IN THIS ISSUE: Vincentian Volunteers for the World: Blazing the Trail / Eat, Pray, and Love A Journey to Discovery / Teacher Talk / Love Lives / Cirilo F. Bautista - A Glimpse Touchstone dedicates its latest issue to first two volunteers, Norgelinda Libao and the first of the Vincentian Volunteers for Jan Roelrey Tecson, are both alumni of the World, who will share their experiences university and have served as volunteers and lessons learned in spending a year of with the Integrated Community Extension service in Cambodia and Thailand. The Services prior to their overseas missions.

Eat, Pray, and Love: My Experience as a Vincentian Volunteer in Cambodia By Norgelinda Libao, BS Hospitality Management (2008)

Leaving your job to become a catalyst a friend, Kuya Tonton of change is not easy; it is hard to Gibe, who texted explain this to people who do not us then that ICES know what it is for, or explain to your needed volunteers family why you would want to do it. for its Ondoy relief operations. He added I was already working when I heard that this effort comes that the Integrated Community with free food for Extension Services (ICES) was the volunteers. Most pursuing the Vincentian Volunteer for of my fellow SAs who were living As I reminisce about it, I realized that the World (VVW) program. The first in rented rooms at the back of the our happiness was simple: We worked time I heard the news, I said to myself university responded positively to Kuya on a holiday, we dared to walk on that I really want to do it even though I Ton’s message because they were living flooded roads and give relief goods to was risking my paying job. alone and the free food coming from those affected aby the calamity just for that simple effort will be good savings the free meal and the unusual bonding During my college days at Adamson for them. In my case, when I heard that experience. University, I became a member of most of my friends will come, I also ICES’s Vincentian Students and Alumni agreed to come and join the effort. I Moreover, I decided to join because Volunteers (VSAV), which was headed said yes despite the fact that I lived far as a student assistant in the university, by Fr. Atilano “Nonong” Fajardo, CM. from school, that I needed to travel we needed to comply with one of VSAV was formed in September 2009 at least an hour and a half. In fact, I the three pillars of our program: in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy. travelled longer than expected because our Apostolate. Every month, each Most of us, the first batch of the of the typhoon. I did it because I conference group of Sas needs to fulfill group, were student assistants of the wanted to hang out with my friends as university. I was introduced to ICES by well as the free food. Continue to page 4

Mr. Raul D. Agner Jonathan S. Tolores Letters and comments must be addressed to: Director Graphic Artist The Editor, Touchstone (A semestral supplement of The Adamson News) Institutional Development and External Affairs Office Yael Tamara B. Esperat Joed Jhon M. Dolosa Associate Editor Aya Carlvin Roncales Adamson University Student Assistants G/F Cardinal Santos Building, 900 San Marcelino St., Mar P. Bustamante Ermita, , 1000 Photographer Te. No.: (02) 524-2011 loc. 122 / Telefax: (02) 522-0550 Email: [email protected] Sheryl B. Duhaylungsod Coordinator Entered as 3rd Class Mail at Adamson Post Office under Permit No. 3C-14-02-222 NCR valid until December 31, 2016. Postage paid.

2 TOUCHSTONE The Vincentian Volunteer for the World (VVW) program, Alumni Volunteers (VSAV). The idea for the Vincentian which began in 2014, seeks to send Adamsonians on Volunteers for the World was formed in 2013; the process missions that fulfill what St. Vincent de Paul, patron saint of becoming a Vincentian Volunteer for the World spans a of charity, set forth for his followers to do. The volunteers few years and their formation begins at the time they start are sent to countries and cities served by the Vincentian volunteering with ICES. Family—which include the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity—where they will spend Norge and Jan, as they are usually called, created these a year serving the community through teaching and essays as part of their end-of-mission reports. By sharing catechism, among others. The pioneer members of VVW what they have learned in their missions, Touchstone come from the ranks of the Vincentian Center for Social hopes to inspire its readers and stoke the fire of service Responsibility (VCSR) and Vincentian Students and and voluntarism in their hearts.

A Journey to Discovery: Volunteering, the Vincentian Way By Jan Roelrey Tecson BS Accountancy (2014) marginalized people in our society. urban poor: how hungry they were ICES organizes volunteer groups for God’s word; how just being alive When asked about volunteerism, I such as the Vincentian Students and was a daily struggle; and how faith in really could not imagine myself as Alumni Volunteers (VSAV), which is God was the only thing that sustains someone directly involved in it. I just in charge of doing relief operations their weakening reserve against the wanted to live a normal, typical life – in disaster stricken areas in the adversities of life. That life-changing finish schooling, find a good job, and Philippines. I joined the VSAV in experience was so striking that have a family of my own. I thought 2010 and being a member deepened I continued to join the summer most people would rather work for my experience in disaster relief missions even after I graduated from their self-advancement than waste operations and student community Adamson. time doing service for free. involvement. Thus, it was not a surprise that I It was not until I entered the pillars The university also opened the door readily said yes when I was invited of the Vincentian-run Adamson for me to participate in the Vincentian to become the second Vincentian University that a 360-degree change Popular Mission, an annual summer Volunteer for the World (VVW) last of perspective happened. Since my activity organized by the Office for year. I was sent to Thailand to teach parents did not have much, I was Vincentian Identity and Mission basic English to grade schoolers in the fortunate to be accepted as a student (OVIM). I first joined the mission in Anuban Thidametthatam Phatthalung assistant and got assigned to the 2012, which was held at Northville School of the Daughters of Charity Integrated Community Extension relocation site in Calumpit, Bulacan. for a year starting last October. Since Services (ICES) office. It was there My two-week stay in Calumpit I was not professionally prepared for that I had a firsthand experience with the other volunteers opened of the Vincentian way of helping my eyes to the real situation of the Continue to page 5

Volume 8 No. 2 / November 2015 - May 2016 3 from page 2 puzzled. It was then that I realized that I could not eat their food; I lost my Eat, Pray, and Love.. this mission would not be simple. appetite because of the smell and taste. apostolic deeds with the less fortunate I understood then that I needed to Homesickness until we finish our studies. double, even triple, my efforts to teach Homesickness was also a big factor them. I needed to be more creative, during my adjustment because it was Looking back at all that I have patient, and understanding of them. I my first time to live alone, without experienced in doing volunteer works needed to learn everything—dancing, my family and friends, and—the and helping socially disadvantaged singing, acting, basic Khmer—so I worst part—outside the country. The people, I realized that I used to do can communicate and teach them possibility of easily running to them it just so I can fulfill my scholarship properly. And I really put an effort when I needed them became harder. requirements and have time to bond in all of that. It was funny that my Because of these challenges, questions with my friends. But then I began music playlist was no longer about came to my mind: Is coming to this doing it every Saturday, every month, the hottest music nowadays; instead it country to render volunteer work a every typhoon, until I got used to it; was full of children’s songs because I good decision? Why did I put myself I began to appreciate and love the needed to memorize it. Every night I in a complicated situation where I experience. I started looking forward would watch children’s action songs on am uncomfortable? I already had a to our next volunteer work because YouTube and learn how to dance to life at home, had a paying job, I am I was sure now that I will grab every it. Every week I would patiently teach comfortable with my family and chance I get to help people, regardless them at least one English song so they friends, and I could do whatever I of whether I get something in return. can be confident that they will learn wanted to do. English eventually. Challenges and Adjustments The turning point My first three months in Cambodia Culture, religion, way of life, My turning point came when I were terribly shaky. There were and food came face to face with the children’s moments that I almost decided to It was also hard for me to adjust to their situation. It was the reason why I surrender, quit the mission, and just beliefs, customs, and food, due to the decided to continue my volunteer work go home. But within that first three differences between our cultures. First, than quit. months I also realized why I needed to most of the citizens of the country are continue the mission and do my best Buddhists, while most of us Filipinos Many of the children were victims of in helping the socially disadvantaged in are Christians and Catholics. They abuse and at risk for human trafficking. Cambodia. My three-month adjustment follow their own ways of celebrating Sometimes the children would go to in Cambodia had four major issues: their religion, which is totally different the center with marks of lashings on language barrier, culture, homesickness, from Catholic celebrations. It was hard their backs. We saw how their parents and my turning point. because as a foreigner in their country, terribly spanked and cursed them in I have to respect and follow their front of a lot of people even though The language barrier, conflict, beliefs. As we say in Filipino, ikaw ang what they just did small mistakes. and lack of interaction with nakikitira sa bansa nila, dapat ikaw ang the locals mag-adjust at hindi sila. Because of their poverty, some of Cambodia is not similar to the the children and their families were Philippines where most of the citizens Second was their way of life and easily fooled by illegal recruiters and can speak both their native language customs. There were times when I unscrupulous people. Children and and English. The fact that I did not needed to change some of my habits, teenagers were sold to sex slavery, know how to speak their language which were acceptable in our country, became factory workers without affected my communication with them. because it was not allowed or bad receiving any amount of money, It became hard for me to teach the for them. One example was hanging became organ donors. The worst part children and communicate with the clothes higher than your head; they was some of the children were being locals properly. I felt stupid, rattled, and said it is not good because you are trafficked was sold by their own parents. stressed, wondering what I needed to disrespecting yourself as a person do to understand them. because the clothes are higher than you. One of the things that I am grateful for as a Filipino is the affection that is I remember the first time I stepped Third was their food. Their primary always present in our families. Filipinos inside the classroom to teach. I felt so taste was either sweet or spicy. For know the importance of hugging confident at that time because from example, their noodle soups taste sweet, children, of letting them know that are what I have observed from the teachers, while their papaya salad was so spicy. loved. Cambodians are different; the it was an easy thing to do because they Another curiosity was their steamed children here do not receive enough were just teaching the English alphabet. mixture of pork and preserved fish affection from their parents or family. So I entered the classroom, saying to topped with beaten eggs that you They rarely hear—sometimes never— myself, “I can do it.” I greeted them, need to eat with fresh (not blanched) that their family loves them. Most “Good morning, class!” but the students vegetables such as cabbage, string beans, parents also think that education is did not react. Next try: “Please stand and cucumber. I lost some weight nonsense because they will not earn up!” Still, nothing; they just looked during my first three months because money from it; it would be much better Continue to page 10

4 TOUCHSTONE from page 3 them stories or started conversations their affection and passion in learning to help them understand. It was like makes the tiresome day fulfilling and A Journey to Discovery.. a drama presentation every time worthwhile. I have just spent three the work of an English teacher (I am and it was very fulfilling to hear months of doing volunteer work an accountant by profession), I had to the “Ah!” of the students when here in Thailand but I am really high enroll in a three-month preparatory they did understand what I shared. spirited and eager in continuing the English Language Teaching course The students also tried their best to Vincentian way of charity for the at Adamson. I also took the express in English. Every time I walk months to come. Test of English for International along the corridors they will call my Communication (TOEIC) after name and greet “Good morning” or If one would ask me again what is arriving in Thailand. “Good afternoon” (although they volunteerism and why did I volunteer, would often they interchange the I would say that God has a unique At first I had a hard time connecting two). I would always smile to myself way of leading a person to be one. I with the students, especially those in when I overhear them using English was called, and I responded. I believe the lower grade, as I have very little expressions like “Oh my god!” it is my role to serve the Lord with knowledge of the Thai language. “What?” and even simply replying yes the best that I can with a Vincentian However, as the days went by, they or no. Such joy indeed! way of doing it. started feeling comfortable with me and tried their best to ask and/ One incident that happened lately As Saint Vincent de Paul once said, or answer questions in English. I was when one of the school’s English “Is it not the duty of fathers to look was assigned to teach all levels from teachers was talking to a Thai teacher. after the needs of their children? grades 1 to 6 and three sections of The English teacher said, “Teacher, Since God has put us in the place of Kinder 1. Due to the varied levels of the pla is delicious”(Pla means fish in their parents to save the lives of these understanding among the students, Thai). One of the Kinder 3 students children, to raise them, and to instruct the school divided them based on said, “No, Teacher. It is fish, not them in saving knowledge, we must their performance levels. I provided pla.” We all laughed, feeling proud take care not to fail in a task so dear enrichment activities for the better at hearing the student correct the to him. After their own mothers have ones so they will not be bored, while teacher with the English word for pla. left them exposed on the doorsteps, if I did remedial sessions for those we too should neglect their care and having a difficult time. Teaching a second language is not an education, what would become of Since I did not know Thai and my easy task at all, but hearing and seeing them? Could we consent to see them students barely knew English, I had to students make an effort to learn is all all die, as used to happen in this great be creative; I did gestures while telling worth it. The warmth that I felt with city of Paris?” (CED XII:89.)

Volume 8 No. 2 / November 2015 - May 2016 5 Teacher Talk: A Grade As Lovely As A “Three” and Grade-Giving Options For Students by Alejandro “Dondon” Nueva, Jr.

efore the semester officially determine the extent of the student’s some students comes to a close, a teacher is classroom learning? Or put in another will always score Btypically busy checking piles of way, beyond grading to what extent relatively worse than test papers and computing the students’ does that grade given to a particular their classmates, such low scorers final and semestral grades. This is one student measure his or her learning will receive low grades no matter of the most taxing tasks that gnaws a ability? This poses a cogent and genuine what. Relative grading system uses teacher’s schedule and drains his/her concern not only for teachers and the students in a given class as the quality time with their family and loved students but also for all education normative group, and not all the ones, and, admittedly, this also imposes stakeholders. students whom the teacher has taught a heavy toll on his/her social life, not in the past. to mention on his/her recreation and Discussions on Grade-Giving relaxation mode. Good thing is that, Options 3. Aptitude-based grading. When by way of consolation, the time and Consider this discussion, quoted grading on aptitude, a grade is given hours spent in checking the papers at length from the book Classroom to each student base d on how well and in computing the grades and the Assessment, What Teachers Need To the student performs in relation to gargantuan effort that goes with it is, Know by W. James Popham (2004, 4th that student’s academic potential. In in a manner of speaking, still “paid.” Edition): “Generally speaking, there order to grade on aptitude, of course, Submission of requirements to the are three major options available to the teacher needs to have an idea of department and college comes next, teachers when they describe how well what students’ academic potentials otherwise the month-end salary will be a student has performed. Teachers can really are. To gain an estimate of each held in abeyance pending clearance of use (1) letter grades, (2) numerical student’s academic aptitude, teachers accountabilities. grades, or (3) verbal descriptors. Most either have to rely on the student’s of us are familiar with letter grades prior performance on some sort of When a teacher assigns or dispenses (A, B, C, D, F). Teachers are also academic aptitude test, or instead, grades, there are criteria or conditions allowed to add pluses or minuses to must form their own judgments about sine qua non that must be followed letter grades. A numerical grading is the student’s academic potential. The and observed, without which, the usually organized around some chosen main argument in favor of aptitude- whole idea of teaching becomes a vain number of points such as 100, 50, or based grading is that it tends to “level exercise and earning a college degree 10. Verbal descriptors are used instead the playing field” by grading students becomes a ritual and, ultimately, the of numerical or letter grades when according to their innate gifts and academic institution or school becomes teachers rely exclusively on phrases thereby encourages students to fulfill simply a diploma mill. such as “excellent,” “satisfactory,” and their potential. A problem with this “needs improvement”.” grading approach, as you might Adamson University Grading guess, is the difficulty of deciding on Formula “Then, let’s look at four common just what each students’ academic In Adamson, both teachers and students grade-giving approaches: potential really is. are aware that a “university formula” 1. Absolute grading. When grading of 30/30/40 is in place, which means absolutely, a grade is given based on 4. Pass/Fail grading. When teachers that 30% of the semestral grade is taken a teacher’s idea of what level student grade on a pass/fail basis, they are from the prelims, 30% from midterm, performances is truly necessary. An essentially establishing a specific level and 40% from finals. Added to this is absolute system of grading, are indeed, of proficiency required for a “pass”, the 60% for class standing requirements legitimate levels of expectation then dividing students into two consisting of attendance, quizzes/exams, for students, which, although groups–the passers and the failers. take-home assignments or projects, judgmentally devised by teachers, From a teacher’s perspective, pass/ recitation, class participation or group must be satisfied in order for specific fail grading is reasonably simple activities, and other variables depending grades to be awarded. for making decisions about most on the teacher’s grade-descriptors students.” that he/she adopts in his/her class 2. Relative grading. When teachers or subjects; and 40% for the major grade relatively, a grade is given based But wait, there’s more. exam (prelim, midterm or finals). Thus on how students perform in relation “Hodgepodge grading. Because of combined, the 60-40 scheme (or a total to one another. Thus for any group of the several grading options available of 100% for each grading period) serves students, there will always be the best to teachers, how do most teachers as the very basis for the computation of and the worst performances. Those end up grading the students? Well, the semestral grade. who outperform their classmates several researchers have recently will get high grades irrespective of concluded that most teachers assign What’s interesting to ask is this: Does the absolute caliber of the students’ hodgepodge grades. A hodgepodge the grade given to each student performances. Conversely, because grade is one based on the teacher’s

6 TOUCHSTONE loosely combined judgment of students’ internet that one just need to read the posted in his Facebook account— (1) assessed achievement, (2) effort, (3) thread in Kwentong Adamsonian and with the hashtags #encodingofgrades, attitude (4) in-class conduct, and (5) the many netizens’ Facebook posts. #turningwateragainintowine, and growth. During the 76th Commencement #exercisingmercyatitsfinest—had this Exercises which I hosted at PICC message during the encoding of the A teacher who employs hodgepodge last year, I took the occasion to ask grades last semester which somehow grading typically hopes for uniformly the graduates this question: “Which gives clarity to the teacher’s giving of high performance in all five areas, and number combinations, in your opinion, grades: “Giving something what’s due recognizes that really poor student is acceptable to an Adamsonian in terms him is JUSTICE. But giving someone performance in any one area might lead of grades especially in Math and major beyond what’s due him is CHARITY. to lower grades. Students’ achievement, subjects? Choices: a) 5-5-5, b) 3-3-5, c) LOVE. VINCENTIAN SPIRIT. effort, attitude, conduct, and growth, 5-5-3? Of course, you know the answer Getting high or low grades doesn’t however, are all combined subjectively because you are an Adamsonian! make one less of a real learner in the by the teacher.” real world.” To underscore this phenomenal Policies on the 70% Passing grade-consciousness circulating in Last March 30, 2016, Atty. Vincent Isles, Rate in Exams and Zero- the net among Adamsonians, one can who teaches Philippine Constitution Based Performance only marvel at this literary piece that and Government, also posted this Having discussed the above, I beg encapsulates every student’s quest to get message on his Facebook account: “To to draw your thoughts to the new a passing grade of 3.0 at the very least. my dear students: Don’t worry so much grading system that was set in place Entitled A Grade As Lovely As A Three, that I only give you just 3.0 or 2.5 or for institution-wide implementation a it goes (acknowledgment and credit is 2.0. Years from now, or even just next few years back in our own university. given to the writer): semester, it won’t matter. We instructors I am referring to the 70 percent are required to give grades because passing in examinations and zero-based I think that I shall never see the system expects us to give grades, performance. A grade as lovely as a “three” but grades are only remotely related A three that’s earned by blood and sweat to what you have learned from us and Under these policies, a student must When failing is a serious threat what you really need to learn. obtain a 70 percent passing in quizzes A three I’ve asked from God all day True learning, real lessons, are not and exams. For example, in a 50-item Knowing praying is the only way found inside the four walls of our quiz or exam, a student must get 35 Exams are taken by fools like me classrooms. I’d rather see you realize points of correct answers in order to But only God can give a three. that an extra centimeter of sheet cover pass such particular quiz or exam. On will protect the engine better than the other hand, if a student misses a Conclusion be able to remember the formula for quiz or exam without any valid reason Definitely, more can be added to stress and strain. I’d rather see you stand or justifiable cause as stipulated under this spread in view of the nature and up to police brutality than be able to the Student Manual on absences, a varying interests of the topic, but I memorize the Bill of Rights. student is given a grade of zero – an would conclude by going back to my equivalent given to a student for question earlier, “Does the grade given I’d rather see you warn the rallyist having no quiz or exam; this being to a student determine the extent of the Molotov cocktail coming his understood that a student does not of the student’s classroom learning?” way from the back than enumerate have any measurable performance in Indeed, it may be asked that beyond the elements of direct assault and order to assign a numerical value to his grading to what extent does the grade disobedience to agents of persons in grade. This might work disadvantageous given to a particular student measure authority. on the part of the students, but this his or her learning ability? measure is fairly adopted in the campus I’d rather see you learn than just get a as an answer to the call for a high-level Atty. Jay Rallang of the College of grade.” academic standards, especially in the Business Administration posted this in light of the university performance in his Facebook account: “My friends (in Sounds agreeable? What say you? board examinations that will have an the academe) were telling me [that] impact across the curricular offerings I am pretentious, as I project a strict As Adamsonians, you are successful of the school. The significance of these and terror disposition, but quick to beyond the measure of the grade that internal policies may be studied and add points and adjust grades, wherever you get or obtain, and intelligent evaluated by the school authorities to and whenever. Really, I am that easy to beyond your teacher’s description of validate its continued imposition or please. For I believe that while the law who you are in the subject that he adoption. may be harsh, it does not render us all teaches. Get a life by learning lessons – heartless. Indeed, grade determinations, not just earn your grade! Adamsonians’ Unique Culture like labor cases dispositions, should and Literature on Grades not only be secundum rationem but also Mr. Alejandro Nueva, Jr. is currently the Meanwhile, there is a unique culture secundum caritatem.” Coordinator of the Student Recruitment of obtaining a grade of three (3.0) or Section under the Office for University passing grade among Adamsonians With a ready answer on the above Relations. He was previously a professor especially in Math and major subjects. question, Prof. Jay-R Dapat of under the Social Sciences Department and It has created a lot of posts in the the Languages Department also taught for 20 years.

Volume 8 No. 2 / November 2015 - May 2016 7 The Love Lives of Famous and

By Anthony M. Lim

clearly remember a friend of requested to provide bail money. We this guy was hexed by this witch. mine last year. He was madly and kept reminding him that she was Then she began having calls; our Ihopelessly in love with a really merely taking advantage of him and friend heard her call him a stalker; she pretty tisay. He introduced us to her that there was no love; so long as began using a young man’s picture as as if he was going to win this girl as she knows how in love he was then her cellphone’s background photo; his girlfriend. However, after a few she would dig more into his pocket. then, in the end, she dumps him weeks something disastrous happened: This intelligent man became dumb like a hot potato. After all his foolish The girl of his dreams dumped him. with his foolish emotion. He would efforts and wasted money, he lost in Worse, he was used—he was made to always reason out that she was just his struggle to win her. He suddenly spend for her families’ needs to the testing him. We wanted to confront got sick, he got himself drunk a few point that when her nephew gets into her when we found out that she got times, and kept crying. Love can be trouble with the law he his tablet and his new iPhone without sometimes negative. was always even returning it. But it was useless—

heart would cave in if ever these (Engagements were announced a year women would shed tears over ahead of the wedding in newspapers his departure, so it had to be a during the 19th century). But while secret. she agreed to the marriage, she gave certain conditions for doing so, such Unfortunately, as Rizal stayed as that she would never, ever play the in Europe quite long, his piano again nor sing. She also burned relationship with Leonor hit Rizal’s letters and placed the ashes rock bottom. It started when inside her wedding dress. It would Rizal became famous with his take weeks for her to recover. Rizal, controversial novels. The Rivera in turn, wrote to his friend Ferdinand family was afraid that anybody Blumentritt about the incident. In related to Jose Rizal may get the final chapter of his love affair 1 into discriminating trouble. with Leonor—the woman That Leonor’s mother started he truly loved—she dies reminds me of the love hiding all letters coming from childbirth, although lives of famous and infamous people from Rizal through other sources said she in history. Let me begin with Jose the post and bribed died of a broken heart. Rizal, our national hero. We will talk the postmaster general But before she died, about his “great loves” as opposed to not to send Leonor’s she requested that she his other flings. The first one was of letters to him. With be buried in the clothes course Leonor Rivera, who—believe this, Leonor reasoned she wore when she first it or not—was his cousin. How come out to herself that their 2 met Rizal and that some an intelligent man like him would fall relationship has finally of his unburned letters be for a relative? come to an end. She then placed inside her coffin. decided to marry an English engineer The first time Rizal met her was at named Henry Kipping. However, Rizal would move on from this Casa Tomasino, his uncle Antonio’s when Leonor’s mother relaxed her break-up with French-Filipina Nelly boarding house, when Rizal was guard, a letter from Madrid came Boustead, with whom he had a taking medicine at UST. It was love through; Leonor then realized that rivalry with Antonio Luna. Boustead at first sight; he was amazed by her Jose was true to her, after all. She turned down Luna in favour of Jose beauty and her intelligence. She was a confronted her mother about the Rizal, but her family would not agree well-rounded person. She could sing letters, and eventually her mother with Rizal’s proposal of marriage and play the piano; she would often showed her Rizal’s letters. mainly because they thought Rizal entertain great people in their house was not rich enough for Nelly or in gatherings with her talent. No Leonor now faced a dilemma over since they never saw him working wonder Rizal was love-struck. When pushing through with her wedding in Paris. Their main reason, though, Jose Rizal was practically forced into to Kipping, since she still loves Rizal was Rizal’s refusal to convert to studying abroad, his brother Paciano and not the Englishman. In an act Protestantism. made sure he would not be bidding of supreme sacrifice, she chose to farewell to his mother and Leonor. go ahead with the wedding so as The last woman in Rizal’s life was Paciano knew that his brother’s to avoid any family embarrassment Josephine Bracken, an Irish-American 8 TOUCHSTONE e look as well to other that this purported son of Hitler had men who changed to change his entire name because the Wthe destinies of their Allies or the Russians may vent their kingdoms and countries because By Anthony M. Lim hatred on him. The sources from this of their uncontrolled love. One of book is highly questionable, however. them was Adolf Hitler. We all look at him as a heartless murderer, but What people forget to realize this most hated man had a love life. was that Hitler fell madly in love In an article published by Reuters with his niece Geli Raubal, the in the late 1970s it was mentioned daughter of his half-sister Angela. that when defeated France Geli was described as blond, with in the early stages of World War II, a beautiful singing voice, and he was searching for his son from exceptionally pretty. Hitler would a French woman whom he met suggest to his half-sister that they when he was corporal during World stay in his rented villa so he could see War I. However, this rumor and her often. In one of his books, the undocumented sources were author William L. 4 dismissed later on. In another book Shirer described published in 1980, it was mentioned how Adolf Hitler would Hitler was losing interest living in . She was with introduce in pursuing the leadership her stepfather when she met Rizal, her to of the German nation. He who was a practicing ophthalmologist his party mourned for many months, then. She was not as educated as leaders and as if he would never recover. Rizal nor was she prominent like friends; it After Geli’s death, Hitler him; she was a servidora, or a waitress, was said that 5 never fell in love seriously. in a pub in the former British colony. it can be seen Some sources said they have met in his eyes how in Here comes Eva Braun, a model before, in Dapitan instead of Hong love he was with her. He was and an actress. Kong, but what was definite was jealous every time he saw her She would that the relationship became close talking with his bodyguard or only when they met in Dapitan. Rizal’s entertaining young SS recruits. serve parents and sister were not in favor of Hitler hinted that he was as a her not because she was accused of planning to marry his niece being a spy for some Spanish friars, despite opposition from a lot but mainly because she was nobody of Nazi party members. Hitler mistress compared to their brother and son. was getting soft. He preferred but Both Josephine and Rizal would to spend time with her and not married end up co-habiting because Rizal waste so much time on politics. Hitler would not accept the conditions of People like Heinrich Himmler before 6 the friars for them to get married. A became alarmed; he knew that their death by child would be born to them, named if Hitler fell in love it would be suicide in 1945. Hitler never wanted Francisco, who lived for just a few doomsday for the Nazi party. to talk of marriage due to the fact hours. he wanted the admiration of ladies A few days after a party meeting for political gain and also because of Josephine would be the last woman Geli was found dead in their the demands of running the war in in Rizal’s life. After Rizal’s death, apartment with a gunshot Europe and Africa. Josephine married another Filipino wound in her chest. German named Jose Basa who unfortunately newspapers pronounced it If Geli had lived to marry Hitler, abandoned her. She died as suicide, but her death was there probably would never have in Hong Kong and actually highly suspicious; it was been a world war or the massacre of was buried in a suspected that she got entangled the Jews, Gypsies, and Slavs. Perhaps pauper’s grave. with the Nazi members because Geli could have stopped him. Prof. Anthony Lim is a professor of History, Rizal, and World History at Adamson University. He finished his bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies at UST and obtained his masters in history from Ateneo de Manila University.

Photo Ref. 1 http://driftwoodjourneys.com/the-colorful-life-and-times-of-dr-jose-rizal/ 2 http://rizalisthename.blogspot.com/2014/07/nine-woman-linked-with-rizal.html 3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Bracken 4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Führer 3 5 http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geli_Raubal 6 http://www.themakeupgallery.info/lookalike/consorts/evab/evamisc.htm

Volume 8 No. 2 / November 2015 - May 2016 9 from page 4 Eat, Pray, and Love.. if the children start of porridge that her sister bought for willing to help with lots of humility, working at young the two of them delightfully like it was patience, and love. age because always their first time to eat a good they can help meal. In the afternoon they would wait Lessons learned: Eat, Pray, augment for the cook to give them food that Love family they can bring home. I pitied them finances. because these children have the right to eat a good meal three or four times EAT One such a day. As a Vincentian Volunteer I needed story is Srey to always look happy and strong. As Neang, a cute The story of Srey Neang was just one DC sister told me, “When we five-year-old one of the hundreds of stories of the are facing the poor, we always need who was small children catered by the center. When to wear the mask of happiness and for her age. She was a I learned that most strength because we need to be happy student at Lindalva Center, one of the of them were and strong for them. All the hardship DC sisters’ centers. She was a beautiful experiencing and burdens they have experienced girl with Indian features, smart, and abuse and should already be enough. If we a good dancer. Srey Neang attended violence, I show them that we are tired classes as a Level 1 (preschool) student. realized that and that they are a burden to God brought us, they might feel that they Every Friday we would have a personal me here are worthless people. And as hygiene activity where we gave the because he Vincentians, we are here to children a bath, as most of them did wanted me to lift them up, not to bring them not take a bath nor changed their share my love down deeper.” clothes. We gave baths by batch and to these children. gender of the children. When all of her I also realized that But how could I do that? By eating. classmates had undressed I saw that she I needed to stay and It is one of the simplest ways to release did not want to take off her clothes. help these children avoid situations that stress, relax, and gain more energy. I I came near her and said, “You need lead them to forced labor, prostitution, learned that eating Cambodian food, to take a bath. Can we take off your human trafficking, and illegal organ tasting every bit of it, is a good way of clothes?” She seemed embarrassed, but donation. accepting and appreciating them and allowed me to help her. When I took their culture. Every dish has a different off her clothes I was stunned at the Quit, or continue? story and these stories were about their number of lashes and wounds on her Sr. Eulie Desacula, DC asked me that way of life. Sumptuously tasting each back. I was at a loss for words and the question towards the end of my third dish will let you see all the sides of their only thing that I could do was just hug month in Cambodia. At that time, I had culture, good or bad. Enjoy it, and you her. I couldn’t ask her directly what a misunderstanding with one of her would be happy to taste it again. happened, because I know she will not staff members. She asked me whether understand me and even if she does, I I was comfortable with my stay at the When people from other cultures see wouldn’t understand her either because center, with teaching the children, you eating their food, it would initiate of the language. So I asked the staff and and about my personal and working trust, acceptance, and respect, and they teachers at the center and they told me relationship with the staff. I remember will sincerely give to the same to you that she and her older sister used to be her telling me,“Madali lang naman eh. in return. When I did the same and the locked up inside their house the whole Kung ayaw mo na, eh ‘di uwi ka na sa locals saw me, they started to accept me day until their parents came home Pilipinas. Puwede ka nang bumalik sa kung and stopped doubting my intentions to from work in the factory. They were ano ka sa Pilipinas. Pero kung itutuloy mo be with them. locked up since no one could care for ito, mas marami pang mangyayari dito na them. Sometimes they were locked up hindi mo ine-expect, mas marami ka pang without any food for the whole day. mae-experience na maaaring makunan mo PRAY When the parents came home from ng life lessons... Yung mga nangyayari sa’yo It is not that I do not know how to work and saw the sisters crying because dito, hindi lahat ng tao nae-experience yan, pray; I’m saying that to be away from of hunger, they would beat the sisters yung mari-realize at matutunan mo dito iba the culture and faith that you used to to keep them quiet. One staff member sa Pilipinas.” have will lead you to be more faithful also told me that she saw Srey Neang to God because He is the only one you once at the market running towards I realized that God was challenging can run to when you are down and her, crying. Srey Neang told her that me. He will not give me a task that share, too, when you are in your delight. she was very hungry and haven’t eaten was effortless; He will put some tricks Living alone in a different country was anything for the whole day. The staff and obstacles on it and it is up to really hard; you need to accept that you gave her money then to buy food for me to give up or continue. I decided are alone and no one will help you but her and her sister. to continue my volunteer work yourself and your faith. I learned how in Cambodia no matter how hard, to pray silently; I learned how to pray When I stayed at the center, every emotional, or tricky it was; I will do for other people, how to appreciate morning I would see them eat a bowl my best to be that person who is always all the things that I encountered, the

10 TOUCHSTONE goodness of good and the goodness of bad through prayer, and I learned how from page 12 Cirilo F. Bautista: A Glimpse not to be doubtful of His plans for me. Because we are poor, tin, and what-have-you—that make my father warned me against for a wall and whose occupants feast LOVE politicians and policemen. on crumbs and lick their fingers salted When we love someone we become They live in big houses, he said; by dried fish and eat burnt scales and inspired, happy, and energetic. There they will shoot you down crush the crispy bones between their is a magical power that makes us if they don’t like your look, he said. angry teeth. It is, no doubt, thrice heroes—strong and capable of doing difficult in this country, compared anything. Being open-minded, We ate brown rive and dried fish to Dunn’s, to make sense of one’s generous, and forgiving simply comes roasted over glowing coal. existence. The lines my mother grew out of our character. And when we I swallowed even the burnt scales old each day// and each day weighed love someone, there is the initiative to and the little stones in the grains. us down// with the burden of living always think first of the happiness and We sat on the floor while eating, have the resonance of the struggles betterment of the ones we love. and ate with our hands of the downtrodden who are stunned by candlelight. There is not much each moment by the weightlessness The love that I am talking about is the to see to eat, anyway, my father said, of an empty stomach. Look, Prof. love that I did not expect to feel or and I would laugh and chew. Bautista told us, it is as it was when realize: the love of My mother grew old each day I was young. He was narrating to us serving the poor and each day weighed us down at that moment the politicians who and people in with the burden of living. Even doled out what they had stolen. What need. I only the mangy dogs pondered surprised me was that we were not realized their fate, walking slow and sad-eyed, discussing his poem. It was only years this when later when I read it in his Believe and I served in as if to their execution. This was all long ago, you understand,, when Betray, a recent poetry collection that Cambodia. I recalled such instance in our class. Before, I was young and happy. I did not know the meaning of poor until one day, I used to 5. Prof. Bautista’s inclination to sing at election time, the politicians think that I of his country’s woes carved in us only helped and their policemen descended the virtue of a generous spirit who other people on our hovel bearing gifts of food constantly writes of things beyond because I pitied and money. Look, my father said, personal concerns. I think now that them, and helping them was my way they are giving us back some maybe, he wished too as we do that of paying forward all the blessings of what they took away from us. like Dunn’s persona, these ball-belied, that I received from God. This kind barong-clad leaders would descend of love came to me after I began He almost told the same thing in one day in the poor’s makeshift houses enjoying teaching English songs to the one of our classes to make think that to say: children. This love taught me how to he knew the circumstances by heart. be more patient, humble, sincere, and That poverty which stabs an incurable These people, I wish them well. I understanding, and it made me feel scar in one’s consciousness, and wish them meal. very happy and inspired. which is fostered by greedy people And mean it. has disgraced our puny adventures. I realized that it is hard to stand as a Indeed, there is no denying the all- About the Author Vincentian. We are servants of the too-familiar-sights of hovels festooned Prof. Radney Ranario teaches literature at poor. Every day we need to think of with all sorts of sheets—plastic, paper, the Languages Department. improving the lives of those who are in need. As what St. Vincent de Paul said to a young DC sister before he died, “The street will be long and that the poor will forgive you your gifts and selfish and to believe that all bad unfriendly, the stairs and the poor of bread.” situations will be repaid with a good often ungrateful. You will soon find life lesson. charity a heavy burden, heavier than This mission had a great impact on my the jug of soup or the full basket. But life. With this mission my vision of life Reflecting on all these things that I you will still be pleasant and smile. grew bigger; I learned to understand have learned in this mission, there is no Distributing soup and bread is not the deeper meaning of love, patience, doubt that I will return to Cambodia everything. The rich can do that. The happiness, and forgiveness. Now I and give another year of my life in poor are your masters and you will find understood why God gave me this kind service of the poor. them terribly exacting masters. So the of opportunity and what is my purpose more unattractive and dirty they are, is in this world. Now, I understand that Title credit: “Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s the more rude and unfair they are, the gaining happiness in life is to learn how Search for Everything Across Italy, India, more you must lavish your love upon to appreciate all the plans and blessings and Indonesia” by Elizabeth Gilbert them. It is only by feeling your love that God gave us without being greedy

Volume 8 No. 2 / November 2015 - May 2016 11 intruding persistently that I momentarily CIRILO F. BAUTISTA: A Glimpse forgot about the great poet beside me: (A Homage to National Artist for Literature, 2014) By Radney Ranario Ang buhay namin sa Balic-balic ay baku- 1. What to make of him, I do not bako know really. Maybe, he is all that Nalalatagan ng bubog at tinik ng siphayo. I do not think and none that I do. Maybe not. Or who knows? I ushered him to the second floor of St. Theresa’s Building to meet the chairperson when we arrived. Then, we He is broad of forehead and with proceeded to the Media Center where the lecture would small, round eyes that are at once bold be. and bashful. Bold because he looks at you with such sharpness as to seem to impose. Bashful because It was something we already knew, the lecture. But he doesn’t seem to mean to look at you at all. He carves somehow, we seemed to fail to grasp the virtues of the in the space rather what he says and you wonder what it figures of speech that they sounded greek. There was is that is being carved and finds no sooner that the space indeed much to discover about the stunning effects of where the carving has been is in between your eyes. You oxymorons and paradoxes that seize us and direct our almost become him. Bold, bashful. attention to the mystical beauty of the poetic art. Or about the arresting enlightenment of an irony in a poem’s 2. When I first saw Professor Bautista, I was a young conclusion that restores the logical balance among the student at PNU. He lectured then, I believe, in the library varied elements therein. theatre about poetry and commented on some poems he wrote. He told the audience a little of the history of Among the pieces, Douglas Dunn’s A Removal from his Pedagogic and how it came to be. I listened with Terry Street impressed me. The lines went: amazement as he narrated how, in a foreign land, he walked through the woods in autumn and saw the leafless branches On a squeaking cart, they push the usual stuff— stretched their brown, flaming fingers. It was that among A mattress, bed ends, cups, carpets, chairs, others that I recalled vividly. The solitary walk in the Four paperback westerns. Two whistling youths woods, the sight of bony branches, the fingers of trees— In surplus U.S. Army jackets were images I carried with me as I wended my way to the Remove their sister’s goods. Her husband door after the lecture. Follows, carrying on his shoulders the son Whose mischief we are glad to see removed, 3. I taught at Adamson University after graduation and And pushing, of all things, a lawnmower. followed fervently since that meeting his columns in There s no grass in Terry Street. The worms Philippine Panorama. A poem or two appeared in the Come up cracks in concrete yards in moonlight. magazine’s pages which were my source of delight. I That man, I wish him well. I wish him grass. remember alighting in Blumentritt many years ago to buy in one of the decrepit stalls lined up in the pavement some The idea seemed familiar to me and the circumstances back issues of the Sunday supplement. Ten pesos afforded looked as though they were right in my backyard. And why me ten copies at a peso each. The poems were my escape not? The poverty of the family was too much to ignore. from hunger and saved me from the blows of everyday toil. Their makeshift lives, I’d call it was sharply suggested by a catalog of stuff: mattress, bed ends, cups, carpets, chairs, When Prof. Librada Peñaranda, then the head of Languages paperbacks. This was even heightened by a seemingly and Literature, assigned me to get someone to lecture on absurd account of a surplus U.S. Army battle-jackets. A the poetic craft, I snatched Cirilo F. Bautista who at that poignant irony, I thought. A stark contrast between the time was a professor at . He waited explicit adventure in western and battle and implicit for me at the window along the corridor in the fourth excursion of their impoverished existence. Misadventures floor of the William Hall building when I went to fetch both, anyway, a burden much heavier than the mischievous him. His gaze seemed to wander among the houses in the son on the father’s shoulders. To make things worse, the nearby area that now luxuriated in the desire for a shade father pushes a lawnmower, the most ridiculous object to of affluence by propping their walls with concrete. He possess when no grass can be found. That man, I wish him wore a light-blue barong or what seemed one, and neatly well. I wish him grass, says the speaker whose heart must pressed black pants. When we drove, I told him that I did have been torn between pity and helplessness. What more not find his Talambahay/talambuhay in Sugat ng Salita, a can he do than wish anyhow? poetry collection in Filipino. It eased my awe a bit to say something and break our estrangement (I only knew him 4. It was not difficult to figure why Cirilo Bautista chose by his poems and there was nothing by which I could that poem for discussion. It was much too familiar for him be known). I wanted to flatter him a little by praising his to ignore. I learned this when I ventured into his more poems. But knowing how poets of his stature hate such socially relevant pieces. In his To Define Is To Know, he excesses, I kept silent. The comfort of his CRV, a car he scribbled: procured through a poetry contest prize, cushioned my awkwardness. Meanwhile, the lines of Talambahay kept Continue to page 11

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