12

CHAPTER 4

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Who, among today's youths, is well-equipped to pursue an independent but intelligent course of

life in the face of adversities? No doubt, Rommel N. Angara is and will always be.

While some people make it a prime goal to improve their lot by means of their relatives’ financial

and material support, the boy does not and will never do. Raised in a low-class family that later crumbled

into pieces, he gladly welcomed all the misfortune that befell him, even as a child. In truth, he has almost

nothing to call his own but his wealth of experience, which has been and will forever be a living

testimony of his indomitable spirit.

The boy’s birth

Rommel N. Angara was born in Suklayin, Baler, Aurora on August 20, 1980. He is the youngest

of the four sons of Rodolfo R. Angara, Sr. of Suklayin, Baler, Aurora and Milagros DA. Nazareno of

Maymatan, Goa, Camarines Sur.

Right at the moment his mother brought him forth, he, with eyes open wide, started to gaze at the

ceiling. At first, she wanted to name him Luis in honor of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (Saint Louis, Bishop

of Toulouse), the patron saint of Baler, whose feast day fell on August 19, a day before the child’s birth.

The wife of his father’s elder brother, however, suggested the name Rommel, a combination of the names

Rodolfo and Milagros.

The boy was such a great joy for his mother that he inspired her to call him Mr. Clean, a befitting

nickname for him, who, as an infant, looked like the animated character, the baldheaded hunk, advertizing

a laundry soap.
 13

The boy’s parents

Rodolfo R. Angara, Sr. (better known as Ka Rody), Rommel’s father, was born in Poblacion,

Baler, Tayabas (now Aurora) on May 5, 1938. He was expert at vehicle and appliance repair, welding,

vulcanizing, and carpentry. He studied electronics at FEATI University in Manila,

Milagros DA. Nazareno (better known as Ka Mila), Rommel’s mother, was born in Maymatan,

Goa, Camarines Sur on December 24, 1954. She is adept at cooking, sewing, knitting, laundry,

storekeeping, baby-sitting, housekeeping, and gardening. She was able to finish only the first four grades

(1961-1965) in an elementary school in Goa, but, amazingly, she was an honor pupil all through her few

years in grade school.

Children in the boy’s family

Arlene (affectionately called Len), the oldest of the children, was born in Reserva, Baler, Aurora

on March 19, 1975. She is good at gardening. She earned her Diploma in Junior Secretarial (DJS) at

Mount Carmel College (MCC) in Baler in 1993. Jaime L. Encarnado (a native of Davao), an all-around

driver, married her in 1994.

Alfred was born in Baler in 1976, but he died barely a month after his birth. John was born in

Baler in 1977. A premature baby, he died a day after his birth.

Rodolfo, Jr. (tenderly called Jon-jon, Jon, Dop-pong, and Dolfo) was born in Baler on July 4,

1978. He is skilled at building and wiring installation, motorcycling, and cooking. A basketball star in

town, he once earned distinction as Most Valuable Player (MVP), a title conferred on him by a local

basketball league. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) degree at Aurora

State College of Technology (ASCOT) in 2000. He worked as an electrician from 2000 to 2001. After

passing the Philippine National Police (PNP) entrance examination in 2003, he underwent PNP training
 14

until he became a full-pledged cop in 2004. He married Maria Aurora C. Obedoza (a resident of

Poblacion, Maria Aurora, Aurora), a schoolteacher, in 2005.

Rommel (fondly called Ome, Me, Omel, Mel, Tata Ome, Ka Rommel, and Ilyong) is the

youngest of the children. He is conversant with prose and poetry writing, language tutorial, technical

writing, radio talk show hosting, sketching, and acting.

Complex relations existing in the boy’s family

Rommel, just like his older brothers, was born out of wedlock—an illegitimate son whose father

and mother spent 17 years (1976-1993) together as cohabitants. Since childhood, he has been aware that

his father has a partner named Benita, but only later did he learn that his mother has a legal spouse named

Oscar R. Valenzuela. His father and Benita have no child, while his mother and Oscar have a daughter

named Arlene, whom the boy always considers his full sister instead of a half sister.

Sometime before Rommel’s birth, his mother had been abandoned by her own husband while she

was undergoing many personal difficulties in nurturing a baby girl, her first-born child, and in getting

along with her own parents, who fell so much in love with Rody (who professed to be a bachelor) that

they wanted him to take her and her daughter home. In obedience to her parents’ will, she made it an

option to settle down with such a “second guy,” who promised to provide for all her needs and her

daughter’s needs. To her dismay, she found out later that such a “fine bachelor” already had a partner of

his own, and that she, such a man, and his partner had to share the same house.

The boy’s lineage

Rommel’s paternal great-grandfather was Candido Angara, who married Nicolasa F. Calderon.

The couple had five children, the third being Nicolas C. Angara, who married Manuela G. Rubio. Nicolas

was a public schoolteacher, a veteran of World War II, and later an employee at the Bureau of Lands in

Manila. A younger brother of Nicolas was Juan C. Angara, twice a mayor of the municipality of Baler
 15

(1934-1938, 1941-1945) and first lieutenant governor of the sub-province of Aurora (1951-1955). Nicolas

and Manuela had 10 children, the eighth being Rodolfo R. Angara, Sr., whose partnership with Benita

(surname unknown) has never been blessed with any child. Rodolfo, Sr. and Milagros DA. Nazareno (a

native of Goa, Camarines, Sur) lived together as cohabitants in the late 70’s, after which they had four

sons, the first two having died at infancy, the third being Rodolfo, Jr., and the youngest, Rommel.

Meanwhile, Rommel’s maternal great-grandfather was Francisco Nazareno (a native of Goa,

Camarines Sur), who married Melania Oliveros, a mat weaver. The couple had eight children, the seventh

being Fermin O. Nazareno, who married Avelina G. de los Angeles. Fermin was a guitar and violin maker

and once a barangay kagawad in Goa in the 60’s. Fermin and Avelina had 10 children, the second being

Milagros DA. Nazareno, who moved to Baler with her parents in 1970. Oscar R. Valenzuela (a native of

Baler) and Milagros got married in the early 70’s, after which they had a daughter named Arlene. Oscar

left Milagros and Arlene (who was barely a year old then), both of whom Rodolfo R. Angara, Sr. took

home.

The boy’s house in the past

The original house, which was constructed long before Rommel’s birth, was a two-storey

building, a massive structure, rectangular in shape, built of hollow blocks and hardwoods, and roofed with

galvanized iron, in Brgy. Suklayin, Baler, Aurora. It had a garage, which sheltered, at first, the family

jeepney, and, later, a tricycle and a motorcycle. Behind the garage was a rectangular hut, where electronic

spare parts and scraps of metal were stocked. At the back of the house are tropical fruit trees, such as

coconut, guayabano (soursop), and mango; herbaceous plants, like gabi (taro), pandan, and false bird of

paradise; and an artificial pond, where dalag (mudfish), hito (catfish), and tilapia hid

under kangkong (swamp cabbage) and water lilies.

The old shelter, however, was not spared from any damage wrought by weather disturbances,

particularly typhoons, in which path the province of Aurora lies. Considering that it stood on a lot which
 16

gets easily flooded (even under a light rain), no one in the family dared make any attempt at its

renovation. Now all that is left of it is nothing but ruins—a pathetic scene which dramatically harmonizes

with the fact that a broken family is where the boy belongs.

Surprisingly, it was a great relief for Ka Rody when his elder son Jon-jon, a cop, later took the

initiative to construct, near the devastated house, another house, a low structure, cubic in shape, built of

hollow blocks and coco lumber, and roofed with galvanized iron. It was then the new shelter where the

aged head and the youngest member of the family stayed for six years from 2006 to 2012.

A boy’s love undivided between “two mothers”

Since childhood, Rommel has been very devoted to his biologic mother, whom he affectionately

calls Nanay Mila, whose miserable life would not have been known to him had it not been revealed by

some touching events he witnessed in her company. As a child, he saw how she wept racking sobs in the

dark while mumbling prayers before the altar, and how she had to run away with him when his drunk

father started to go wild - moving incidents that served to strengthen his love for her who loves him more

than herself.

Many were the roles Nanay Mila played: cook, vendor, seamstress, gardener, laundress, baby

sitter, housemaid, and so forth. The boy admits that it is too impossible for him to count his mother’s

sacrifices one by one. As a son who will never exchange his mother for anyone, he finds himself unable to

repay her for all her labors of love.

An interesting fact about Rommel in his early childhood is that he, in one way or another, was

attached to his “second mother,” his father’s original partner, whom he tenderly called Nanay Bita, who

never wasted any time looking after him like a real son, even taking him somewhere else on a bicycle,

selling siopao (a steamed flour bun consisting of meat filling), empanada (a fried pastry stuffed with
 17

mincemeat), and other food products, in public offices and business establishments, wherever she could

earn a little.

Sadly, the boy woke up one day only to find out that Nanay Bita, whom he dearly loved like a

real mother, had left without a trace.

A son’s effort to understand a father who sometimes failed to understand

Ever since, there had been a gap between Rommel and his father, whom he respectfully

called Tatay Rody. The boy still recalls his childhood when the family head (a womanizer, drunkard, and

money squanderer then) found the role of provider a burdensome one. As a child, Rommel realized how

too hard it was for him to talk things over with his father, who took either little or no interest in his

activities.

A victim of harsh bullying in his early 40’s, Tatay Rody developed a violent temper—one whose

occasional outlet for his violence was to beat not only Nanay Bita but also Nanay Mila. How such

brutality could have been done by a strong man toward weak women was left unanswered in the boy’s

mind.

It was indeed a formidable challenge for Rommel to bridge the gap between him and his father,

whom he still loved. There were times that the two of them still got into heated arguments. As a son who

still respected his father, the boy strove hard to exhibit empathy, which could be a good start at closing the

gap between them.

Still grateful to a “hateful” father

For several years, Rommel had been privileged to behold the “two faces” that his father exhibited,

like the Roman god Janus. He could hardly imagine the “bad face,” which constituted all the old man’s

moral defects. Nevertheless, he perceived that, for the sake of historical truth, the “other face,” the “good

face,” needed to be exposed.

 18

The boy admitted that it would be gross ingratitude on his part to overlook his father’s

wholesome influence on him. In his felicitous opinion, great injustice would be committed against the old

man should there be awareness only of the imperfections.

Credit must certainly be given to the old man for being the first to arouse the boy’s love for

scholarship. “Have a regular study of all the lessons taught by the maestro (teacher)” was a father’s

heartwarming admonition, over three decades ago, to a son, who delightfully took it, like a priceless

inheritance.

Half a day in the day-care center

Interestingly, when Nanay Mila enrolled young Rommel in a day-care center, wishing him to

obtain preschool education (1986), he dreaded the thought of attending school. No wonder, on the first

day of classes he took advantage of the morning recess to come back home - never to set foot again in any

preparatory school.

Grade school life

Rommel completed his elementary education at Suklayin Elementary School (SES) in Baler. All

through his years in grade school (1987-1993) he was at the top of his class. He graduated valedictorian

receiving a special certificate of recognition from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for

his active participation in a science competition.

Even before graduation, his teachers, classmates, and friends had congratulated him for passing

the Aurora National Science High School (ANSHS) admission test. To their amazement, he strongly

refused to study in the “no. 1 high school” in the province, for he had fallen in love with (Mount Carmel

College (MCC), his dream school, in Baler.

 19

Unable to exalt himself above all other pupils, he held a few positions: band member

(1988-1991), class president (1992-1993), and president of the English club (1992-1993).

Impotent to brag about his academic supremacy over all other pupils, he gained the following

distinctions outside the school: contender in a spelling bee (1990) at Baler Central School (BCS); second

placer in a quiz bee (1991) at Ruperto P. Zubia, Sr. Elementary School )RZES) in Baler; participant in the

poster making contest sponsored by Aurora Integrated Area Development Project (AIADP) in its

anniversary (1991); minor prize winner in a poster making contest (1991) at BCS; participant in a poster

making contest (1992) at the national level; and finalist in a quiz bee (1992) at BCS.

A remarkable event in his life as a pupil took place in his fourth year in grade school when he got

the 9th rank in a qualifying examination for acceleration.

It is worth remembering that all through his grade school life Rommel (who was thin and sickly

then) loved walking straight to school (about a hundred meters away from his house), under the blazing

sun and the pouring rain, even without money. Unlike any other boy, he was not fond of wearing a cap on

sunny days, but he was not ashamed of covering his head with a broad banana leaf on rainy days so as not

to miss his classes.

High school life

Rommel finished his secondary education at Mount Carmel College (MCC) in Baler. All through

his years in high school (1993-1997) he was at the head of his class. He graduated valedictorian earning

such distinctions as Excellent in Science and Journalist of the Year. (Historically, he has been acclaimed

as MCC's 49th high school valedictorian since the school was founded in 1948.)

Incapable of elevating himself above all other students, he held some positions: Commission on

Elections (COMELEC) officer (1993-1994, 1996-1997); member of the editorial staff of the Butil, the

official publication of the high school department of MCC (1993-1995); class vice president (1994);
 20

sophomores’ official representative in the student council (1994); member of the English club

(1994-1995); theater arts group member (1995-1996); editor in chief of the school paper (1995-1997);

science club secretary (1995-1996); and science club president (1996-1997).

Unwilling to assume intellectual superiority over all other students, he won the following

recognitions for himself outside the school: third placer in an English quiz bee (1993) at Baler Central

School (BCS); Youngest Physicist of the Year, who made it possible for the school team to top the first

provincial Physics Olympiad (December 1993) at BCS; champion in an ecological essay writing contest

(1994) at MCHS (Mount Carmel High School) in San Luis, Aurora; 9th placer in the feature writing

contest, English category, at the Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference (RSSPC) (1994) at

Quezon National High School (QNHS) in Lucena City; participant in the feature writing contest, English

category, at the National Secondary Schools Press Conference (NSSPC) (December 1994) at Notre Dame

University (NDU) in Koronadal, South Cotabato; second placer in the ecological essay writing contest

sponsored by Aurora Integrated Area Development Project (AIADP) in its anniversary (1995); champion

in the essay writing contest sponsored by the provincial government of Aurora in the observance of the

Linggo ng Kabataan (December 1995); champion in the essay writing and the slogan writing contests

sponsored by the municipal government of Baler in the observance of the Civil Registration Month

(February 1996); third placer in the ecological essay writing contest sponsored by AIADP in its

anniversary (1996); and champion in the news writing and the editorial writing contests, English category,

at the first Provincial Secondary Schools Press Conference (PSSPC) (1996) at Aurora National Science

High School (ANSHS).

He gained other distinctions inside the school: minor prize winner in a poster making contest

sponsored by the school in its founding anniversary (February 1994) and Reader of the Year, a title

conferred on him by the school library in the observance of the National Book Week (November 1994).
 21

Probably it is an unknown fact that all through his high school life Rommel contended with many

personal problems, which contributed a lot to his early mental and social development. His early

intellectual and emotional growth catalyzed by the crisis in his family was impressive and moving. He

was just a freshman (still thin and sickly then) when he learned to endure the pain of separation from his

own mother, who had to avoid his father’s cruelty; and he studied how to get along with his own father, an

ill-tempered man. It is quite surprising, however, that from his junior year in high school onwards he was

privileged to stay again with his mother who, by selling cuchinta (a steamed jelly cake served with grated

coconut), steamcakes, and other food products, was able to provide for almost all his needs, like food,

shelter, clothing (from the brief he wore to the shirt he put on), transportation, and many others.

College life

Rommel worked his way to college, taking the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) course,

with English as his major, at Mount Carmel College (MCC) in Baler. Probably it is an unknown fact that

all through his college life (1997-2001) he grappled with many financial difficulties and other personal

hardships so helplessly that he left the course unfinished in 2001.

Lacking the capacity to put on airs before all other students, he earned two distinctions outside the

school and five more inside the school: participant in a contest (1997) sponsored by the Bureau of Internal

Revenue (BIR); Reader of the Year, a title conferred on him by the municipal library of Baler in the

observance of the National Book Month (November 2000); special prize winner in a poetry writing

contest sponsored by MCC in its golden foundation anniversary (February 1998); two-time champion in

the essay writing contest held in school in the observance of the National Book Month (November 1998,

November 1999); second placer in the battle of the brains sponsored by the school in its foundation

anniversary (February 1999); and Reader of the Year, a title conferred on him by the school library in the

observance of the National Book Month (November 2000).

 22

At 28, Rommel did not find it too late to retrace his steps back to college. Just to keep pace with

the latest trends in higher education, he enrolled as a college freshman at MCC in Baler in May 2009.

With all the conviction he could muster, the boy commented that it was a challenging task for him

to start from scratch. “I have to adjust to the new curriculum mandated by the Commission on Higher

Education (CHED)," he admitted. "While the old curriculum laid more emphasis on theoretical

knowledge, the new one seeks to instill in students’ functional literacy, numeracy, strategic

communication, and entrepreneurial skills, as well as ethical, moral, and civic values providing a solid

foundation for lifelong learning.”

It was only in 2009 when he retraced his steps back to the college at MCC in Baler, but he was

able to finish his tertiary education in 2013 with meritorious special awards for student teaching

(practicum), action research (thesis), student service, campus journalism, and performing arts. Graduating

at the top of class 2012,

Rommel said that there was no other intensely pleasurable experience for him than to receive a

college diploma, without which he could not stand proud before his critics, who would express doubts

about his educational attainment.

Voluntary services rendered

Even in his teens and early adulthood, Rommel never hesitated to render voluntary services, both

in and out of school. At 15, he was scriptwriter and commentator of the program Balitang

Pangkabuhayan at Pangkapaligiran on DZJO 101.7 FM in Baler; and at 18, he was scriptwriter and

commentator of the program Tinig ng Kabataan on the same FM. At 17, he was a guest writer for

the Pambata magazine, an educational publication of national circulation. At 18, he was a columnist of the

local publication The Aurora Forum (later renamed The Aurora Times). At 20, he was a guest writer for

the Sipag-Pinoy, the official publication of the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment). At 23, he

was a resource speaker in a seminar-workshop on campus journalism at the Wesleyan University of the
 23

Philippines, Aurora campus, in Maria Aurora, Aurora; and he was an adviser of the editorial board of

the Tinig ng Aurora, the official publication of the youth organization IPADAMA (Ilegal na Paggamit ng

Droga Ayaw ng Mamamayan ng Aurora). At 24, he was a guest writer for The Modern Teacher, an

educational publication of national circulation.

Work experience

As an adult, Rommel learned to handle a lot of jobs, which could be enough for him to be called a

jack-of-all-trades. At 21, he was a clerk at the Provincial Human Resource Management Office (PHRMO)

at the Capitol in Baler—a job in which he had to “squeeze everything out of his head” to come up with

good technical communications. At 24, he was a private tutor of schoolchildren—a task in which he had

to “enkindle children’s passion for knowledge and wisdom”. At 27, he was a houseboy—a job in which

he had to “put himself down” before different kinds of people, young and old, “even to his own hurt.” At

29, he worked again at the Capitol in Baler as a clerk at the Provincial Cooperatives Office (PCO), where

he acted as a member of the editorial team for the souvenir programs of the Aurora Day celebrations for

two years (2011–2012). Finally, at the age of 33, he started teaching in the Integrated Basic Education

Department (IBED) of Mount Carmel College (MCC) in Baler.

 24

Having one-sided hair was one of Rommel’s distinct physical features from childhood
to early adulthood. He was 23 years old here in the photo taken in late 2003.

Twenty-five-year-old tutor Rommel in late 2005, preparing the lessons

of a grade school pupil while waiting for him to finish eating snacks.

Artistic talents

Rommel is a literary and visual artist who views the world with sensitivity (that is, he observes

closely and feels intensely through his senses stirred by his experiences) and sensibility (that is, he reads

some meaning in his experiences).

A prolific writer, he uses his enlightened pen to illuminate fundamental truths in splendid prose

and poetry on various subjects, particularly significant human experiences. His usual manner of

expression is that of a worldly-wise child. The impressions he records in his compositions are pleasingly

familiar and strikingly memorable. Never does he profess to be a gifted penman. It is nice to recall,

however, that he was privileged to have his works printed in publications of national circulation, notably

the Pambata magazine, the Sipag-Pinoy, and The Modern Teacher.

 25

Some issues of The Modern Teacher magazine

in which Rommel’s inspirational essays were published.

A fine illustrator, he utilizes a few mediums, such as pencils, crayons, and pastels, to celebrate

exquisite beauty in elegant sketches and drawings on different subjects, especially landscapes and figures.

His approach is realistic and at the same time carefree and spontaneous - an impressionist style. Never

does he profess to be a devoted aesthete. It was interesting to note, however, that he received a

consolation prize in the poster making contest sponsored by the provincial government of Aurora in the

silver founding anniversary of the province (February 2004).

 26

A crayon painting of waterfalls by Rommel, submitted as a school project

by a grade school pupil whom he tutored in 2006
A passionate book lover

If there be any pastime Rommel loves best, it would be no other than reading. He reads

voraciously, even until midnight, in the dim light of a kerosene lamp. Among the books he loves to read

are the Good News Bible, Today’s English Version and Towards Competence in English Grammar by Jose

M. Manalo, among others.

In the past two and a half decades the boy actually had a small collection of books which got

damaged due to its exposure to dripping rainwater right inside his old house during storms. Now such a

collection of books no longer exists, forever gone, together with the old house already destroyed, forever

gone, too.

A reflective diarist

It is a soothing activity for Rommel to put on record his memorable experiences that bring him

happiness and sorrow. He does not necessarily set aside time each day to vent his elations and frustrations

on paper, but he does commit himself only to as much time as he honestly feels that he can stick to.

The kind of journal he keeps is just a matter of his personal choice. To him, blank pages of old

notebooks, neatly bound together, will do.

So soberly does the boy consider the remarkable incidents in his life that he can draw thoughtful

conclusions for his own future.

A childlike image unchanged

At first acquaintance, Rommel seems a dull fellow. In physique, he is neither dashing nor

imposing —just five feet and four and a half inches tall. Outwardly, there is nothing striking about him

except his young-looking face: pensive dark eyes, plump cheeks, a fairly shaped nose, pale lips…
 27

Attention can easily be directed to his elegant simplicity, which enhances his youthful

countenance. He is unassuming, to the point of sometimes seeming almost timid, hesitant, in making

assertions, with his thin voice that draws power only from its kindness of tone.

Quite lukewarm is his attitude toward the fad that sends many youths stampeding into the stores.

Writing and reading materials, an umbrella, and a few other items, all of which are neatly kept in a

backpack —these are but simple things that give him genuine satisfaction in his daily business.

Rommel at 26, flashing a V-sign, while inside a nipa hut

A “pathetic” loner misunderstood

Never does Rommel find a companion as pleasant as solitude, a few moments of which give him

deep satisfaction. For instance, a solitary along the beach at sunrise, during his spare time, is quite a

refreshing activity for him.

 28

The boy observes, however, that prolonged periods of isolation lead to his loneliness, which is

imposed on him by circumstances beyond his control, like the deterioration of his parents’ health, not to

mention other people’s detraction against him as “sick” (that is, insane).

Frustrated yet farsighted in love

Although it is true that Rommel developed habits of solitude, spending long hours in his own

private world, it may be unbelievable that he did take time to court a pretty girl his classmate in college.

He was just 18 when he, on an emotional rebounce, came to entertain considerable affection for

her, whose moral strength enhanced her physical beauty. He fell so deeply in love with her that he never

seemed timid to hand her love letters in person.

To his amazement, she manifested, by deeds, her affection for him, whose artistic talents (e.g.

prose and poetry writing, talk show hosting, sketching, acting, etc.) held her in awe. Every time they had

conversation, she would keep her eyes downcast when she bent forward with eagerness to listen, but he

would catch her stealing a glance at him when he threw a straight look at her, who, before her departure,

would gently pat him either on the arm or on the shoulder.

The truth is that they shared a common experience. Like him, she was a victim of a broken

family, struggling to chart her own destiny, live at peace with others and with herself, and be the finest

version of herself.

Once she cordially invited him to accompany her on her visit to her house in the nearby town.

Unfortunately, he perceived the impossibility to go along with her, for he got caught in a dire financial

situation, where it would be inappropriate for him to cast the financial burden on her.
 29

In one occasion, he courteously asked her for a solo photograph of her. Without hesitation, she

handed him one, surprisingly, a full body shot, a glossy picture, the other side of which contained a

handwritten message, “Rommel, thank you very much for being a good friend.”

All of a sudden, she evaded his company for one significant reason: fear. What he said in his

letter scared her away: “I don’t want you to fade away from me. If you get lost, I’ll get lost, too.” With all

sincerity, he tried to explain, but she uttered in a firm tone, “We’ll just be friends—not to go beyond the

limit!”

Obviously, the companionship, where both of them found solace, came to a disheartening end.

Cold and indifferent, she kept her distance until he quit his attempt to win her over. The last move he

made was a solid proof that he cared as much for her welfare as he did for his own. It was his final

conviction that calling the courtship off would be in the best interests of both of them.

Such an experience, which caused him sweet joy and bitter pain, made him wiser in the ways of

romance. It taught him a fine lesson: when romantic feelings are allowed to flourish, one is bound to get

hurt. Brokenhearted, he determined to handle courtship a bit more prudently should a desirable girl come

along again.

Interestingly, after a few years of “lovelessness,” the boy got back on his feet, as if the feeling of

remorse and the shocked disbelief associated with it had disappeared altogether. Occasionally, when the

girl, his “first true love,” now a full-pledged schoolteacher enjoying a married state, passes him by, he

simply breaks into a quiet innocent smile, trying to follow her with his gaze.

Bothered by a father’s physical disability

In the third quarter of 2008, Ka Rody, after a drinking spree with a nephew and company,

complained about his inability to move the left side of his body. Hardheaded, he refused to be taken to the

hospital, even for a medical checkup.

 30

Not only Rommel but also his elder brother Jon-jon worried a lot. They did, however, everything

they could for their father’s immediate recovery. The elder brother furnished proper food and

refreshments while the younger one did the cooking and the laundry.

Because of the loving care and attention he received, the ailing head of the family showed

positive signs of recovery after a month.

Nevertheless, Ka Rody became bedridden due to stroke in August 2012 until he died in

November 2012.

Personal shortcomings laid bare

Biased observers fabricate tales about Rommel so maliciously that others come to be misinformed

regarding him. People who barely know him entertain the bizarre notion that he is outlandish, dotty,

unscrewed - a freak.

In truth, the boy manifests certain defects in his character: his possessiveness in the field of

romance, his misgivings about admiration accorded to him, his sensitivity to insult, among others. Little

by little, however, he can overcome such weaknesses, which are by no means permanent.

Remarkable traits spotlighted

Like any other person, Rommel possesses the following sterling qualities that go far to make

amends for his shortcomings: humility, patience, and truthfulness.

Demonstrating humility, he—once a tutor turned houseboy—relatively submitted himself to other

people, both young and old, regardless of the pain he had to bear.

Exhibiting patience, he—a private tutor of schoolchildren, walking under the blazing sun and the

pouring rain, offering home services—stayed strong enough to withstand such disparaging remarks about
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him as “mentally defective” and “overintellectual”; and he—a “perpetual student” (one who never stops

studying subjects of interest)—often stayed up late at night, poring over his lessons, even in the faint light

of a kerosene lamp.

Displaying truthfulness, he—a literary artist—made sincere efforts to be accurate in what he

wrote, be it prose or poetry, even in minutest details.

Guiding principle in life

In his own little way, Rommel endeavors to master the principle “Work is love made visible”

[advocated by Lebanese-American poet, philosopher, and artist Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)]. Guided by

such a powerful principle, he strongly believes that work is not a curse but a blessing from God, the

source of love—a conviction based on the fact that work spares man from the three great evils: boredom,

vice, and need.

The boy adheres to his principle so strictly that he now tends to adopt a different outlook on life.

He acknowledges the reality that not every situation in life has a happy ending. His bitter personal

experiences tempered the idealism he once had as a child. Because of such wisdom born of experience,

very seldom does he share other people’s enthusiasm over certain matters like datings, parties, discos,

picnics, drinking sprees, and many other activities.

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Thirty-three-year-old teacher Rommel, soulfully singing Callalily’s “Magbalik” in a school program

during the celebration of the National Nutrition Month in July 2014
The boy and his family at present

In these critical times, members of Rommel’s family (each of whom lives independently) earn an

honest living, which makes it possible for them to eat three square meals a day. Their way of living is

hard, but the strange part of it is that they can manage. Rommel, still a bachelor, has been working as a

teacher of Mount Carmel College (MCC) in Baler for almost eight years now.

Ka Mila suffered from stroke in August 2017, but after a few months of therapy, she recovered

well. She is now in her late 60’s, still never wasting any time sewing clothes and other clothing articles

and even tending a productive vegetable; she has been living again with her own husband (the same man

who once left her and her daughter) for almost three decades now. Arlene, who has been married for

nearly three decades now, takes delight not only in housekeeping but also in gardening; she lives happily

with her husband, a tricycle driver, and her three children, two boys and a girl. Rodolfo, Jr., who has been

married for almost two decades now, works as a police officer; he lives joyfully with his wife, a

schoolteacher, and his five children, four of whom are girls and one of whom is a boy.
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Thirty-two-year-old Rommel, preparing for the next class session during his internship
(student teaching) at Aurora National Science High School (ANSHS) in 2012
Media portrayal

Surprisingly, Rommel’s life story was featured in the Maalaala Mo Kaya? (MMK) May 21, 2016

episode “Pasa” (“Bruise”) aired on ABS-CBN. The role of young Rommel was played by child actor

Raikko Mateo, and the role of old Rommel by actor, model, and video jockey Diego Loyzaga. The MMK

episode, which reached a 30.2% nationwide rating, was a trending topic in the Philippines on Twitter at

Rank 1 for over four hours before midnight of May 21, 2016. MMK is the longest-running television

(TV) drama anthology in the Philippines and in Asia, featuring weekly inspirational stories of celebrities

and common people, hosted by Filipina media executive, movie and TV producer, and actress Charo

Santos-Conchio.

Just as Rommel N. Angara is strong-willed to embark on an independent but intelligent course of

life in spite of all constraints, so is any other youth who, under trials, never loses faith, hope, and love.