Contents (Hyperlinked: Hold Ctrl then click on page number to go directly into article or simply scroll down) 2 AFPSI-PEACE 2015: Choreographed Dances Enliven Event AFPSIs Spring Balls have never been a dull moment. Delightful dances expertly choreographed made 2015 different. See photos and other highlights inside. 6 An Energizing Weekend- (David Deloso, MD) AFPSI former VP, now governor, gives his unique perspective. 7 AFPSI Marks 34 years of Science Serving Each year for 34 years AFPSI holds its Science Quiz Show come rain or shine. One contestant in the last show dominated all three rounds.9 Rizaliana Mania III See images reflecting love and respect for the national hero. Read original articles that follow. 10 Philippine Pilgrimmage 2015- (Sir Juan Castro, MD, KGCR) Excerpts of an article on the Knights of Rizal 20th International Asssembly. Photos added. 12 Rizal and the Big Picture- (Dr. Pablo Trillana III) In this keynote address, Sir Pablo traces Rizals personal development as a multifaceted leader who refined for Filipinos the meaning of love of country. 16 Huling Paalam ni Laong Laan- (Ramon G. Lopez, MD) This great grandnephew of Rizal discovers a Tagalog version of the Last Farewell among his inheritance and posits his Lolo Jose composed it. 18 Huling Paalam- (Tagalog version by Jose P. Rizal?) Scanned copy of a titled, dated and bylined Tagalog version of Rizals enduring poem. 20 Discovering the Literary Secrets of Rizals Mi Ultimo Adios- (Cosme R. Cagas, KCR) Be awed and amazed as the author discovers the literary secrets of the poem whose allure and relevance have withstood the passage of time. 24 Mission Trip 2015. To Tacloban, Ormoc, Digos and Back- (Conrado Abinoja, MD) Dr. Abinoja relates his experience abouta religious, educational and economic mission in three cities, a segment of a Philippine Trip in February, 2015. 26 Delivered from Certain Death- (Eusebio C.Kho, MD) Only a set of fortuitous circumstances and divine intervention saved the lives of the author and his family from massacre by the retreating Japanese Army during WWII. 27 Manong Awi. Chapter 4 of the WWII historical novel, I Shall Return by Cosme R. CagasManong Awi is all pale, yellow skin and bones, unable to speak and dying of fever, shivering and shaking.

30 Silencio- (Lestrino C. Baquiran, MD)

31TwiSTeR -(Cosme R. Cagas, MD) . TheILLINI

Official Publication of the Association of Filipino Physicians in Southern Illinois Volume IV, Spring-Summer, 2015 Choreographed Dances Enliven AFPSI-PEACE 2015 Asamatterofrecordandtradition,aSpring BallundertheauspicesoftheAssociationof FilipinoPhysiciansofSouthernIllinoisis neveradullmoment.Whatmakesthenthe 2015 combined AFPSI-PEACE gala of May 9, 2015different?Intwowords:choreographed dancing.Threegroups,eachwiththeirown age levels, costumes and differing styles, as if in competition, showed off their terpsichorean prowess to the utter surprise and delight of the audience. Thenightbeforewasawarmupwiththe older generation demonstrating they can still kick, shake and shimmy in the playful Filipino line dance Totoy Bibbo in cha-cha-cha time. Theyoungergenerationarguablyshowed themhowtoitbetterandfasterwiththeir version of Uptown Funk. Totoy BibboUptown Funk Attheball,theyoungergenerationcalled TheFridayNightDancersundertheexpert directionofArnelGarciademonstratedhow limberandagilelimbsandbodiescansway, twistandspininharmonytothebeatofTayoyMagsayawan,acha-chaswing.An elitegroupledbyformerprofessional PhilippinedancerYnnaNaguitcapsulizedthe PhantomoftheOperainanemotive, interpretiveandpreciselynumberedstep performanceinred,blackandwhitemask, cape and all. Newly recycled AFPSI president Dr. Nick Pineda starred as the Phantom.

Tayoy MagsayawanPhantom 2 The older generaton refused to be outdone: what theylackinmasteryofstepsandrhythm,they madeupingrace,eleganceanddignityasbefits royalty, not to mention the ladies colorful flowing gowns and stoles. They waltzed away the precious minutes to the tune of the Blue Danube. Royal Waltz Installation of Officers TheofficialpurposesfortheMay9evening event were the inductions of the new officers. InstalledintoofficebyDr.CosmeR.Cagas weretheAFPSIofficersfor2015-16ledby Dr. Nicolas Pineda who assumes the office the secondtime,andthoseofitsauxiliarywith reelectedMrs.LilySantosaspresident(see thePhilippineILLINImastheadforthe completelist).TheofficersofthePhilippine EconomicandCulturalEndowmentfor2015-17wereswornintoofficebyDr.RamonG. Lopez,presidentofthePMAChicago, secretary of PEACE and a great grandnephew of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Induction of AFPSI and Auxiliary officers 3 PEACE officers for 2015-17 Inducting officer Dr. Ramon G. Lopez is at extreme left, and new PEACE president Dr. Urbano Dauz is second from extreme right. Other Highlights We record below some of the other highlights of the evening as summarized in part by out-going AFPSI vice president, now governor, Dr. David Deloso in a related article on page 6.

Dr. Evelyn Yu crowned Mrs. AFPSI byAdmirers pose with Mrs. AFPSI 2015. APPA Immed. Past President Dr. Leonor Pagtakhan-So, assisted by husband Engr. Djien So.

Dr. Cesar V. Reyes. receives PEACE Life Achievement Award. 4LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD To CESAR V. REYES, M.D. For his relentless commitment to excellence in medical education that has pervaded the totality of his professional endeavors. Consequently, he has amassed laudable accomp- lishments in the arenas of leadership, teaching, writing and publishing scientific papers as well as in his chosen discipline of Pathology which led him to occupy top positions in hospitals and medical centers. For decades, he has also continued to serve as editor of several medical publications. Currently he works gratis as consultant in cytopathology and dermatopathology.

5 Back to Contents 5 6 Back to Contents An Energizing Weekend David Deloso, MD

It was an energizing weekend. People seemed to walk with an extra bounce in their step as the members of AFPSI and PEACE congregated for their spring ball. The Hilton Garden Inn at OFallon, once again playing host with a wonderful and photogenic venue paired with a wonderful staff, just seems so familiar and homey for members who regularly attend. Masters of Ceremonies Dr. Macky Sunga and Elcee Conner brought their usual brand of ebullience, comic relief and chemistry to keep the audience transfixed and entertained. Ceremonial/Official business of the organization consisted of what may be the largest swearing in of officers I have ever been a part of. Dr Cosme Cagas graciously accepted a well deserved lifetime achievement award with much gratitude from the membership. And lest I forget the lovely Dr. Evelyn Yu was crowned Mrs. AFPSI 2015. We were honored by the presence of Dr. Necita Roa of UPMASA St. Louis; Dr. Leonor Pagtakhan-So, immediate past president of the APPA and husbandEngr. Djien of Lexington, KY and friends of still active Dr. Nap and Auring Maminta; and Dr. Ramon G. Lopez and Mrs. Marylyn Lopez of Chicago. We also welcomed as new member cardiologist Dr. Pahan Saha and wife Nina of the Prashant and Dolly Shah clan. After having tuned their well worn voice boxes the night before Drs. Solomon Apostol and Carlos Deleste wowed the crowd with their musical numbers. Dr. Ban Dauz member of both AFPSI and PEACE likewise belted out a few. But for dramatic effect one could ask for nothing more than the duets from pretty and petite Erica Salarda as Christine and the masked marauder himself, Dr. Sol Apostol, as the Phantom. Their Broadway quality rendition of the theme song was later reprised by a stunning dance number led by incoming president Dr. Nick and Kay Pineda. The Filipino theme dance number was carried by Dr. Arnel Garcia and his gang "The Friday Night Dancers" who brought back Swing with VST & Co's Tayo'y Magsayawan. But for sheer pageantry none could top a classical Viennese waltz headed by Elcee Cagas Conner in full Regalia. Truly there was something for everyone in this years AFPSI spring ball but the true exclamatory purpose was the strengthening of our ties both professional and collegial. The Association of Filipino Physicians of Southern Illinois Officers, 2015-16 Nicolas Pineda, MD- President Elcee Cagas Conner, RRT- VP Carlos Deleste, MD, Pres.-elect Erica Salarda, MD- Secretary Grace M. Farinas, BSN-Treasurer Venerio Santos, MD-Auditor Chris Conner, BFA,MCouns- BM.Cesar Yu, MD-Exec. Dir. Emma Sunga, MD, Imm. P. Pres. Board of Governors Calixto Aquino, MD Solomon Apostol, MD Claravel Criste, MD David Deloso, MD Arnel Garcia, MD Marcos Sunga, MD Board of Advisers Albert Butalid, MD Cosme R. Cagas, MD Virginia Dauz, MD Emma Sunga, MD Jose Villegas, MD Evelyn Yu, MD Auxiliary Officers 2015-16 Lily Santos -President Julie Garcia, VicePres. Arlette Amorado, MD-Secretary Ynna Naguit-Treasurer Georgina Zurliene- Auditor 1 Vivian Deloso- Auditor 2 Freddie Salarda- PRO Board of Governors Wilma Aquino Ann Butalid Linda Cagas Grace Farinas Board of Advisers Wilma Aquino Elcee Cagas Conner Mellie Chatto Grace Pineda Kay Pineda Editorial Board Cosme R. Cagas, MD- Editor Urbano Dauz, MD David Deloso, MD Rebecca Geronimo, BSN Virgilio R. Pilapil, MD Associate Editors Office of the Editor 1 Bunkum Woods Drive Fairview Heights, IL 62208 Crcagas@aol.com ccagas2@gmail.com AFPSI Marks 34 Years of Science Serving For34years,yearafteryear,comerainorshine,thisassociation, small in numbers but big in heart, has given away science scholarships tothetopthreeorfourhighschoolstudentsinSouthernIllinois. Foundedin1978,theAssociationhelditsfirstScienceScholarship QuizShowonDecember6,1981attheBellevilleEastTownship HighSchoolafteroneyearofplanning(PhilILLINI1:No.4, Summer-Fall 1980). Why Science Thespiritbehindthesciencescholarshipsmaybegleanedfromthe followingexcerptsfromDr.CosmeR.Cagasvaledictoryaddress beforeAFPSIinMay1981(PhilILLINI1:No.5,Summer-Fall, 1981): Ouryouthneedstoknowandsometimesweadultsneedtobe reminded that this world, through the years, has been made a better place to live in, not so much because of Broadway or Hollywood, or even the Super Bowl but because there had been men like J enner wholistenedtoanoldwivestaleaboutcowpoxprotectingagainst smallpox,menlikeBenjaminFranklinwhotamedthelightingor von Steinmitz who captured the thunderbolt; because there had been physicists who unraveled the secret of the atom; and because there had been biologists who put together the complex jigsaw puzzle of the genetic codescientists all. OnNovember9,2014,twentycontestantscompetedattheCarlyle High School gym, the site of the Quiz Show for the last several years undertheleadershipofDr.AlbertandMrs.AnaButalid,longtime chairs, AFPSI president Dr. Emma Sunga and Auxiliary president Mrs. Lily Santos. Drs. Erica and Vanessa Salarda sang the national anthems andDr.DavidConnerservedasQuizmasterandassistedbyElcee Cagas Conner. Members of AFPSI came in droves to serve as judges, provide assistance or simply to enjoy and soak in science facts. 7ThescoreboarddiligentlyrecordedbyArch. FreddieSalardaandAFPSIVPDr.David Delosoroundbyroundtellspartofthestory. ThefirstroundsawAJDigiovaniofAlthoff CatholicHSaheadbytwopointswithseven others tied for second place. AJ also appeared todominatethesecondroundtyingwith Elizabeth Medlin of Mater Dei Catholic HS at 33 points. Thedecisivethirdroundthatgavebonusesto correctanswersandpenaltiestowrongones and largely determined by how quick and how disciplinedarethefingersthatpressedthe buzzers,foundaclearwinnerinAJ Digiovanniwith55pointsfollowedbyE. Medlin with 49 and Keshav Kumar ofSalem CommunityHSwith47,eachrompingaway with$600+trophy,$300+trophyand$150 +trophy, respectively. From left, Quiz Master Dr. David M. Conner, AFPSI President Dr. Emma Sunga, second place winner E. Medlin, champion AJDigionani, third placer K. Kumar, AFPSI Auxiliary PresidentLily Santos, Quiz Show Chairman Dr. Albert Butalidand Dr. Cosme R. Cagas. 8Back to Contents 9Back to Contents PHILIPPINE PILGRIMAGE 2015 20TH International Assembly, Knights of Rizal (Excerpts of article originally published in the MOKOR Gazette, June 29, 2015. Photos added) Sir Juan M. Castro, MD, KGOR ThetriptothePhilippinesintheyear2015was madepossiblebythe20thInternationalAssembly oftheOrder of Knightsof Rizal, on February 19-22,2015heldinthebeautifulandfabulous HeritageCityofVigan,IlocosSur,Philippines. BeforetheSpanishEra,Viganwasconsideredan important coastal port particularly by the Chinese. OnJune12, 1572, Don JuandeSalcedo, visiting from Manila, named it Villa Ferdinand de Vigan afterPrinceFerdinand,sonofKingPhilipIIof Spain.ByRoyaldecreein1758,itbecamethe Diocese of Nueva Segovia and Ciudad Fernandina de Vigan, after King Ferdinand VI of Spain. Vigan CitywasdeclaredbyUNESCOasaHeritage Cityin1999andasoneofthenew7Wonder Cities of the World in 2014. The Order, mindful of itsdesiretoexhibittheculturesofthecity,had selectedthesitefortheInternationalevents.Itis alsothehometownofourSupremeCommander, SirJeremiasJerryC.Singson,KGCRandthe latePhilippinePresidentElpidioQuirino(1890-1956),whosignedtheRA646intolawin1951 (Order of the Knights of Rizal). . Duringtheconvention,we,LadyAidaandI,got to see delegates from the Central Area Command, Ladies Elena Pilapil, Virgie Abinoja, Alex Manois andLindaCagasandherdaughter,ElceeCagas Connerandgrandson,Christopher.TheKnights includedSirs,EliFaypon,AnongSantos,Clem Manaois,RudyTapalla,NitoCrisostomo,Raul Fermin, Allan Capati, Gil R. Pilapil and Cosme R. CagasfromIllinois,SirsMelGarraton,Randy Datu,LopeLindioandBenOngocofromTexas and Sir Al Katzenberger and Conrad Abinoja from St. Louis, MO. We had a large delegation from the USCentralArea.Wemissedourusuallectures. Apparently thiswas not carried out due to lack of timeintheannouncementandisnotlegal. However,weenjoyedalotofcamaraderieand wisewholesomeadvicesfromourleaders speciallySirHilarioG.Davide,Jr.,KGCR,past SupremeCommanderandChiefJustice,Supreme Court, Philippines. 10 Part of MO-IL delegationWith KOR Tagum, Davao del Norte Ionlyhaveadmiration,joyousaffectionand lastingmemoriesforthisconvention.SinceI joinedtheKnightsofRizalin2009,Iattended alltheinternationalconventions,attheManila Hotel in 2011, in BaguioCity in 2013 and now inViganin2015.Icansayhonestlyand truthfully that this is the best ever, so fabulously andglamorouslyentertainingandhospitable.I wokeupeverymorninglookingforwardto savoringthedeliciousbreakfastattheCiudad FernandinaHoteloftheirbibingka,Vigan longganiza,friedeggs,etc.Itwasafeast!I greatlyappreciatedtheaccommodationand hospitalityoftheownerandstaff.Idontmind coming back someday if I am still around. 11 Back to Contents

Rizal and the Big Picture (Keynote speech before the Knights of Rizal 20th International Assembly.February 19, 2015, Vigan City, Philippines) Dr. Pablo S. Trillana III Averylongtimeago,theagingEmperorof China felt it was time to choose his successor. He called his three sons to court. He told them togoontheirseparatejourneysandfindthe mostbeautifulcrownintheworld.Afterone year,theyshouldreturnandshowtheir crownsincourt.Hewouldthendeclareas ChinasnextEmperortheonewhocould present the most beautiful crown. A year later, the Emperor assembled the court andcalledforhisthreesons.Thefirstson openedhisboxand,loandbehold,it containedaverybeautifulcrown.Thesecond openedhisboxand,loandbehold,italso containedaverybeautifulcrown.Thethird sondidthesameand,loandbehold,it containedyetanotherverybeautifulcrown. Themurmurofadmirationspreadthroughout thecourt.Buttheyknewthedecisionwould be difficult to make. In the flow of that moment, the third son took his crown, placed it on the second crown, and thenplacedbothontopoftheremaining crown.ThenhebowedtotheEmperor.The Emperor stood up, announced it was the most beautifulcrownpresentedtohim,and declaredhisthirdsonasthenextEmperorof China. Thestoryofthecrownsisanorienting paradigm of transcendence and inclusion. The crownswereseparatebutnotseparated, differentnordissociated.Andthroughtheir nestingcrest,weareabletoseeadeeper meaningtheprogressionofconsciousness towardsthebigpicturethatenablesusto perceivetheManyinOneandtheOnein Many much like seeing the numerous trees, 12 raindropsandcolorstounderstandtheforest, theoceanandtherainbowinarivetingrain dance of transcendence and inclusion. T.S.EliotintheFourQuartetssaid:We shallneverceasefromexploration,andthe end of all our exploring will be to arrive where westarted,andknowtheplaceforthefirst time.Morepoignantly,Rizalexpresseda similarthought:Anghindilumingonsa pinanggalinganayhindimakararatingsa paroroonan. Rizalsstory,likeyoursandmine,isan exploration that begins and ends with life. We all fill it with pain and joy, love and rejection. Itssumtotalistheevolutionofhuman consciousness,ofhumandevelopment.What isimportantisnotsomuchthemapbut walking the terrain to arrive at the conjunction ofthepinanggalinganatparoroonan,the story we must each complete in life. Development of Leadership and the Big Picture Letusnowwalktogethertorecallcrucial eventsinthehumandevelopmentofRizal, particularlyonleadershipandthebigpicture, toempathizewithwhywearewhoweare today. Thequalitiesofonewhocanleadcanbe perceivedevenwhenRizalwasveryyoung. Asaboy,hisfamilyoftenbroughthimon boatridesaroundLagunaLake.Ononesuch anouting,ashewasgettingofftheboat,the tidesweptawayoneofhisslippers.Seeing thattherewasnowayhecouldretrieveit,he tossed the other slipper into the lake. Why did you do that? his mother asked as if hersonhadgonemad.Hereplied,Ifsome-onepicksuponeslipper,itwouldntdohim any good, which was why he tossed the other slipper two slippers made a useful pair. Therewasmethodtotheboysmadness. Weseeintheanecdotetheworkingsofhigh intelligence.UnbeknowntoRizal,heata tender age was already seeing the big picture! Notanisolatedpieceofthepuzzle,butevery piececongruenttothenext,sothat,likethe crowns, all the pieces came together to form a beautiful, unbroken whole. Theslipperanecdotewasntthefirstsignof theyoungJosesbroadvision.Awayfrom play,heoftenponderedonwhatpeopledid beyondCalamba,ofwhattheworldwaslike outsidethestonehouseandsurroundingrice fieldshegrewupin.At 8,hewroteSaAking Mga Kabata where he warned that Ang hindi magmahalsasariling wika/masaholsahayop atmalansangisda.Thesecerebralexercises wouldgraduallypresshimtothinkouthis entirelifeandleadhimtothebiggestpicture hewouldeverperceiveloveofcountryand beyond. The Achieving Leader HisbroadeningvisionwasnowturningRizal intotheAchievingLeader,morematurein valuingandrespectingothers,risingin accomplishmentswithandthroughthem,and pursuingexcellencefairlyanddecently (Jaworski). At 18, he won the first prize for A La Juventud Filipina, followed, at 19, by another first prize forElConsejodelosDioses,bothextolling and arguing for character and self-worth. Thenin1882,now21yearsold,hewroteEl AmorPatrio:Theloveofcountrycannever 13 beexpungedonceithasenteredtheheart becauseitbearsadivinemarkthatmakesit eternalandimperishable.Hecalledfor enduranceandsacrifice.Horace,thegreat Romanpoetwhodiedin8BC,eightyears beforethebirthofChrist,alsospokeofsuch love:Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. (Itissweetandfittingtodieforones country!) TobeFilipinobecameanobsessionwhen Rizal lived abroad. He wanted Filipinos in the archipelagotosharehisprideofracetobelie Spanishinsolencethatindioswere worthless.Heshowedthemtheirpast,their present,andtheirfuturetheircomplete story. HeannotatedAntoniodeMorgasSucesosde lasIslasFilipinas(1890)tounderscorethe honesty and industry of pre-colonial Filipinos. Hewrotehisfirstnovel,NoliMeTangere (1887),toforceFilipinostoconfronttheir tragicpresent.ThenhefolloweditwithEl Filibusterismo(1891),hisincendiarycallfor politicalchangethroughrevolution.Andto primeupFilipinosforthefuture,hepenned thepropheticLasFilipinasDentrodeCien Aos,torevealtheemergentpossibilitieson the wide road to progress that layahead for Filipinos. His works were years ahead of T. S. Eliotspoeticprognosis:Timepresentand timepast/Arebothperhapspresentintime future/Andtimefuturecontainedintime past. Intheseworks,Rizalbegancreatinganew consciousness,aclimateofopinionthat questionedtheexistingsocialorder.IfSpain, after more than 300 years of rule, had nothing butcontinuingslaverytooffer,itwastimeto break away and be free. Unfortunately,theroadtoindependencewas notonlybumpy,inmanyinstancestherewas no road at all. When things didnt pan out,Rizallookedforalternatives.Hecouldnt build his ideal society in the Philippines where hewasbrandedafilibustero,sohesethis sightonSandakan,thenthecapitalofNorth Borneo.Andwhencircumstancescrossedout Sandakan,hebroughthispoliticalagenda underground. UponhisreturntothePhilippinesfromHong KongonJune26,1892,hesecretlyestabl-ished,sevendayslater,theLaLigaFilipina, his great mission to found the nation. Arrested forsmugglingsubversiveanti-friarleaflets into Manila. Spanish authorities banished him toDapitanonJuly15,1892.AndLaLiga Filipina floundered. Dapitanthenbecamethemicrocosmupon which to build his ideal society.Although an exile,hefoundinthisfarawayMindanao pueblonotaprisoncellbutaninstructive environmentthatwouldfilloutmanydetails of Rizals big picture. The Servant Leader His leadership qualities now leap significantly into the role of the Servant Leader, one who uses influence and power to serve and develop others.Hehasadeepawarenessoftheinter-connectednessofalllife,asenseofrespons-ibilityforthelargersocialsystems,and thrives in times of turbulence and complexity. (Jaworski, 2012) InDapitan,Rizalhadnopositionofpower andmuchisolation.Yethedidntletthese obstaclesgetintheway.AsGoethewould haveadvised:Whateveryoucando,or dreamyou can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. HedevelopedDapitanwiththeauthentic presence of a leader who attractedbecause he was unfolding a future full of possibilities. 14 The folks of Dapitan, including eventually the townsofficialdom,sensedthisgoodnessand cametogetherforthecommongood.And Dapitan flourished. It helped that in September 1892 Rizal won in alottery.Hesentpartofthemoneytohis father in Manilaand repaid hisfriend Basa in Hong Kong. During his firstyear of exile, Rizal bought an abandoned16-hectarefarmintheseaside barrioofTalisaywherehebuiltapermanent home.Subsequentlyaddingmore,heplanted histotal70-hectarelandholdingswith numerouscacao,coffee,abaca,coconutand fruit trees. He introduced modern farming methods using fertilizersandcroprotation.Heencouraged entrepreneurshipbyexample:heengagedin the buying-and-selling of copra and hemp, and inmanufacturingbricks.Hetaughtfishermen scientificfishingmethodstoincreaseyield and formed a cooperative to break the Chinese trade monopoly in town. HehelpedbuildDapitansfirstwatersystems, light its streets using coconut oil, dredge its canals tocontrolmalaria,andbeautifythetownplaza withflowersandaMindanaomap.Allthewhile, hecontinuedcorrespondingwithfriendsand scientistsinEurope,collectingspecimensof reptiles and insects, andwriting poetry, aBisayan vocabularyandhistory.Oftenhewouldponder and reflect and write ceaselessly. Healsobuiltahospitalwherehetreatedthepoor forfree.Heputupaschoolforboys,hislabor-atory for molding his concept of the whole man, topreparethemfortheunpredictableworldout-side - where wisdom mattered most. Duringhisexile,Rizalalsoenvisioned developingsitioPonotnearSindanganBay. Blessed with water, favorable climate and rich soil,Ponotcouldthrivewithportfacilities, 5,000headsofcattle,40,000coconuttrees, andsugarcane,coffeeandcacaofarms.But governmentgavenosupport.(Quibuyen, 2011). And, on July 31, 1896, Rizal left Dapitan for Cuba tojoinSpanishforcesfightingCubanrebels.He wanted to prove he was no traitor to Spain. Nearly the entire town and itsmarching band saw off the man who had empowered them to live better lives. Theyknewtheywouldneverseetheirbeloved doctor again. And they cried. DapitanwasathrowbacktothelastchapterofEl Filibusterismo. Here we find the rebel Simoun and PadreFlorentinohuddledoverthenovels question:HowwouldFilipinosrightthemany wrongs that Spain had let fester for centuries? What is to be done? asked Simoun. Sufrir y trabajar(Endureandwork),repliedPadre Florentino,addingwemustwinour freedombydeservingit,byimprovingthe mindandenhancingthedignityofthe individual,lovingwhatisjust,whatisgood, what is great . WeseemtodismissthepowerofPadre Florentinosadviseasdisconsolatewords.Its powerlieshoweverwherewerefusetosee.The peopleofDapitanfollowedtheadvise.They endured and worked. And the result was a society thatbecameprogressivebecauseitspeopleand leadersweretruthfulandloving.Thatisthe mystiqueofDapitan:itwasthesuccessful prototypeofLaLigaFilipina.Andthatiswhyit shouldbemorecriticallystudiednow.Footfalls echo in the memory, down thepassage we did not take,towardsthedoorwedidnotopen,intothe rose garden. (T. S. Eliot, Burnt Norton, 1935) The Renewing Leader ThisbringsusnowtoBagumbayanandthe RenewingLeader:thisleaderembodiesthe qualitiesoftheServantLeaderbuthas matured into a deeper, more subtle level of 15 consciousness. He exhibits a capacity for tacitknowingandextraordinaryperformance, makinghimapowerfulchangeagentinthe world. (Jaworski, 2012). Rizal exhibited it all. He had a tacit knowing of his dying,dreamtofitonthenightof30December 1882inMadridand,exactly14yearstotheday thereafter, fulfilled it in Bagumbayan. Hewas long prepared, had put in order all that I must leave behind, he said (Letter to del Pilar, 11 June1890).Hisdefenseduringthetrialwas dignified, unassailable in an impartial court. He was ready. His spirit was unbroken, his strong willpowerincontrol,hisappearancespotless,his countenanceserene,hisconscienceclear.Ihave always loved my poor motherland andI shall die blessing her When the bullets fired that fateful morningof30December1896,hisdyingwas impeccable, his face lying up, welcoming the blue sky. Andindeath,Rizaltookloveofcountryarung higherinconsciousnessintotherealmofthe spiritual.Rizalenvisagedacountrynotsimply strengthenedbyindependenceandmaterial progress but one guided by a moral compass. He told us where he was going: donde no hay esclavos,verdugosniopresores;/Dondelafeno mata,dondeelquereinaesDios.(where therearenoslaves,nobutchers,nor oppressorswherefaithdoesnotkill,andwhere He who reigns is God). Love was the X-factor. only love can workwonders,onlyvirtuecan redeemRedemptionpresupposesvirtue, virtuesacrificeandsacrificelove!Rizalsaid inElFilibusterismo.From1882,whenhe wroteElAmorPatrio,andupuntilhisdeath in1896andbeyond,Rizalcontinuously refined for us Filipinos the meaning of love of countryuntilwegotthebigpictureandthe nation we desire. Back to Contents

Huling Paalam ni Laong-Laan(A Missing Rizal Manuscript Found?) Ramon G. Lopez, MD Thereweremanyinstancesoftragediesand upheavalsthathadoccurredwiththeRizal familyduring the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.Amongthemwasthescorched-earthsackingofCalambaonSeptember6, 1890whereinthirtyfamiliesincludingthe Rizalswerebanishedfromtheirhomes, divestedoftheirproperty,andwithalotof theirfamilypossessionseitherconfiscated, dispersed,orlost.Twentyheadsoffamilies it had swelled to forty byMarch 1891 were deportedtothefar-flungislandofMindoro, andwith300familieseventuallybeingleftin savaged and ravaged ruin. Weasanationnowrecognizeandgive homagetoDr.JoseRizal,aforemost Philippinenationalherowhowaspersecuted andmartyredbymusketryonDecember30, 1896.HewastheseventhchildofDon FranciscoMercado,andDoaTeodora Alonso. Of a more contemporary event within this century, was the advent of World War II in the Philippines. About ten hours after the insidious attack on Pearl HarboronDecember7,1941thesiegeonthe Philippinesstarted. In great haste and disarray the Rizalfamilyhadstartedtodisbandintodifferent groups and different directions in the provinces of Luzon.Pricelessfamilypossessionsandheirloom werehurriedlyapportionedbymyLolaMily (DoaEmilianaRizalvda.deLopez)beforethey left for Laguna to seek refuge in Mount Makiling. She was the widowed mother of my father, the late EdmundoRizalLopez.LolaMilywasthe daughterofGeneralPacianoRizalandLola Severina Decena. She had married her first cousin LoloAntonioRizalLopezwhowasoneofsix children of Lola Narcisa Rizal and Lolo Antonino Lopez. 16 To Eugenia, theoldest child andonly daughter of LolaMilyandLoloAntoniowentthewedding dressofDoaTeodora,andaleatherpocketbook ofDr.JoseRizal.Shehadalsokeptaletterof Lolo Paciano thanking her for greeting him on his 77th birthday. All these were lost as their house in Pacoburneddownduringthewar.Tothesecond siblingFrancisco,wasgivenforsafekeepingthe originalandlastcompletedbookthatDr.Jose Rizal had written while in exile in Dapitan. This is hisiconicbookoforacles,HaecEstSibylla Cumana(sic)(It isThis SibyllaCumana).Sibylla isaseeressintheancientGreco-Romanculture. This playful parlor game complete with a top to bespun-showsthelilting,humorous,andlight sideoftheherospersona,probablyreflectinghis less-stressedlifeinDapitan.Thisbookremains extant,andisinthepossessionoftheGeneral PacianoRizalclan.Replicasarecommercially available.Thefourthandyoungestamongthe siblings is Jose, and was given a wristwatch of Dr. JoseRizal,aRizalfamilysaltcellar,andan engravedsterlingsilverteaspoon.Theseareall still in existence. To the third child - my father Edmundo who isnow2yearspassedatage96,wasgivena fewrelicsandsomemanuscripts.Quitea numberofyearsagohehadhandedthemto me with an injunction that I should take care ofthembut,nothingelse.Withalittlebit morediscerningeyes,afewyearsagoIwas astonished to find that one of these old, fairly-preserved,yellowishmanuscriptsisan elegantly-scribedpoeminTagalogentitled Huling Paalam dated 30 Diciembre 1896 ,andsignedbyLaong Laan!(Seecopy exclusivelyfortheSpring-Summer2015issueof the Philippine Illini on page 18). Laong Laanmeaning Ever Prepared, orLaging HandainPilipinowasthenomdeplumeofDr. Jose Rizal as he wrote articles for the newspaper LaSolidaridad,anorganizationfoundedin1888 byFilipinostudentsstudyinginEuropeasthey espousedpoliticalandsocialreformsinthe Philippines. The Farewell poem of Dr. Jose Rizal is the most translatedpatrioticpre-martyrdompoeminthe wholeworld,andisconsideredasoneofthe greatestlyricalpoemseverwrittenintheSpanish language.Thisiconicpoemwhichhas14stanzas with5lineseachwas writtenon a15.5 cm. x 9.5 cm.pieceofpaper.Itwasmadeundated, unsigned, and untitled by the author as to conserve space.Thismasterpiecehas46Pilipinodialect interpretations,38foreigntranslations,and35 English transcribed versions. InJanuary,1897inHongkong,MarianoPonce wasthefirsttotitlethispoemasMiUltimo Pensamiento.FatherMarianoDacanayon September25,1898whileincarceratedfor nationalisticactivities,publishedthepoemwith the now accepted putative title Mi Ultimo Adios inthefirstissueoftheLaIndependencia newspaper. In the Huling Paalamni Laong Laan the first stanza reads Paalam na, giliw lupang tinubuan, bayang masagana sa init nang araw, maligayang Eden sa amiy pumanaw at perlas nang dagat sa dakong silangan. IhaveresearchedtheknownTagalogtranslations ofthisFarewellpoem,andfoundthoseof Andres Bonifacio, Nieves Baens del Rosario, Jose Villa Panganiban, Pascual H. Poblete, Gullermo E. Tolentino,andofAntonioB.Valeriano.Icould not locate the translated Tagalog version of Julian Balmaceda.Thefollowingarethetitlesandthe first lines of the different authors versions Andres Bonifacio: Title: Pahimakas ni Dr. Jose RizalFirst line: Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam Nieves Baens del Rosario: Title:Huling Paalam First line: Aalis na ako, baying sinisintang kahalik ng araw 17 Jose Villa Panganiban: Title: Pahimakas Ni RizalFirst line: Paalam na, Bayang sintanghinahalikan ng araw Pascual H. Poblete: Title:Huling Caisipan First line: Paalam na sintang Lupang-Tinubuan Guillermo E. Tolentino: Title:Ang huling Paalam Ni Rizal First line: Paalam na, sintang Bayan, lupang kasuyo nang araw Antonio B. Valeriano: Title: Ang Pahimakas Ni Gat Jose Rizal First line: Paalam, bayan kong nimumutya, lupang pinagpala ng araw Thefirstlineofthefirststanzaofthetranslated versionsbytheserenownedanddistinguished authors are different. The intriguing question is who wrote the Huling Paalamasdated30Diciembre 1896,and signedby Laong Laan? Inmy formativeyears, Ialwayshadthatburningquestioninmymind whymyLolowouldnotwritehissupreme messagetohisbelovedcountrymeninthe languagetheycouldunderstand,whenonlyabout 15%ofthenativepopulationwerethenfluentin Spanish.WritingthepoeminTagalogdoesnot precludehimfromdoingoneintheCastilian language. Likewise,whilegrowingupIhaveheardsome talkamongtheeldersespeciallyfrommyLola Mily that Lolo Paciano have been translating some of the works of his younger brother Jose. He lived up to the ripe age of 79. It is not beyond our great hero - who was "Ever Prepared" - to have in hand two versions of his Farewell' poem to his country and people. The nuances by lens comparative analysis by me of his handwriting seem to bear out that "Huling Paalam " by "Laong Laan " , could be written by Dr. Jose Rizal. (Wholly written by Ramon G. Lopez, MD, June 21, 2015. Copyright reserved.References available upon request. Back to Contents 18 19Back to Contents Discovering the Literary Secrets of Rizals Mi Ultimo Adios(Basis of talk given before the Lincolnland Chapter, Knights of Rizal, Springfield, IL on September 26, 2014) Cosme R. Cagas, MD, KCR To begin, lets recite or read aloud Stanza 1 of MiltimoAdisintheoriginalSpanish. Listenforoneparticularwordthatisalso found in Stanza 2, 8, 10and 13. Thatword is the keyword of the poem. Sinceearlyinmyyouth,Ihavebeen fascinatedwithRizalsunsigned,untitledand undatedpoem,namedasMiltimo PensamientobyMarianoPoncein1897,as UltimoAdiosbyFr.MarianoDacanayin 1898andlatermorepopularlybyothers,as MiltimoAdisorMyLastFarewell.I memorizedstanzasofthepoemwithoutfull understandingoftheirmeaningdespitean earlyEnglishtranslationbyCharles Derbyshire(1911).Throughtheyearsthere had been numerous translations in English and otherlanguagesincludinginCebuanoand TagalogthatIspeak.IalsotookSpanish coursesincollegeandtrytowriteandspeak this language from time to time. But it was not untilIbeganwritingthehistoricalnovel,I ShallReturn(seeRizalintheHistorical NovelIShallReturn,PhilippineILLINI, Spring-Summer, 2014),that I gained a deeper understandingandfullerappreciationofthe poem. Inthenovel,Ishowedhowthelifeand teachingsofRizalarereflectedinthelives andactionsoftheprincipalcharacters(p.131, andcontrastedhowhewastreatedbythe SpaniardswhileimprisonedinFortSantiago (p.287) and how the members of the resistance movementinWWIIweretreatedtherebythe Japanese(p.288).Furthermore,Itranslated intoEnglishselectedstanzasfrommyown understanding of the original Spanish with the helpofSpanish-Englishdictionaries.Inmytranslation, I endeavored first, to be as literal 20 as possible inorder to retain the authors ori-ginalmeaning;second,torhymetheend words;andthird,perhapsuniquely,tohave thesamenumberofsyllablesintheEnglish translationsasintheSpanishoriginal.Note thatIcouldnotreproduceRizalsrhyme schemes (see p. 132 and below).

Inthatarticle,Iexplainedbrieflythe timelessnessandpresent-dayallureofRizals hauntingpoetry.InthispresentationIwould liketoenlargeonwhatIconsidertheliterary secretsofhispoem.Whataresecretstome maybeobvioustoothersbutImakethis presentationinmystandpoint,henceIregard theprocessasadiscovery.Ishalltherefore describehowthepoemhascaptivatedme. Today,Imemorizeallfourteenstanzasby heart.Iwillrevealthesecretsintheorder that I understand and appreciate the poem, not necessarilyanidealwayofanalyzingpoetry in general. Keyword Of course the keyword is Patria (fatherland). Indeed,thepoemisaboutloveofcountry. ThereisnothingthatRizalwouldnotgive awayincludinghislifeforhisbeloved Filipinas.Evenindeath,heconsecrates himselftoserve:inStanza10,line5,by singing (Soy yo, querida Patria que te canto at ti); in Stanza 11, line 5, by his ashes carpeting thefields(elpolvodetualfombra);andin Stanza 12, line 3, by being a vibrant and clean note to his fathers ear (Vibrante y limpia nota ser para tu odo). Immediatelyinthefirstlineofthepoem, Rizals bids farewell to his Patria in a manner asifheistalkingtohisfatherwhocansee, hearandfeel;understand;anddoallthata humanbeingcando,nottoathingmadeof soil,trees,waterandair.Inline2ofStanza 13,RizalspecifiesthenameofhisPatriaFilipinas,asifsheisamother,againa sensinghumanbeingwhocanhearhislast farewell(oyemipostreradis).BothPatria andFilipinasarerhetoricaldevicescalled personification.WhenthepoetinStanza7, line1asks,djalalunavermeconluz, heisgivingthemooneyestosee,therefore anotherexampleofpersonification.Inall stanzasbutthelast,Rizal,thepoet,istalking to his father, a man.

Rich Imagery Mi ltimo Adis portrays rich imagery by the effective use of metaphor and other tropes or figuresofspeechlikepersonification.In metaphortwounlikethingsthatactuallyhave something important in common are compared byimplication.Thisisparticularlyusefulin poetrywherecondensationoreconomyof wordsistherule.Afterthepersonificationof Patria,smackinlines1and2arethe metaphors, regin del sol, Perla and Edn! In afewwords,Rizaldescribeshiscountryas tropicalwiththeconnotationsofeasylife, warmtemperature,lushvegetation,and diverseformsoflife;comparesittoa beautifulandpreciousobjectadoredand sometimesworshipped(asinapearlisa temple);andgivesittheultimateepithet, Edn,thatconjuresimagesofpurity,primal beautyandprelapsarianinnocence.Butalas, RizalsEdn,hesadlynotes,hasbecomea paradiselost(shadesofJohnMilton)!Joya (jewel)(Stanza4,line3),anotherbeautiful metaphorechoesPerlaoftheopeningstanza.SincePatriaisidentifiedwiththemasculine genderandPerlaandjoyawiththefeminine, thecomparisonmaybecalledamixed metaphor.Inthesamesense,Patria (masculine) and Filipinas (feminine) are alsomixed. The above mentioned metaphors are 21 the obvious ones, among others, by their earlyplacementinthepoem.Butifonelooks closely,hewillfindrichimageriesand metaphorsthroughoutthepoemsuchasthe breakingofdawnintoday(Stanza3,lines1 and 2) (que el cielo se colora anuncia el da tras lbrego capuz), which is echoed in Stanza 7, line 2 (Dj que el alba enve su resplandor fugaz) and the evaporation of rain by a blazing sun(Djqueelsol,ardiendolaslluvias evapore/ Y al cielo torment puras...) (Stanza 8, line1and2).Thebreakingofdawnfroma darknightintobrightdaycanbeametaphor for the coming of a new era of peace, freedom and prosperityand theevaporation of the rain bythesuncanbemetaphorforthecleansing ofwhatillsthecountry.Wastheresomething wrongwithFilipinasduringRizalstimethat needs cleansing? How about today? The poem was probably written shortly before Rizalfaceddeathbyafiringsquadand thereforethetoneisunderstandablyand appropriatelysad,grave,andsentimental, moresothanJulietswordstoRomeo(first balconysceneinShakespearescelebrated work), parting is such a sweet sorrow. Rhymes Theuseofrhymesandothersounddevices makeMiUltimoAdiosamusicalpoetry.The endrhymesthatappearineverystanzahave thesameschemaofABAAB.ThusinStanza 1, the da in querida (line 1) rhymes with da in vida (line 3) and da in florida (line 4) and the enineden(line2)rhymeswitheninbien (line5).AndnotefurtherthatRizalsend rhyminghasaminimumoftwolettersasin the en in eden and bien; has three letters as in idainquerida,vidaandflorida;hasfour lettersasinridainqueridaandflorida. and hasamaximumoffivelettersasinlirioin delirio(Stanza2,line1)andlirio(line3)and asinterioincementerio,misterioand salterio(Stanza 10) . Note these are all per- fectrhymes(asopposedtonearrhymes)! They dont only sound the same, they are also spelled the same! NowthatIhavepointedoutallthese,arent youamazed asIam? Ifyouare, beawed and beamazedagainifIpointoutthatRizals rhyminggeniusdoesnotendwithend rhymes.Beawedaswellwithhisinternal rhymes:inStanza1forexample,Patria rhymes with adorada and querida (line 1), the endingsofdarte,triste,alegre(line3)sound similarlyandcountforyourselfhowmany wordsarerepeatedorhavesimilarsoundsin line 5 and be astounded! Be astounded still by readingaloudandhearthecontrollingo soundsinline4oftheStanza2startingwith thewordCadalsoandinline1ofStanza3 starting with the word Yo. Infairness,itisnotallgenius.TheRomance languagesandsodotheMalayo-polynesian languageslikeCebuano,Boholanoand TagalogthatIspeak,lendthemselvesto rhyming,SpanishandItalianespeciallysoin partbecausetheselanguagesusuallyemploy theendingoformasculinewordsasin barbero(Spanish)andeasinbarbiere (Italian)anda(withexceptionssuchasthose endinginma)forfemininewordsandmany wordsintheselanguagesendwithnon-silent vowels. Other Tropes Theuseofrepetitionandsounddevices underliethemusicalityofpoetry.Endand internalrhymesareofcoursetheobvious examples.Anaphorareferstotherepetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successiveclauses(inprose)orverses(in poetry).InStanza1,thewordmsappears three times and por two times; in Stanza 4 the openingphraseMissueoscuando(line1)is repeated in the line 2 and the first word sin inline 5 is repeated twice in the same line; in22 Stanzas7and8sixlinesbeginwithdjor dj que. Epiphora or epitrope refers tosimilarrepetitionbutoccurringattheendof successiveclausesorverses.InStanza1, dierarepeatsitselfinline5.Alliterationis therepetitionofaninitialconsonantsound. The mere repetition of an initial consonant can be also called this. In Stanza 1, per in Perla is echoedinperdido(line2)andtheletterf starts the words fuera, fresca and florida (line 4).Consonanceistherepetitiveusageof consonantsoundsfrequentlybutnot exclusivelyattheendofsentencesorverses. Notethepredominantrsoundinline2of Stanza1.IntheStanza2hearthehissings sounds (in campos, otros, sus vidas, sin dudas, sinpesar,sitio,ciprs,cadalso,mismo,es and si. In assonance two or more words close tooneanotherrepeatthesamevowelsound butwithdifferentconsonantsounds.Inline1 aloneofthepoem,assonancecanbeheardin the words regin, del and querida. Thesounddevicesmentionedaboveareall tropes or figures of speech. Others in the poem that have caught my attention are: Chiasmus,aspeechpattern(atypeof antithesis)inwhichthesecondhalfofan expressionisbalancedagainstthefirstwith thepartsreversed:Tambinfortiladiera,la diera for tu bien (Stanza 1, line 5). Oxymoron where two contradictory terms are used together: perdido Edn Stanza 1, line 2), eternidad dormir(Stanza 5, line 5). Paradox,apropositionorstatementthat seemsabsurdorcontradictorybutinreality expresses a possible truth, as in caer por darte vueloandMorirpordartevida(Stanza5, lines 3 and 4). Understatement in line 4 of Stanza 1 whenRizal states, si fuera ms brillante, ms fresca, ms florida referring to his life, because at this timetheauthorwasalreadywellknownand famous principally for his two novels, the Noli and the Fili. Litotes,anunderstatementinwhichan affirmativeisexpressedbynegatingits opposite,whenthepoetlooksforwardtohis eventualdestination,Voydondenohay esclavos,verdugosniopresores/Dondelafe nomata,dondeelquereinaesDios(Stanza 13,lines4and5).Bythesenegative(and positive)statements,thepoetisactually sayingthatwhereheisnow,thereareslaves, executioners, oppressors, where faith kills and he who reigns is not God. Metaphor for Rizal Letmeaskyouthisquestion:whatisawordor phrasethatcanserveasametaphorforRizalor hislifeandworks?(Answersfromtheaudience: PatriotandBelovedInfidel.Patriot,ofcourseis patentlyapplicablebecauseofhisintenseloveof countrybutRizaldidnothaveamonopolyofit. Monumentcomestomindbecausethereareso manystatuesofhimallovertheworldandevery townorcityorevenbarangayinthePhilippines but the word can mean anything. Genius, Polyglot andPolymatharetrueaboutRizalbutthereare manyotherslikehiminthisrespect.NoliorFili seems most appropriate because these novels made himfamousandarousedtheFilipinostorise againstSpain.Butconsiderthis:thenovelshad servedtheirpurposeandhadmanyreadersinthe decades following Rizals death but they are not in manyreaderslisttoday,eveninthePhilippines. Anotherthing:whilethenovelshavebeen translatedinmanylanguages,thetotalnumberof worldlanguageandPhilippinelanguage translationscannotcomparewiththoseofthe poem.ThereareonlyfourEnglish,twoFrench, oneDutch,oneItalianandoneGerman translationsoftheNoliMeTangere.By contrast, Mi ltimo Adis has at least 36English translations, has been translated inworld languages, in 46 Philippine dialects and in onesignlanguageinFilipino.Isuggesttherefore thatthemetaphorforRizalshouldbeltimo Adis,thetitlethatFr.MarianoDacanaygaveto thepoemin1898.ButperhapsDr.JoseP.Rizal does not need a metaphor because when one utters orwritesRizalwithoutanyqualification,he undoubtedlyreferstoandthehearerorreader immediatelyknowstowhomheisreferringto, namely,theFilipinowhowasgiftedwithgenius andmanytalentsandwhoaboveallisbest rememberedforhisloveofcountryandforhis undying poem, Mi ltimo Adis. Conclusion I would like to restate what I said earlier: that in all but the last stanza, the poet is talking to hisfatherbytherhetoricaldeviceof personification.Thisway,hespoketothe Filipinos of his generation and by extension he speakstous,Filipinosoftoday,andhewill speak to Filipinos of the future and by further extension, perhaps to all humanity. InStanza14(laststanza),Rizalspeaksto differentpeople.Inline1,Rizalbidsfarewell tohispadresyhermanos.BecauseRizalhad onlyonebrother(Paciano),cluesusintothe factthathereheemploysyetanothertrope called synecdoche in which case a part is used torepresentawhole,meaningthatpadres does not just refer to his father and mother but toallolderthanhimself,andhermanosnot only to his siblings but to all brother and sister Filipinos,ifnottoallbrothersandsistersin the world; in line 2 to his childhood friends; in line4tohiscommonlawwifeJosephine,the only one in the entire poem specifically named as dulce extrangera, mi amiga, mi alegria; and finally, in the last line to friends of the future, which includes us today, his noble Knights. 23 Back to ContentsMission Trip 2015: To Tacloban, Ormoc, Digos and Back Conrado Abinoja, MD LastFebruary2015,mywifeandIjoinedDr.CosmeandLindaCagas,togetherwith theirdaughterElceeConnerandgrandson ChristopheronaReligious,Educationaland Economic Mission to Tacloban, Ormoc, Leyteand Digos, Davao del Sur. We were glad toleavethewintryweatherofSt.Louis, Missouri. At the Manila airport, we were joined by Drs. RomyandIsabelPerezandMrs.Divade Lara. We saw the devastation of Tacloban thatextendedbeyondthe city limits but alsosaw the beautiful and historic sites. WeproceededtoOrmocandattendeda Methodistserviceinasmallchurchtogether with some elementarysmallchildren dressed casuallybutdeeplycommittedinsinging their church songs led by a couple of girls who sangwithhandandbodygesturesfollowedby everybody including us. Diva, representing usinasong-prayer,offeredawonderful renditionofAveMaria.Withtheservice ongoinginsidethechurch,someelder membersoftheparishwerebusycooking pansitandroastingapiginfullviewof everybody.Aftertheservice,studentscholars weregivenawardsby Dr. Cosme Cagas. My prayerwasgrantedwhenIjoinedthe missionaries--Ipartookofthesumptuous luncheon! 24 From Ormoc, we went back to Tacloban where we sawarepeatperformanceofactivitiesanda presentationbyschoolchildrenandteenagegirls inanunfinishedsmallchurch.Not tobeoutdone, our friend Diva reprised her Ave Maria. We gladly joined in later. Chris took pictures of the Tacloban studentsnewlyenrolledintotheChristPhilippine Missions scholarship program. FromTacloban,wetooktheplanetoDavaoCity viaMactan.InDigos,wevisitedtwofeedingand dentalhealthsiteswherethechildrenentertained uswithsongsandartfuldances.Wehelped distribute the dental kits. We also visited the local jail,interactedwithsomeprisoners.Theladies boughtquitealotofhandicrafts--hats,belts, braceletsandespeciallyhandbags--allmadeby the inmates. The church performances were presented in a bigger scale. When called by the Pastor to give a shortmessage, I toldthe childrenthat I was like thembefore,poorandhungrybutsomehowthe graceofGodhelpedmyfamilyclimbupthe ladder. Then I told them about Jose Rizal. Onasidetrip,wesawhowbananaswere processedforexportandhowtheworkers lived.Theyseemtobehappyandwell provided.Withampletimetorestandrelax,overall,it was a satisfying and rewarding experience for me and my companions. 25 Back to Contents Delivered from Certain Death Eusebio C. Kho, MD DuringthelastdaysofWorldWarIIinthe Philippines,wewereupinthelowmountainsof the town of Jimalalud, Negros Oriental, a province locatedinthecentralpartofthecountry.Wehad evacuatedthere,about6kms.inland,tobeaway fromthepoblacionortowncenter,whichwas occupiedbytheJapanesesoldiers.Mostofthe othercivilianshadgoneupintothehigher mountains,tobefartherawayandbesafer. Thereweresixofussiblings,fromafewmonths old baby to age 14 years. Our parents had invited a homeless man who was sickly to stay with us; and we supported him, since he had no relatives or any means of livelihood at all. We subsisted mainly on kangkong,cornthatwehadgleaned,chickenthat weraised,andtinycrabsthatwecaughtonthe riverbedbehindourrentedbamboohouse. Overtheskies,wecouldtelltheAmericanswere comingbecausethereweremanyUSwarplanes, specially the double-bodied planes (later, we knew themastheLightningFighters).Earlyone morning,whilestilldark,wecouldhearloud poundingsonourbamboodoor.TheJapanese soldierswereorderingustoopenthedoor.Once opened,theyenteredour livingroomandordered allofustogodownthestairsandsquatonthe ground.Iwasveryscared,seeingthatthefour soldiers all had their bayonets fixed on their rifles. My knees were knocking as I walked. I knew they weregoingtomassacreuswithbayonets,instead ofgunshots,tosavepreciousbulletsintendedfor laterfighting. Mymemory of that day was seared intomybrainforever--itseemslikeonly yesterday. My Dad was from Fukien, China. He took a piece ofpaperandpencilandwroteinscriptsthatthe Japsergeantcouldunderstand.(Japaneseand Chinesewrittenwordsor"characters"havea commonroot,andthesamemeanings,although pronounceddifferently.)Myfatherpleadedthat webesparedsincewewerecivilians;wewere harmlesstothem;andhadnointentiontofight them.Thesergeantalsowroteonthatpaperhis reply.Hewavedoffthethreeothersoldiersto leaveusalone,andtheyleft.Theyweregoingto regroupsomewhereelseinanticipationofthe invadingAmericanforces.OurDadtolduslater that the sergeant was from Formosa (or Taiwan), a formerpartofChina,whichwasannexedby Japan,waybeforethewar.Allresidentsofthat islandwereforcedtoserveintheJapanese military.Thatdetachmenthead,beingaformer Chinese,tookpityonus,anddecidednottokill us. Inthepoblacion,anoldman,TioBasilio,then 70+yearsold,livedbyhimself.Hewastheonly civilianwhodaredtolivetherebecausehewas old, had health problems, and was harmless to the invaders.AftertheJapaneseleft,curiouspeople foundhimlyinglifelessinsidehissmallhutwith armstiedbybarbwirebehindhisback;hehada gunshotwoundtothebackofhisneck. HadthatsergeantbeenfrommainlandJapan,we allwouldhavebeenkilled.Itwasthepracticeof the Japanese army to leave no onealive including workinganimals,especiallycarabaoswhenthey leaveaplace;theyalsoburnedalldwellings--a scorched-earthpolicy.IntheBisayandialect,we callthatpracticejuezdekutsillo(justicebythe sword).Weweresparedcertaindeath,because somehow,aFormosanwastheheadofthatJap detachment on that particular day. I truly believed that God purposely placed that Formosan as leader of that detachment, to spare us from the massacre. From that day onward, all our family, individually andcollectively,havethankedtheGodAlmighty constantlyforourdeliverancefrompainfuldeath. Itwas,andstillis,amiraclethatthroughGod's mercifulhelp,weweregiveanotherleaseonlife 26Back to Contents Manong Awi (Chapter 4 of the WWWII historical novel, I Shall Return by Cosme R. Cagas) President Manuel L. Quezon and MacArthur declared Manila an open city on December 12 to save it from attack. Huge signs that read, Open City and No Shooting were posted at strategic locations.The banner headlines of two Spanishnewspapers screamed, Manila Es Ciudad Abierta! Susmariosep!ManangAcay,themotherof thehouse,exclaimedwhenshefirstsawus. ThewordisacontractionofJesus,Maryand Joseph. Dayon(Comein)!shegreetedasshe ushered us into the living room.

LolaImanghesitated,callingherattentionto the water dripping from our clothes. No matter, no matter, Manang Acay assured us. Come in all!

Shebidussitdown,excusedherselfand quicklydisappeared.Shortlyshewasback with towels to dry ourselves.

Impatientandunabletocontainherself,Lola told her that we came to see Manong Awi.

Iknow,Iknow,butbyandby.Goodthat hes able to sleep. First, we should get you changed and comfortable. ShetookLolaImangtoherroomandcame back with clothes for the rest of us. Mine were brownshortpantsandawhiteshirt,bothtoo bigbutappreciatedverymuchnevertheless andJulianswasabluecoverall.Lola emergedwithablouseandmatchingsaya,a colorful skirt.

By now it was definitely morning. ManangAcay ordered the maid to cook rice. Lola,ignoringherobjection,gavemoneytoJulian 27 andFermintobuyfreshandsaltedfish, vegetablesandpanakot(spices)fromthe market saying, Since we have the car anyway andweneedtobuyprovisionsalsoforour useSheinstructedthem,Besuretobuy katambak(her favorite fish). Thetinola (fish andvegetablesoup)willbegoodforAwis fever.

I must have dozed off on the sofa because the next thing I remembered was hearing ManangAcaycallmygrandparentsfromManong Awis room. I followed. Manong Awis deep sunken eyes under bushy eyebrows, prominent forehead, and high cheek bonesimmediatelycaughtmyattention.The cheekscavedinunderapaleskinwitha yellowishtinge.Hisbigearsstoodout.His longframebulgedunderalayerofblankets-- itvirtuallyoccupiedthewholelengthofthe woodenbed.Ifiguredhewastallerthanmy father or even my uncle Titoy.

He seemed out of it, moaning. He appeared to recognizemygrandparentsasheletouthis left hand as if in a greeting, the index finger as ifpointingtoaplaidshirthangingonahook onthewallbesidethedresser.Hecouldnot speak understandably.

Lolasatonthesideofthebed,callinghis name.Hecouldonlyrespondwithagroan. Lolafelthisforehead.Nofever,shegladly announced.

Has he eaten or drunk anything? Lola asked. Yes, last night in bed.

DidyousendforDr.Tambal?Lolobutted in.

Yes Itong but we were told he is out of town tendingtoDonLuisVillanuevainCalamba. Heisnotexpectedtobebackuntiltonight, Manang Acay despaired.

HowaboutDr.Kuan--whatshisname? The word Kuan means anyone, anything, orwhatever,usedinplaceoftheactualword when it evades the speaker. NoItong.Wearetoldhecantwalkfar anymore,toooldplusthegout,theysay.All he does is play mahjong these days.

How about Dr. Antonio Montalban?

Hes hardly here. We hear hes now in Iligan as chief medical officer

ManangAcayproppedupManongAwiwith twopillowsandfedhimthetinolabroth spoonbyspoon.Mostfortunatelyhealso toleratedlinugao(riceporridge)alittleata time but choked when she let him drink water from a glass.

ThefoodmadeManongAwibetter.Hewas no longer moaning and not as restless. But still he could not talk. Theadultstookturnswatchinghimallday. OnetimewhenLoloandFerminwere watching over him, Manong Awi opened hiseyesseeminglyrecognizingLolo.Hepointed a finger to the plaid shirt. But that lasted onlyfleeting seconds. Thereafter he was groaningand moaning again, thrashing about.

Lolo asked Fermin to check the shirts 28 pockets.TheyreemptyPapa,Fermin reported.

Takeitoffthehookandfeelforanything hidden.

Nothing I could feel Papa.

Shake it!

Nothing.

Wave it hard!

Still nothing fell off the shirt. Fermin replaced itonthehookasLoloshookhishead, perplexed.

ThateveningManongAwiturnedforthe worse.Histemperaturerosehigh.Beadsof sweat exuded from his forehead. He shivered. Teethrapidlyclatteredagainstteethashe shook all over.

Manang Acay became distraught and panicky. LololookedatLolaandthentowardsthe directionofManangAcaybutavoidedeye contactwithher.WhenLolonoddedlooking atthedoor,LolaunderstoodandledManang Acay out of the room.

Weeping,ManangAcayobligedbutnot beforeshetoldLolo,Therescoconutoilin the top drawer.

Lolo didnt use the coconut oil. Instead hetookoffManongAwispajamasthatwere soakedwithsweat.Hedriedhimoffwitha couple of cotton undershirts that Fermin found inside the dresser. ManongAwifrightenedme.Hislongarms andlegslookedlikesticks!Hewasallpale, yellowishskinandbones.Hisstomachcaved in worse than his cheeks. His ribs stuck out. I saw last Lolo with Fermins help putting on himfreshpajamas.Theydidnotreplacethe layersofblankets.Nolongerabletobearthe sightofhimlookingghastly,shiveringand shaking, I left the room and went outside.

After a while, Fermin joined me on the street. We played catch, sipa (kick) using an old and witheredcoconut,andtakyang,inwhicha weightedfeatheriskeptafloatonairbyrepeatedly kicking it up with the medial aspect of the heel. We could kick up the feather only once or at most twice because the wind keptblowing it away. Soon the world was black except for a solitarylightinthedistance,likeabeaconinaseaof darkness,perhapscomingfromachurch.The wind continued to blow and howl. After supper,Lolo directed Julian and Fermin toseeifDr.Tambalwasback.He emphasized,Besuretolethimknow,itis your Manong Ruperto requesting urgently that he come. Also offer to give him a ride.

WhenLoloandIwerealoneinthesala,I asked him what was wrong with Manong Awi. Hedidntknowforsurebutaddedthatwhile in Salug, he and his twin, Antoy, saw a similar casenotasbadlyafflictedasAwi.Iasked what happened to the man. Lolo said he died. He was sure she would come back to him And he would be ready With massive chairs, tables, bathtub, kitchen And for their expected children, 29Back to Contents

Silencio There is a provincial Cuban song Admonishing silence If April flowers should hear your tormented cry The gardenias, the daffodils, The lilies would surely die But, silence is not enough Flowers have vision and touch for soft and tough If they see the sorrow lines of your face The tulips will not sprout when due If they feel the fine tremors of your hands The irises will give up some of their hue Let your overworked angels do the writhing Let your trained Lazaruses do the trembling Stay numb, welcome unfeeling Convince yourself this not permanent doom And all the flowers will fully bloom. -- Lestrino C. Baquiran, M.D.

30 TwISteR likeaGIANTBlackBirdfromnowherecomes whirlingwhirling fastfasterfastest whistling rushing close closer closest then sw oo ps d o w

n a TOWN and goes (Leaving A Number Dead Gnarled Remnants Debris Everywhere)

--Cosme R. Cagas, MD (A revision of the original poem TORNADO whichappeard inthe Phil-Am Med Bull, July, 1987 ) 31Back to Contents