I tell you the story....
In the history of Philippines corps. There have been an epic conflicts, the Battle of Yultong in the chosin valley of Korea.
That man was there. Third battalion, fifth marines, at war with tyranny and communism, fighting in the freezing temperatures fifty below zero with the wind chill.
He is a superior Marksman. He was gifted in hand to hand combat. He was witnessed stopping three Chinese soliders single handedly with his kabar knife. And he already carried three gunshots.
One Marine division was surrounded by eleven Divisions of Chinese and communist. The odds?
The soldiers was 15 to one. His company was 315 men strong. But only 8 men were left to fight. Eight out of 315, and that man who took care of you and put up with your attitude is one of those 8 men who survived. He fought in the daylight. He cared for the wounded at night... And when the smoke cleared, they won. He gave his country ten years of service.
Fifty years ago he was known for his prostitution of thanks to all donors. Years later, he was forgotten by many. I just recently discovered that he has donated every penny he has collected. Over a million pesos, towards the monasteries, churches and utility bills of orphanage, living instead off his monthly state pension of 1000 pesos.
He became the more normal, down to earth, and humble he is. Now he spent days begging for money to able to provide to his only child, and in return, all he get is hate and disrepute.
Totoo kaya ang mga sinabi niya? Sabi ko sa kanya na kabaliwasan lahat ng iyan. Gumagawa lang siya ng kwento.
"Hayun siya oh."
"Grabe akala ko pa naman mabait siya."
"Hindi ko inakalang matapobre pala ang hamapas lupang yan."
"Oo nga. Kahit ako naloko."
Nabalik ako sa diwa dahil ramdam ko ang mga matang kanina pa ako tinitingnan. Yung klaseng tingin na nanghuhusga, nangsusuklam, nangaalipusta. Iyan ang ilan sa mga bulungang naririnig ko. Isa lang ang natitiyak kong may gawa nito.
Kagagawan ito ng apat na burat na yun. Kamusta naman kaya ang mata ni captain one eye jack?
Hayun at agad ko silang namataan sa lobby. May one eye patch na ito sa mata at nababakas sa kanyang mukha ang mga kalamot na pilit niyang sinulsihan ng foundation. Maraming estudyante ang nanguuyam sa kanila. They are confuse as much as I do.
Ipinatawag kaming lima sa dean's office. Eto kami at nagsisine sa kanilang CCTV. Angkop ang palabas na ito sa programang inihandog ng mga sawing-palad. Huling-huli kami sa akto na pinagmamalupitan ang matandang hukluban sa labas ng school.
Luminga-linga na lang ako sa paligid para libangin ang sarili. Nakuha ng atensyon ko ang taxidermy ng usang barako na nakapaskil sa pader. Totoo kayang iniimbak nila ang ulo ng mga hayop para gawing palamuti? Pano kung bigla itong kumurap?
Agaw-pansin sakin ang matinik na titig ng punong guro na kulang na lang ang lumuwa yang balintataw niya.Tirikin ko kaya ng karayum yang mata mo. Kaya ayokong napapadpad dito sa hukuman ni Jake and friends eh. I can hardly see myself, a top student, in this prison hall.
