In My Parents’ Footsteps

Walking through the shadow of smiles and tears in my life’s journey, with my constant companion Sr. Santo Niño, with the ever-protective embrace of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the watchful eyes of Mama Mary and the tender touch of Servant of the Lord, Bishop Teofilo Camomot, make me always look back to yesterday. Though, disappointingly, many choose to do otherwise, their reluctance to look back of yesterday speaks volumes about their character.

I remember with fondness and affection the wisdom and vision of my father, Papa Inting, when he once told me, “Dodong, your sister Inday Sering would someday become a very good teacher, and I know your brother Eddie would want to serve the community. Maybe you can learn how to be a ‘janitor’ to my legacy, the institution that I founded, the University of the Visayas, as well as be ‘servant’ to your Mama Pining’s apostolic and charitable works for the Lord and Mama Mary.” My father’s unsullied legacy is in truth a tremendous weight on my shoulder. I am just so lucky and fortunate to have the unfailing support of my wife Nena in all these endeavors through the years.

Papa Inting further articulated his wishes and desires for me to learn the ropes on how to manage an academic institution. As there was no available training or programs offered on school administration in the 1970s and 80s, he encouraged me to attend monthly meetings of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) in Manila. How right was my old man. Indeed, learning also involves rubbing elbows with the “who’s who” in Philippine education.

True enough, I got close to the prime movers in the country’s education in those days, to mention a few – may their souls rest in peace – “Mr. PACU” Amading Dizon, who wrote a good number of books about universities and a very close friend of Papa Inting; Mr. Santi dela Cruz, co-founder of the Philippine College of Commerce and Business Administration, now University of the East with Mr. Francisco Dalupan Sr. Mr. Santi was among the select few who could call former President Marcos by his nickname, Ferdie; suggesting how close he was to the former strongman. There was also Mr. Jess Jocson, co-founder of the National University; Mr. Oscar Mapua, founder of Mapua Institute; Dr. Armand Fabella, former Secretary of the Department of Education and founder of Jose Rizal College, now Jose Rizal University. In the area of accreditation, I was privileged to have consulted and been mentored by Dr. Fely Reyes.

Now, looking back, I fully understand the wisdom and vision of Papa Inting. Indeed, I have learned valuable insights and knowledge from those people (mentioned above), who in a way laid the groundwork of the Philippine educational landscape. I truly believe that I learned from the best and it challenged me to do my best to make a difference and live up to the expectation of my old man, Papa Inting.

In a year’s time, the University will celebrate its Centennial Year and preparations are under way for this momentous celebration. With the University turning into a century old, perhaps Papa Inting and Mama Pining are looking down from heaven, proud and happy for what I have done.

Generally, in our life’s journey, the appreciation and happiness of others to what we have done and accomplished is heartwarming. However, it is very, very ironic and truly lamentable that your very own will never appreciate what you have done, what you have already given, what you have sacrificed for.  

The road traveled and what lies ahead, as I have now come of a ripe age, has cemented my belief that when God breathed life to each person, He did it for a very good reason. That is precisely why, to me, life is indeed very meaningful. Life as I know it is simply borrowed time from God. We never know when our time is up and that makes every moment of my life precious. And for every fall, we learn to rise up again; from every wound, we learn to endure pain. From each failure, we learn the beauty of prayer. 

It is truly humbling to have accomplished so much yet find the ground before my feet still waiting for fresh footprints to be made and know that the only way you can make one more step and then another depends entirely on the grace of the Lord and Mama Mary.