A few years after World War II, in a safe and quiet town such as Luisiana, Laguna in the Philippines, you would feel the cool and fresh breeze of the mountain air. The only sounds you would hear were the crickets chirping and the roosters crowing just before the day breaks. Then you would hear the sounds of nipa huts' windows being propped open and the footsteps of early risers as they walk on their bamboo-wooded floors.
In a household of 10, living in a small, three-bedroom, bungalow type of nipa hut, you would hear the sounds of fire being started as a woman begins to prepare her family's breakfast - pandesal, a popular breakfast bread in the Philippines, together with some coffee for her husband as he prepares to leave for work.
A small, scrawny boy of eight years old, with chocolate colored complexion and almond shaped eyes, came into the open kitchen located at the back of the house, sleepily rubbing his eyes. He smiled and told his mother or "nanay" in the native tongue, that he loved the smell of pandesal and coffee. He then asked if she needed any help. She replied that she did not, but that he should wake his siblings up so they could all prepare to go to school. It was going to be a long walk for all of them just to go to school, she reminded. He smiled and told his nanay not to worry because their uncle and neighbor would let them ride their carabao with their cousins to school anyway.
Juan was a boy born into a family of 8 siblings. His father was of Chinese decent whose family has taken root in the Philippines during the 1900's. His mother was of European decent whose family has taken root in the Philippines upon the start of World War II. He was born in the sleepy town of Luisiana, Laguna. His eldest sibling was Marina followed by Pocholo. After Pocholo, were two kids who unfortunately died at an early age, one of which was already dead upon childbirth. Next to those two kids were Dahlia then came Juan, then Ricardo and finally the youngest, Basilio.
During their family's stay in Luisiana, his father, Zhi Lok, a tall man with almond shaped eyes, light complexion and an easy going demeanor, was the owner and manager of a school cafeteria while his mother Marietta, a pretty and petite lady with deep set eyes, was both a part-time beautician and a part-time dressmaker - whichever work is available for her.
They lived a simple yet modest life. At least their family could afford sending all the kids to school all at once, unlike some other families in the town or "barrio" who needed their kids to work alongside them just to bring food to their tables. All their clothing were easily made by Marietta and her precious sewing machine. To buy the cloth for all their clothes, Marietta would use the money paid to her by her neighbors and friends for whom she makes clothing for as well.
Juan, a middle child of a simple family during the 1950's was an industrious child. He saw his parents hard at work day in and day out - Zhi Lok having to rise early to walk going to his school cafeteria and coming home at around dinnertime already, only after he finished washing all the dishes and prepare the ingredients for the next day's food and Marietta having to juggle all the house chores and still make time to sew clothing and curl matrons' hair. He emulated his parents hard-work, despite the lack of need for it. So, he learned to do menial things such as collect old bottles, tin cans and newspapers from each household so that he could sell them for additional income. He also learned to shine the shoes of gentlemen or help a neighboring farmer collect his crops.
They would ride a 'kalesa' or a horse-driven carriage going to the church every Sunday morning as a family. They were a religious and traditional Filipino family, that they were. And they were happy. They were a close-knit family who were fond of going to family outings too. They would go to nearby falls like the Paugtulan Falls or in nearby towns such as Los Banos or Pagsanjan where they would go swimming. Juan easily learned to swim like a fish and loved it!
It was a time of simple lives. But of course, a better life is always what everyone dreams of. Besides, it had almost been a decade after the war anyway which made it safe to move into the city. So eventually, the whole family did move, riding a bus, - to Manila, where people from the provinces think of as the city of dreams coming true.
When they moved to Manila, John was ready for high school since he had just finished his elementary schooling. He, along with his younger brothers enrolled in a public boys' school for arts and trades. There, they finished high school with a few years interval.
The family had a quite decent sum saved up which afforded them to move and still live very comfortably. They lived in a small apartment style housing where their parents took in boarders for income. They took in cousins from the province who were all studying college in Manila as well. Zhi Lok would cook for everyone in the family as well as for their boarders, whom are also family anyway but that's how he earned for a living. Marietta on the other hand, was a hit for the ladies of Manila. She had lots of dresses to make and hair to curl, being that she only charged a small amount of money as compared to other dressmakers and beauticians.
They would go back to visit their hometown every year during the the children's summer holidays from school since Luisiana has been known to be the "Little Baguio of Laguna" for it's high elevation and cool climate. They enjoyed spending time with their cousins during the summer-time.
During the school season in Manila though, Juan continued to collect used bottles, tin cans and newspapers together with his younger brothers for additional income. But most of his time was devoted to his school except during times when he would pick up his mother from places where her services as a beautician was required or when he accompanied his mother to the market to buy cloth for the dresses she would make.
But they were in Manila - so different from their simple and quiet hometown! Manila awakened his senses. It was an exotic place for him. There were landscapes that he had never known to exist before, buildings and bridges made by man and wondrous to behold. There were sounds that were new to him, the constant sounds of horses' hooves, of automobiles driving by, of peddlers shouting the name of whatever items they were selling, the laughter of maidens converged together... The smell was also much different than in the mountainous air of his hometown. Here in Manila, there were the smells of water, fish, horses, tobacco and perfumes. The food also tasted different. It almost seemed as if the food from back home were bland as compared to the food in Manila.
He became engrossed with the arts, having had his senses tickled by their new-found home. He practiced making sketches of places and people, trying to capture the beauty that only his eyes could see. And when he got the chance to hold any musical instrument, he would copy the sounds that only his ears could hear. He fell in love for the first time.
There was so much to learn! He was not only happy but excited to learn. He became inquisitive. And his eagerness paved the way for him to learn about automobile and electrical mechanics as well. The technology in Manila was so much more than the technology found in his hometown! He promised himself that he would make sure to travel the world at some point because for him, each place held secrets waiting to be discovered. And because of his new-found fascination with mechanisms of transportation devices together, with his thirst to travel the world, he decided that he wanted to be an aircraft engineer.
When John was finally ready for college, Mina, Peter and Dina were already working. So almost everyone in the family were bringing home additional income to help with the family's finances. Their boarder cousins eventually moved out of their apartment since they also were working already as well as finding their own places to live in. That took out some income for them but nevertheless, it was fine. As said earlier, John's elder siblings were already working anyway. So, this is when they finally moved to a small, two-bedroom apartment along Dapitan Street in Sampaloc, Manila.
Zhi-Lok came home one day announcing that he would open another cafeteria nearby the University of Sto. Tomas, which was just a few blocks away from where they lived. The older siblings told their father that there was no need for that, that they would love to take care of the family financially but Zhi-Lok insisted because he missed being busy anyway. Eventually, it was Marietta who stayed at home most times. But when Zhi-Lok's cafeteria was steadily running, the couple had much time going to balls and having dinners at hotels. They easily lived and experienced a full life.
This time around, they would either just walk going to church on Sundays, since it was just a few blocks away from where they lived, or they would ride a jeepney, a traditional Filipino public transportation which seats about 12-16 passengers at a time or even a taxi. The family pretty much enjoyed exploring Manila all the more.
They went to visit Intramuros, the Walled City, a citadel constructed in the heart of Manila during the Spanish colonial period, which was actually proclaimed as a National Historic Landmark in 1951. They also went on picnics in the Rizal Park, where the Philippine National Hero's monument was built. They would shop in Binondo or in Sta. Cruz, along the Manila's main street, Avenida. They would even watch movies together there. They would go watch Dahlia perform with her cultural dance group at the Manila Metropolitan Theater or at the Philam Life Theater and then eat at the restaurants near the Manila Bay. They would do the Visita Iglesia during the Holy Week and visit seven historical churches in Manila, the likes of which were the Quiapo Church, also known as The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, the Manila Cathedral or the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the San Agustin Church and the Sto. Domingo Church. They were a family who enjoyed immersing themselves with the culture of Manila. They would even go swimming in the Pasig River on warm days.
The siblings, who were all at least teenagers by this time, would also have adventures together without the company of Zhi-Lok and Marietta. They would go on "Cursillo's," a religious retreat for young adults, together. The boys would play sports such as basketball at the nearest court together as well.
Eventually, Pocholo got married and bought a house of his own together with his wife who was a teacher. Both Marina and Dahlia grew up to be beautiful and modest women but still with very strict parents and brothers as well. It was indeed very hard for suitors to even look at them with their informal guards all around them all the time!
Juan, at this time has reached his 18th birthday and was practically a man! He was still a devoted son especially to his mother who doted on him. He was a sweet, thoughtful brother too, especially that he became the eldest son in the household by this time.
As he planned, he studied in a college where he took up Aeronautical Engineering. Despite the fact that they were already living a financially comfortable life, he still chose to take jobs to help support his college education as well as to further learn about the ways of life. His father, being a humble yet successful man, taught him these traits well. So, he worked as a part-time waiter for some simple restaurants and even started a duo band with his brother, Ricardo. They occasionally played at parties and events. There they became a hit with the ladies. They were both very good musicians even without proper training. But Juan was exceptional that he even composed songs during his free time. He was an artistically gifted young man and quite a studious one as well so, studying to become an engineer, despite his part-time work, was an easy enough task for him.
Because of his waitering and musical experiences together with his thirst for education, he learned a lot regarding proper etiquette in social events. He became this extremely well-mannered man. He became a quiet, worldly and dignified gentleman who was ready for whatever the rest of his life has to offer for him.
He became a man who waiting for his destiny to unfold...
Thank you for reading! Watch out for more installments soon!
