Revisiting memories of my hometown of Tagoloan

Photo by Nelly Montayre

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I was added to this Facebook group called ” Lumad Tagoloan” (Tagoloan natives) where I saw people that I knew in the past who lived in my hometown of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, Philippines.

Aside from “Lumad”, Facebook itself gave us the opportunity of reconnecting to the folks we met early in life.  I met many of them at Tagoloan Central School either as classmates, batch mates or schoolmates.  

I am teary eyed thinking about Tagoloan Central School. I couldn’t think of a reason why except that I am getting older. Facebooking indeed reconnects.

This story is all about special moments I remembered there but allow me first to mention the names of classmates or batchmates I haven't seen in 50 years. 

Nonalyn Eduave or Mrs.Dayen Zamudio as she's now known. We were close that I can remember it well, I don’t know if she remembers it. The closeness has something to do with ranking I guess but never mind that.  We were in the same row always in row 1.  

Class picture

After graduation from Grade 6 she went to Lourdes College and I lost track of her although every now and then I would know what became of her.

The next person I got reconnected to is a neighbor, Nelcita Lao who's one year ahead of me. She is the daughter of Iyo Teting Lao and Iya Meling. I had the gall to tell her you are “Inday.” 

But she asked that she be called Nelly. She is here in the US and she goes by the name of Nelly Lao Montayre.

It took me sometime to get her name but Lynn Wolfe is a classmate of Nelly. I remembered her commenting on a class picture and little did I know that she was Jocelyn Lim. 

Next up is Gerva Celeridad. I requested to make friends with her because I know she is Gerva Tagapulot.  Gerva, Nelly and Lynn are classmates. 

Their stories

There are still many names of people here at Facebook that we met in life that I would deal with sometime soon. I asked the people I mentioned and others on what they remembered about Tagoloan Elementary School and some responded. This isn't just my story but their stories as well. 

But let me kick off this trip down memory lane. I was schooled for the first six years of my life at the Tagoloan Central School and it was the best years of my life because the things I learned there is still with me. 

Then the school became known as Tagoloan Pilot School. I thought then that the name change was because all of the students were smart then I learned that the school would become a lab for teachers to learn the different methodologies of teaching and connecting to their pupils. 

I asked many of my former classmates and batchmates about their memories of Tagoloan Central School and here are some of them. 

Nelly Montayre of San Diego, California, formerly known as Nelcita Lao said she was proud of being chosen to raise the flag during the flag ceremonies in the morning or afternoon.

Whipping

Nonalyn  Eduave or Dayen Zamudio recounted the time when a group of girls went to Baluarte to Rosemary Acac's place for a swim. She remembered Milan Dagus, Gracia Nabong and many more in the group. I was with a group but had a hard time recalling the others. 

“I can't forget this experience,” she said, explaining that she got a whipping from her mother, the late Mrs. Godilla M. Eduave, a teacher at Tagoloan Central School. 

I couldn't blame her mom since Baluarte, a barrio of Tagoloan town, is quite far from the school and it was so hot going there. There were no tricycles then. 

She continued recalling the science and spelling bee contests under Mr. Butler and Bernson who were members of the Peace Corps. “We have fun trying to sound like them,” Dayen said. 

She also recalled about the “ macopa fruits” of our neighbor Iya Tering Lee which we stole whenever we can. I remembered that the macopa tree is at the back of the building where we have our Home Economics class. 

Strong personality

Gerva Tagapolot-Celeridad remembered Mrs. Josepita” Pita” Mijares and Mrs. Abejo, the home economics teacher. She said she learned much about home skills and etiquette from them. 

Photo by Urcel C. Mulvey 

Gerva said Mrs. Abejo would order girls who got naughty in class to walk around the oval outside class with a book on their head. 

Back then, Gerva was boyish and already sported a strong personality.

“She remembers her buddies Villarita 'Rita' Paguidopon, sister of my classmate Rico and Cecilia “Tata” Valdehuesa. I understand they are close because they all lived near the public market or at Kibulda and they went home together,” Gerva said.

From our class class valedictorian Gracia Nabong-Salac, she shared this bit of nostalgia: “We enjoyed picking sampalok (tamarind) at Clea Alaud's place, picking up  guavas in Natumulan Hills at Procesa Barros' place.”

Gracia or Ace, who graduated class valedictorian in elementary and high school, also remembered taking a dip at Tagoloan River and jumping off the high Tagoloan Bridge and going home soaked to her skin. 

Game of the year

Grace recalled looking for materials for Home Economics class projects in Casinglot by crossing a river and climbing the mansanitas fruit tree of Evangeline “Tata” Gamber-Mabagos. 

Just like Nelly Lao Montayre Urcel Casino-Mulvey who is four years younger than my class 67 she remembered the flag ceremony in the morning coz that’s” when you get to see all the students especially your groupie bisan di mo pareha ug section.” Urcel added.

“The recess in the mid morning and mid afternoon where we would then play with whatever is the "in" game of the year be it biko biko, bato lata, kundesi,” she recalled.

Urcel who became Miss Tagoloan in the years ahead and a campus figure at Xavier University already foresee what she would be by saying this during elementary she love closing program because she would always be on it.

“Also at the end of each school year the presentations in which always gyud ko starring (I never starred in),” she said.

Special moments

Gregorio “Gerry” Paduganan who later entered the Philippine Military Academy and retired as Air Force General already knew about his future career then in elementary school when he was made fun of by fellow Boy Scouts.

“Papa Dodoy was one of my scout masters and at one time Mr. Balasi, yes Mr Gapi too. Knot tying always fascinated me so every time there's a contest on knot tying, I always represented my school,” Gerry said.

Lastly for me, I remembered  a classmate who didn't study for tests and I told her she can copy from me in exchange for some favors. She was a good copier that she even copied my name. Oh, Trinidad Rollenas where are you now?

I think that one episode just defined my life in the days ahead. There are still so many moments to tell the next time.  These stories are quite random because I asked from many and got a few replies. 

Next time, I'll talk about the teachers. For now, there are so many memories to remember that it crowds my mind and good. Gerry took quite sometime to recall the memories of times spent in Tagoloan Central School. 

I close my recollections using Gracia Salac's words “We experienced true happiness in timeless moments We shared our dreams, laughter and joy amidst struggles and challenges.”

Special moments constitute memories so precious that no one could erase them. Meaningful and beautiful beyond words. It stays and live in our hearts forever.”

I recalled these words as I was invited to become a commencement speaker in Tagoloan school and believe me, I almost couldn't utter a word as there were so many special moments. Yes, they stay with you even if you're in another country.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)