Mutiny and the Bounty

Coming to Iloilo City in 2005, something immediately caught my attention.

Passing General Luna Street, I saw streamers and makeshift tents in front of the University of San Agustin. From friends and new acquaintances I would learn that the union employees of the university were protesting unlawful acts committed by the administration against them and their members.

For the succeeding months, I would see [and read] these streamers denouncing the administration for having been unjust to the employees who had served the university for a period of time; the streamers and protests also raised a number of other issues against the administration.

It was the first time I saw a dramatic interplay between two forces going on. I would see the same setup, up to the time the streamers became soiled and muddied that I could not read the words in them anymore, or that I found them annoying—because they would block my view of the university.

But the sight only drew my attention and scrutiny.

Once, I saw a public meeting by a number of people in front of the university gates, rallying aloud for their concerns. From other people I would learn that the strike by the employees was without basis; and that some of them were reinstated in their service to the university; and that others were relieved from service.

It was only later—in the official statement of the university published in the local papers that the facts became clearer.  The court finally denied the legality of the employees’ mobilization against the university.

Even before the court handed down its decision, a friend confided to me once how he pitied the union employees because despite legal assistance, their acts and even the subsequent measures they took were baseless, lacking ground and orientation. 

It does not require anyone to be a lawyer to understand an issue like this. It is easy to articulate how and why these things are made of, only if we were more than observant. 

For one, unrest in the labor sector might stem from people’s discontent. Administration, any status quo, for that matter, naturally defends itself because it normally conducts matters with much discretion and decorum, and utter deference to the people it serves—thus, its confidence in the manner of doing things is simply effortless.

Meanwhile, social realities like labor unrest do not fail to interest artists because they involve the dynamic interplay between elements in the society. 

Scenarios like this must have given inspiration to age-old masterpieces as French naturalist Emile Zola’s Germinal, a turn-of-the-century novel about the miners’ unrest against their employers in a French coalmine. The same reminds me of Mike de Leon’s Sister Stella L., a film which looms large in the social realist genre.

Artists, writers, film directors, and people of similar occupations can consider the subject for a more incisive study, so they can later put forth something from which people can learn and be inspired further.

Such experiences merit a more incisive introspection, a careful study that renders more truth. 

If rendered more truthfully, their act of writing—the work itself created after having been moved, inspired or bothered by these realities—can make persons out of individuals, or turn souls out of institutions.

A Good Year

It has been a good school year.

After some ten months of working and being with your high school students, you cannot help but look back to the good days.

Nothing has been more remarkable than the days lived with eager, wonderful students who made you realize much about many things. These are some of the many things you will not leave behind— these and other stories you will not ever trade for any other value in the world.

The Section 1 students whom you “advised” [you were their adviser for some two quarters, substantially] are a good, growing lot. Led by their president Anita, the class have already been lauded by their subject teachers who just find them easy, light and manageable.

For one, Siena’s bubbly attitude complements her classmates’ love for humor. If at all, Siena has enjoyed the mango float given by the class for a job well done during the cleanup day—after tirelessly cleaning the classroom for almost a day, she and her classmates Koy and Perlita, to name a few, did not deserve anything less than that sumptuously delicious treat which they themselves prepared. Talk of being and acting out of [a strong sense of] independence—or more aptly, responsibility.

Along with the other boys, Roch, Daniel and Mico have all been a good part of the freshman team who have exuded the bright aura every Monday morning. This figured well especially in the flag ceremony leadership which was lauded by the school director herself. You know the best is yet to come for them.

You appreciated your junior student Shem when he consulted you through a text message on a particular term in his research paper. You were enjoying the Dinagyang night when he texted you, asking for the right word to use in his report. You were flattered that this junior student from Pototan, Iloilo counted you in as his dictionary. Fair and kind, he must have been flattered when you told him in front of his classmates that he has been disciplined in your class.

Meanwhile, you have always considered Shem’s classmate Clint amiable and warm company fairly enough to properly set the mood of the third-year class. Along with the rest of the boys, his light and smiling face has not failed to set the best mood for the rest of his classmates. Perhaps one of the tallest boys in the batch, his optimistic countenance cannot simply go unnoticed, especially in his senior year.

Ever since you got to work with the school paper’s editors, you have always known Val to have the critical eye. The boy’s meticulousness was confirmed to you by his previous adviser. When you didn’t hear his name announced in the regional contest for editorial writing, you realized then that the boy is fit for some other, loftier things. He must have taken the editorial writing skill to heart, that in no time he rewrote his contest piece on Consumer’s Rights Act for the school paper issue. He surely deserves an award for such an effort.

You are equally happy for Stanley and Doris, Val’s fellow editors who laboriously took to editing the many articles of the school paper. Though you could just be apologetic to Doris in learning that her front-page article was “murdered” in the press—there is perhaps no one to equal her enthusiasm to finish the work she is assigned to do, given the time constraints and a whole lot of other workload.

Their fellow senior Stanley, meanwhile, is one success story—what with his all-out smile when he was cited for outstanding performance in feature writing in the Punta Villa regional writing tilt in December. You relish in his newfound skill as he should be lauded for the two substantial feature stories—the school gym article and the coach’s story—that must have made the school aware and feel more privileged for such two blessings.

Also, you will remember the generosity of spirit of one Ernest, a Manila-born freshman who sustained the odds of being in a new environment, eager to learn new things and share life with his new found friends. Ernest’s politeness and composure have always amazed you to say that the boy is very well ahead and well prepared to undertake bigger tasks in the future. You believe he will do well and he can pull through.

Among other things, these are only some of the many stories—call them blessings—which you cannot trade for other values in the world. The days with your junior, senior and freshmen students will not be forgotten. You’re sure they are here to stay wherever you go. As long as you live.

After some ten months of working and being with your high school students, you cannot help but look back now in regret. Regret because you do not intend to pass this way again—regret because you are finally calling it “quits” for teaching.

After all, it has truly been a good year.

Ukay Ukay

Pirang aldaw matapos mag-agi an bagyong Frank sa Iloilo, igwang nabareta na sa kasagsagan kan bagyo, manlaen-laen daang ataman na hayop an nakaburutas; tapos an iba nagkagaradan. Sa Janiuay, may mga orig na nagkaralamos ta nagkaruluom sinda sa mga tangkal; sa Maasin, igwang mga baka saka damulag na dai nakaralangoy pag-rarom kan baha kaya nagkaralamos man. Igwa man daang nagkaburuhay—sa Guimbal, may mga ayam na nagralangoy-langoy; sa ibang banwa, may mga kanding na nagkaaratong man lang. Pero sa may parte kan Jaro, igwa daang ibang mga hayop na bisan yaon lang sa tugsaran kan saindang kagsadiri, nakaburutas pa man giraray sa saindang gakod, tapos sagkod ngonyan, nawawara pa.


Magagayon pang maray an mga badong ini.
Mas bara’go pa an mga pantalon na ‘ni kaysa sa
mga nagkatarawad ko kadto sa ukay-ukay sa Leganes.

‘Puon nang magrasyon an mga ka-barangay ko sa Jaro.
Kaya sabi sako ni Father, mawalat na lang muna ‘ko
digdi sa parokya. Ilain ko na daa an mga donasyon
na ipapanagtag mi sa mga taga-Janiuay sa aga.

Kun relief an sasabihon, nangangaipo man kaming maray.
Maaati na mga bado mi; kaipuhan mi man nin masusulot.
Haros marugba ngani an harong mi pag-agi kan baha.

Irigo gayod ‘ning mga T-shirt saka short ki Christian.
Pwerte ‘ning blusang blue. Puwede ‘ni ki Shiela Mae.
haloy na si tinuga’ ko sainda; pero dai ‘ko nakakabakal.

Maray-rahay, ultimong an mga kurtina, magagayon pa.
Kadakul-dakul man pati si ibinabang donasyon hali
sa sarong Starex ‘subago. Garo duwang karton pati ‘ni
kaya pilian ko lang an saro; kaipuhan ko man ‘ni sa harong.