After high school, in June 1934, I wanted to study at the Philippine Normal School in Manila, so I could pursue a career in teaching. My mother accompanied me to Capiz to get the exams. The entrance examination was very challenging. My parents and I were very happy when we received a letter informing me that I passed the tests and was accepted to the school. Three from Aklan passed. We were strangers to each other because they came from Ibajay and Batan.
Schooling in Manila is a new adventure for a young girl who lived all her life in a tiny barrio, a remote community where houses and people lived to farm. I saw new faces and met young men and women from Batanes to Mindanao.
Since my elder cousin was two years ahead of me in his studies at the University of the Philippines, Los Banos, Laguna, he was my guide and my inspiration. My father helped him a lot in looking after his financial needs. My father dreamed of a livestock farm, so he persuaded my cousin to enrol in veterinary medicine. Later he graduated to be the first veterinarian in the province of Aklan – Dr. Modesto I. Villegas, who became a Regional Director in Veterinary Medicine.
During my two years at the Philippine Normal School, I studied mostly under American teachers. Our Superintendent was Mr. Gilmore, Reading teacher was Mrs. Blue; Art teacher was Mrs. Carter, and Music teacher was Mr. Tadena. Our Teacher-Training instructor was Mrs. Lardizabal
Since I live just across the street, the Normal Hall for ladies, I walked to school five minutes before the school bell rings.
My classmates and schoolmates came from all over the Philippines. I have new friends from Iloilo, Antique, Negros, Cavite, Isabela, Lanao and Tuguegarao. There were serious suitors from my classmates but I never bothered to be serious on this matter. Our Dean of Women, Miss O’Malley and Miss Ana Cabrillos are like second mothers to me. They advised us in serious matters related to courtship and gave the dormitory girls extra training on social amenities and demeanor.
Sometimes we were brought to Malacañang Palace to observe how dignitaries and their ladies appear in formal occasions. On other times, we have formal tea parties and group visits to children’s nursery schools, the old people compound, the mental hospital and the best elementary school in Manila (Tondo & Pandacan).
After I graduated from the Philippine Normal School and earning high grades in my report card, I went home to reunite with my family. At the same time, my cousin Modesto Villegas also graduated from the University of the Philippines. It was a long but enjoyable ride home with friends and town mates mostly going home to attend the yearly celebration of the Holy Week. My fare was P7.50.
I was welcomed by my father at the pier of New Washington after two days of boat ride from Manila.
In our tiny village, my family, cousins, uncles and aunts, grandmother Pilar from Iloilo, my cousins Ester and Feling from Silay, Negros Occidental, all came to join us in this thanksgiving celebration. It was Palm Sunday, April 1936.
Ninety years later, April 1, 2007 the coincidence of my life coming best on Palm Sunday, April of any year! Thank you, my dear Lord, my Mama Mary, my father Tatay Akoy, my mother Nanay Pansay- you gave so much difference in the stages of my simple and beautiful life.