life is exemplary; one worthy of note and admirable reflection and emulation.

LOOKING BEYOND THE CLOUDS OF UNCERTAINTY

The Romanito B. Maquiling Story

by: Norberto Betita

Romy at Hamilton New Zealand

The cold breeze soothingly blowing from the Philippine Sea connecting the rim of the Pacific created beautiful heaves of sparkling blue waves moving forward into the crystal clear sea water along the shoreline. The whoosh and whizz of the easterly winds created a beautiful symmetry of the coconut folios and leaves laden twigs of trees as they moved in sequence of common direction. The clouds of silver and of gray moving in succession from the background of the far blue eastern sky gave beauty and grandeur to the horizon. As the rising sun spreads the wings of its gleaming light into the evergreen scenery, the place turned into a panorama of verdant radiance and majesty. The natural wonders of rivers and hills and caves and the lush of rainforest created a promise of a potential future. Such was the wonderful place of his birth---Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. Yet the gloom of poverty and the pinches of quiet sadness provided an unfit setting for the birth of an infant boy---ROMANITO B. MAQUILING on October 29, 1954. However, the stings of early deprivation never at any time dimmed or restrained his positive outlook for an abundant life.

During his youthful vim and vigour he determined to cross the seemingly unnavigable infinite ocean of tribulations which divided his present struggles and the undefined and unknown future. With visions high above the clouds of uncertainty, he packed the badge of his destitution and carried his only hopeful rudder---a high school diploma in his voyage to the unfamiliar seaboards of life. Perhaps in his young mind were the glimpses of Mark Twain’s words, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” So he sailed his life’s seas ever yearning for the storms to help him become an able navigator. He then knew that no matter how bad the storms, there is sunshine hidden above the darkened clouds. 

His journey brought him to Surigao City. He stayed with a close relative and started to navigate his life’s thoroughfare and explored the road less travelled in accord with his inadequate qualification. The door of opportunity slowly opened for him when he was employed as Janitor in the National Service Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippine National Bank. From such a modest employment, he saw a light of hope gleaming bright into the future. The dirty work and the daily burdens of waking up earlier than everybody and staying late in the night, and the very meager compensation that it provided helped him realize that he needed to strengthen his anchors. He knew that the intensity of the winds and the waves of life will eventually make him a skilled sailor.

He dreamed and again looked beyond the clouds of uncertainty then set an achievable and realistic goal. He formed a plan to get to the top of his modest aspiration of attaining a college degree. Thenceforth, he started to move ahead to sail the vast and endless sea of his journey. He knew “the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean (John Locke)” he is bound to traverse. Yet he counted the cost and was determined to reach the impossible. He understood that he need not have to be an achiever to be able to start. Rather he needed to start in order to be an achiever. 

In due time, he enrolled at the Northeastern Mindanao Colleges for a course leading to a degree in Commerce major in Accounting. He invested his very limited income and vacant times between work schedules to take up college subjects as a working student. Hard times followed; making both ends meet became a seemingly insurmountable challenge. He was motivated however with the knowledge that he need not have to be imprisoned in the realms of difficult life while the immense door of opportunities is wide open. He struggled, he sacrificed, and he endured and eventually discovered the sweetness of attaining victory. In his achievement he understood best the words of the legendary Socrates, “The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” With a college degree on hand, he was equipped with an even stronger armor to face his battles of life. 

While thus in the process of beholding future prospects his eyes caught sight of a woman stationed under a common work confines. With their positions at variance, he found it difficult to even approach in sincerity. Hence, he expressed his feelings secretly by placing a rose each morning on the table of ZITA DELA PEÑA, the woman subject of his deep admiration and love. Time finally afforded for them a wondrous scenery upon which to create their fairy tale “they live happily ever after” kind of a love story which was eventually tied by a knot of marital bond. Four wonderful children were treasured gifts which in time came into their married life.

He was eventually absorbed into the regular ranks of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) after passing the required qualifying examinations. He grows from a Bank Clerk to various other positions. His employment at PNB became his best preparation for his growing family. Yet his work was not without challenge. In my long association with him as a fellow Philnabanker, I found him to be one kind of a worker whose efficiency is exemplary. He had the ability to handle almost all available positions in the branch. In the absence of anybody he is well ready to replace. He acts as cashier/sales and service officer; sales and service head; from the position of new accounts clerk to analysts, name it and he could handle any assignment. His marketing ability was a potential which was never given a break. For reasons only known to the recommending officers, I found him discriminated in promotions. Yet he remained sober and uncomplaining. Instead he utilized his marketing capabilities in part-time sales outside of employment to supplement his income to meet the growing needs of his children. Humorous ridicules are sometimes thrown on him for not being able to send on time his children’s allowances. But he stood with pride for having sent his children to study in one of the best universities in the country two of whom were already graduated and licensed. The third graduated from a local college after he surrendered from the rigors required in his university of origin. The fourth is still battling for a degree.

With his wife immediately after the blessing of their
brand new Isuzu

As he left the thresholds of his beloved institution---The Philippine National Bank which has been the emblem of his life’s successes, he carries with him the thought that, “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable…and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire…” (Orson F. Whitney, quoted by Spencer W. Kimball, in Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), 98). As he sits on the couch with his most beloved wife Zita and reflects on the modest accomplishments they together attained---a humble yet comfortable home, a second hand car and and a brand new Isuzu, a vacation in Hongkong, Thailand and New Zealand, which he never once dreamed---his heart overflows with expressions of silent gratitude to God for the blessings. 

                                                                 
Looking back with thoughtful introspection when he first sailed his life’s seas, he discovered that the clouds of uncertainty were ever present in the journey. However, he found through his years of experiences that as he followed the flickering light of hope beyond the darkened clouds, the channels were made continually clear and safe for the weary traveler.