Elementary School
My mother was a teacher at Albert Elem. School in Sampaloc, Manila and I was accepted even though I was only five years old. A year before that, it was kindergarden but that was like a blur. We walked to school. One day it was rainy and our street floods easily. My father and maid devise a way for us to walk across the water. They use several of the metal chairs we have, and we stood on it. The maid then put the last chair in front so we are able to walk. It was a long walk from home to school. I don't remember how I go home. One day Sheila, a classmate, was reciting. She was in front of me. I don't know why I did it but I put my hand on top of the chair of Sheila. When Sheila sat down, she sat on my hand. Sheila cried. The teacher spank me on my butt and let me out of the room. I went to my mother's room where she is teaching and I sat in the back. I walk to one of the windows and look out. A wasp bit me on my lower eyelids. I was not having a good day. We had a big dance show in the school where we dance to the tune of You put your right foot in, you put your left foot in, and shake it all about..." Perhaps hundreds of students participated. But that all I can remember in Grade I.
Then we moved residence. We were only renting at Washington in a house owned by a grandmother (Lola Tansing). When l. Tansing died, I supposed the building was inherited by Lolo Ige, Tangising's half-brother. Ige asked us to leave the building as he wants to sell it. My father build a house in Manuguit. It is a brand new house in a young neighborhood. So I find myself in 1083 Hermosa St. I entered Grade 2 under Mrs. Manucdoc, Mrs. Cruz in Grade 3, Miss Roque in Grade 4, Mrs. Cruz in Grade 5 and Mrs. Cabautan in Grade 6. There is something called recess where we take a break and buy food at the cafeteria if you have any money. I usually don't have any. I can see our classroom which is a quonset hut leftover from the American army during WWII. The building is like a half-moon construction, wood floor and wood desks. In Grade 4 we moved to a permanent building at Calderon Elem. School. Grade 5 is more memorable. We were at the afternoon classes. Our adviser is Mrs. Cruz. She spends a lot of time chatting with her neighbor teacher that she neglects us. One day, we were up in arms and we stage a strike, meaning we all left her class. She was livid with anger, called us back. She proceeded to harm us by giviing us low grades. The scholastic standing at the end of elementary is determine by the average of the last two years. So most of us, including myself, got low grades because of the vindictive Mrs. Cruz. Fortunately I graduated as Brightest Pupil in Section I. Ha! Grade 6 was not memorable except it is the last year of our elementary school.
So off we go to high school. The school is called the Rizal Avenue branch of Arellano High School but later on became independed high school named MLQ (Manual Luis Quezon) High School. Our class adviser was Miss Poblete. She sings so during sharing period, she would sing with that high voice of hers. Rizal Ave school is by the busy street Rizal Avenue. I walk everyday about 3 miles or so. The building itself is very old probably constructed during the American occupation. Then on our second year, we became an independent school MLQ and we move closer to home. It was maybe a mile from our house. The building is new. I completed my high school in this school and have still friends who were classmates. I married a girl from high school. Nicki or Leonarda has been my classmate since freshman until we graduated in 1961. Nicki is now my wife of more than 50 years.
After finishing high school, I started college at Mapua Institute of Technology. The first two years are general engineering and after than you have to decide what kind of engineer you want to be. My father was a civil engineer from Mapua also; my brother Fred is a mechanical engineer student one year ahead of me. I decide to become a chemical engineer not knowing what a chemical engineer does. That is how we were unprepared for our vocation. After two years at Doroteo Jose, chemical engineers wanna-be go to Intramuros section of Mapua. I received my Bachelors Degree in 1966.
Okay time to get a job. I was told that Union Carbide is looking for young engineers so I applied. I was hired as a trainee, to train for what I do not know. UC makes dry cell batteries. They have three sections in the plant along EDSA. Going there using a bus and/or jeep took about 2 hours and I arrived soaking wet from the heat. Welcome to the real world I thought. I was assigned to a section comprising of a carbon black plant, aluminum smelting plant and manganese ore milling. I was going to be a supervisor there. I am not sure which is the dirtiest or most dangerous section but all of those working there seem to be in big danger of being killed or maimed. I hated this job that led to nowhere so I quit after three months. Okay job hunting again. I read the Sunday newspaper perusing for job openings. I got an interview with Consolidated Foods in Pasig. For two job openings there were a hundred applicants. One of the hurdle is an IQ test which I thought was not a good meter stick for a good candidate. When I was walking by, I heard somebody make a comment that they don't have a chance of getting the job if I am applying too. I was hired. I was being paid 300 pesos a month which is not much. As an engineer in the R&D I do various jobs none of which enthuse me. There are girls in the R&D department graduated mostly from UP. They do all kinds of tasting, test, recipes, etc. During lunch hour we would play poker with the manager of the department and in late afternoon we play at the production manager's office which we kept closed. Meanwhile I continue looking for another job. I got an interview with Esso Standard Eastern and they brought me over to their refinery in Limay, Bataan. I was interviewed by three managers simultenously. The interview went well I believe. Months passed and I have not heard from Esso. So I called the plant and was told the head guy was transferred to Manila. I called him and he called the refinery. They have not filled the job and they are interested in me. So I was hired by Esso and started working in Limay, Bataan. The place is far from Manila and we have to take a boat on Sunday night to go across Manila Bay and arrive at the refinery in the morning. Then I return Friday afternoon to Manila. I was a process engineer. I later learned that this position is given to operators in the plant as a promotion. So they is some resentment that I was hire for this position coming from outside.
