(Part 3)
God never sleeps
While Romy (Palasig) was working at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), he wrote short stories and poems as guest writer for “KATHA”, a College newspaper at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna (UPLB). He participated in writing competitions sponsored by IRRI and won prizes for his deep understanding of the essence of life as evidenced by the many laminated plaques of appreciation awarded to him, some of which I still keep. Among his competitors in the writing contests were the late Atty. Cesario Azucena and an IRRI scientist Nuque (sorry, I forgot his first name but we called him Kuya Nooks). If I am not mistaken, I think Kuya Nooks was a classmate of Judge Amy Melba S. Belulia at the SPC College of Law in the 80’s.
Having been orphaned at a very young age, Palasig did not have any formal training in writing but he quenched his thirst for further knowledge through constant reading of various books he can borrow from friends. He was a fast learner which I attributed to his genes. One of his close relatives, Melchor “Kuya Ichor” Alcantara who migrated and died in the United States was also a writer and author of several articles including a book entitled “Dambanang Pawid”. His aunts were allegedly singers and dancers in pre-war plays normally done at the City Plaza during special occasions, a talent they must have inherited from their mother Tranquilina “Nanay Tangke” Bautista.
Palasig was not only a writer but a natural-born leader who aspired for excellence in whatever he does without knowing it. Imagine taming a group of scoundrels in Labak (Brgy. III-C) and converting them into useful and law-abiding citizens of his Barangay – something even the PNP of the olden times failed to do. When he entered IRRI, he was chosen Team Leader of his group and persistently worked for the increase of salaries and overtime pay of his co-workers.
His life at the Research Institute was not a bed of roses. He had to be extra careful in going to work everyday because of a past squabble with the late Calauan Municipal Mayor Antonio Sanchez. It was common knowledge during that time that Sanchez and his men kidnapped, tortured and killed Lorenzo Macatangay a.k.a. “Tahimik”, the right hand of “Roming Tattoo” later known as Palasig. This fact was confirmed to me by the late Atty. Conrado L. Manicad, the Legal Counsel of Sanchez, during one of our very casual conversations. Manicad was a close family friend.
Palasig told me that he wanted to avenge the gruesome death of his friend “Tahimik” whom he loved and treated like a brother but his wife Nelia persuaded him to leave everything to God because “God never sleeps”. True enough, Sanchez and his men were later embroiled in a case of Rape with Homicide for sexually abusing and killing two of the UP students in Los Banos – Aileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez. They were sentenced to the maximum penalty of 7 counts of Reclusion Perpetua which they served at the New Bilibid Prison in Mandaluyong.
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
