Davao Doctors College section 12L

Pathogens, miracidium, flagella, immunoglobulins, endotoxins, meningitis, sexually transmitted disease – a grim picture indeed, which makes this piece look like a trip into the foul, gut wrenching and morbid world of sickness and death. It could have been if not for this motley bunch of students who enrolled in Microbiology at Davao Doctors College , and who are officially known as the 12L. Anyone can call it the section of the twelve L’s, which could be anything from Lazy, Loud, Languid and Lascivious or maybe the Lamentable, Lousy Losers. But before I give my own version of this letter L let me first give you a bird’s eye view of who they really are.

Let’s start with the formidable and ruling BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The title brings to mind a bunch of guys in the persons of Tonio, Jacob, Wabe as in wave, Bryan the hospital administrator, Rollie the microscope man, and the Chairman of the Board – JV the pink panther.

Next we have the Cosmetic girls who never tire of preening themselves by adding pounds of makeup on their faces to look more attractive or maybe in a futile attempt to hide the blemishes that their boyfriends or husbands left after a harried kiss. They are Cindy, Lezil, Kim and a few others whose names I would rather mention as concubines in the harem of the infamous Iann Borong - the castrated Eunuch. These ladies enjoy pampering their charge with punches to his being or copy from his test papers, which to me is foolishness considering that there is not much substance in his answers.

This harem consists of Althea, Elaine, Leah, Hannah, Floregen and the “second rate, trying hard copy-cat” – Edcent the facultative anaerobe.

Right across the center aisle from the harem are the 3 musketeers or mosquiteers, but who are not the vectors of filariasis and malaria. Physical height is not a plus for them but take a look at their grades and they stand tall. Hail the three – Amy, Liezel and Irene.

The Hulk as anyone can testify sits silently by the window with a look of serenity on his face. Shaq the rapper of the NBA would take a second look and admit that he is his kid brother. Carmelo’s grades would have been better if only he was not psychologically sexually harassed by Joan and Genesis, Anna and Venz, and Johanna and John Lloyd. These three pairs just can’t keep from pinching, squeezing, hugging and kissing even in the full view of this silent hulk. Some day he’ll find his girl and shame you all. The other pairs who are also into this activity are Thetet and Aldrin, and Wendell and Jan Christopher. Gossip is going around that these two pairs were already wedded secretly. I would not have an iota of doubt.

The rest in the class are considered the silent majority although they are the noisiest and the loudest. There is Honeyleth the successful businesswoman, Aireen the silent admirer of Wave, Tayone as in Tayown, Lea an elementary acceleratee, Nhiezyl the fashion model, Ivan the boy that every girl wished was true to his gender, “The Inseparables” – Gracelle, Maricel and Avery. There are also the cool guys Leonis and Francis and the policeman’s wife – Grace. There is also Kris, Maridith and Mary Jane who manage to skip classes every now and then and think that they have the luxury of being unnoticed. And last but not the least are Maricar, Kathleen, Honey, Mae and jade – all true living monuments to the virtuous Filipina virgin(?)

Whew! What a bunch of microbiologists. You can tell by the descriptions that indeed this class has more than twelve L’s to fill a long list of adjectives, some of which were already mentioned at the onset of this essay. The best of these I would rather say is the word “Loving.” This I would testify to the fact that forgiveness, love, mercy and grace were virtues that ruled this group for the season of a summer.

12L, you may be as diverse as the bacteria on your skin or as hungry as the helminthes in you colon, and yet you have touched my heart and made me a better man. I know that God will be good to you and with his grace and your determination you will find your places in the sun. Don’t ever lose sight of your goals as nurses in the land of the mighty dollar, and when you get there don’t neglect to give God all the glory.

Kabalantian

Some weatherworn thatch huts nestled in a little clearing at the breast of the grand mountain range cradling the great Davao River. A village that could only be reached by a winding 80-degree steep and upward path that could be lethal for the weak of heart yet a charm and a challenge for the adventurous soul. 

Picturesquely breathtaking and heart stopping, it is a pity that this spot is not available for viewing unless one leaves the highway on foot and treks for four punishing hours, although being there is balm enough for the aching and cramping muscles.

Legend has it that an ancient guy by the name of Di-an used to live on the ridge just above the village where a small waterfall still flows up to this day. At his death he was buried beside the cascading water, which is life to the slope where the village of his namesake is located [Kabalandi-an].

It was in this village that a team of Christians with the heart for the missions arrived one hot summer day to learn the ways of the tribes and how it is to live in a totally new setup from the usual. The dialect was new, the housing was a skimpy version of a Hawaiian grass skirt, and the weather was a bone chilling wind at night and a boiling caldron in midday. Water came via a plastic pipe from the spring and was hand carried to the kitchen where cooking was precariously balanced on a smoking dirt stove composed of three strategically placed rocks.

Their hosts consisted of Matigsalug natives who eked out a living of a hand-to-mouth existence on the slopes. The women carried their babies in a piece of cloth around their necks with the baby’s mouth perennially anchored on a milk-rich teat which was always available anytime of the day or anywhere the mother happened to be. Children scampered almost everywhere and anywhere the dogs, chickens, ducks, goats and pigs were, even sleeping and eating with them.

The top-guy or chieftain of this village is an intimidating hulk that at the first sight would make one stare at the ground rather than on his hardened and mean face, which would turn friendly when he would show his stained, broken and unbrushed teeth in a wide and unusually sweet grin. The mere mention of his name would make one tremble and hesitate to engage him in a conversation. 

Datu Buwaya [vernacular for crocodile] got his name not by birth or baptism but rather he earned it after killing his enemies who in those warring days easily outnumbered all his gnarled fingers and toes combined.

Kabalantian, you may be a distant and formidable fortress, your people may have been fierce and untrusting and your nights may be as cold as your days are hot, but your charm is captivating, enchanting and entrancing, and will forever remain in my indelible memory.

The Matigsalug and me

I found a long lost memory card and I was happy to discover these pictures. They are the photos of my stint with the Tribal Missions Foundation International in 2007, and they represent the three trips to the mountains, including a 2-day white-water rafting trip on the Davao River from its source in Bukidnon.

The Matigsalug are a Manobo tribe of Bukidnon and Davao, Philippines. They live along the mountain rivers. TMFI is a non-government organization that works to uplift the living of the Matigsalug while bringing the gospel to them. Here's a poem I wrote for them.

A Mission to the Tribes

The trail is steep and slippery

My spine aches under the heavy pack.

It may be noon the sun is scorching

or raining and my feet can’t stay on track.

Sometimes we’re rafting on a river

That changes mood on every bend and turn.

Sometimes I wonder why I’m out here

When I could be some place where I can earn.

Tribesmen I meet shyly stare at me

Their red-stained teeth shining through.

The bare-foot, pot-bellied little children

Signify that I still have a lot to do.

These people live on the rugged mountain slopes

Or some safe distance from the raging water.

Their unhealthy bodies thrive on scanty meals

Their minds on fears that to us don’t matter.

I’m here today on a special mission

With some guys who were here before.

They have given up some comforts of this life

And are working for the uplift of the poor.

There is Pio the bitter-half of Sonia

Now don’t ask why I spelled it that way.

Bheng, Gaga, Lilet, Neng and Denden

All virgins until their dying day.

Next come Chris, Jeanette and baby Sophia

A family God made in love for the tribes.

Junjun, Tata, Jack and Rogie

Are some of my more macho vibes.

Belle, Lorie, Mimi and Manilyn

Are some office-bound personnel,

Agaw Cherai and daughter Allanie

Have their own life story to tell.

Betchie, Menchie and buddy Myong

Like myself have volunteered for the cause.

To Tribal Mission Foundation International Inc.

I give thanks and offer my warm applause.