COLEGIO de San Agustin-Bacolod. Virtue and Science. A training ground for the future leaders. A melting pot for young people with ambition in life. A cradle for the culture and the arts. An institution of achievers. A domicile of God.
When I entered the portal of CSA-B, I was not a smoldering hunk like Colin Farrel. I was not also a brave heart kid like Harry Potter. Funny, but I was nervous as I tugged along with Auntie Pacquing who was drawing me near the registration window for first year college enrollees. I received my class cards and later I got my schedule of classes for AB Freshmen. That was the first semester of School Year 1969-1970.
CSA-B was some kind of mutation from the Bacolod Casanova School. The 2-storey building along Benigno S. Aquino Drive was very imposing for a hacienda boy like me. The centerpiece of the campus was a muddy football field serving also as a marching ground for ROTC and PMT cadets. At the western side, there was the basketball court with bleachers for P.E. classes; and somewhere at the back, there were classrooms made of recycled materials from the old Casanova serving as the work shops for the Engineering Department.
Opposite the college building was the 3-storey High School-Elementary department. I noticed that the buena familias of Negros Occidental were there --- Caram, Zulueta, Villanueva, Velez, Cordova, Dabao, Lizares, Araneta, Ledesma, Locsin, Lacson. In college, we have a potpourri of personalities - barrio athletes, children of government employees, working students, and the elites. I liked the uniform of our lady schoolmates-cream blouse with a skirt that shows statistics. (Don't think that I'm a skirt chaser.) I just admired physical arts.
In my 4-year stay at CSA-B, I learned to love the atmosphere, the attitude of the majority of the teachers, the dedication of the Augustinian Fathers, the commitment of the brothers, and the perseverance of the janitors. Really, CSA-B is a home! I fell in love with subjects like Political Science under Tim Manalo; General Botany handled effectively by Arsenia Salva; Basic Infantry under the command of Leonardo Victoriano who drowned us with his antics; Fundamental of Speech and Expression taught by Meriam Baniel; Teaching English as a second language by our dearest Manay Terry Ikalina; History of Civilization as memorized by Fr. Junquera; and Educational Psychology of the beautiful Rose Manzano.
I discovered that I could win first place in impromptu speech and that happened when a contestant of LA, Efren Delgado, forgot his schedule and I took over his place. In school year 1972-1973, the student body elected me as College Supreme Student Council president with my best friend Marlon Patalagsa as vice president under the banner of Party for Good Government. I still keep the Miting de Avance program and the bookmark in my album.
My good friend and editor-in-chief of The Eagle, George Patriarca, offered me to be the official correspondent of the school paper. Both of us had common interest in the college of nursing. He played Mr. Thinker while I took the role of Mr. Guy-Next-Door. "Thanks, George for allowing me to write She, a Nurse". We enjoyed the company of Teodolo Cario (my best buddy), Emilio Jaruda, Mercy Rubrico, Marlene Jacildo, Angie Buison, Terry Clavicillas, Eric Melocoton, Opel Paredes, Mark Torre, Melly Balandra, Yvonne Buncio, Salome Marañon, Simeon Villa, Rose Maxino, Ana Win Padilla, Alberto Tan, Amy Mohler, Riolinda Cabiles, Lorna Libre and hundred others.
Father Eduardo Perez, OSA was our director in the plays, "Sa Pula Sa Puti" and "In Unity"; Atty. Robles gave us a break in "Condemned" and Kantotay". Our veladas and ferias are unforgettable. We always bring back to mind the super performance of the Aldeguer Sisters-Terry and Laly. Manay Terry Ikalina helped me to win as "One of the Three Outstanding Students of Bacolod" sponsored by the Jaycees. Gov. Alfredo Montelibano Jr. and Fr. Nicanor Lana, OSA sent me to a Philippine sugar industry's relief and rehabilitation project for flood victims in 1972 in Central Luzon. That was my first remarkable meeting with the original members of the New People's Army.
My attendance at the mid-year congress of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) in Bohol with Eddie Torbanos (WNC) and Greg Jimena (NIT) made me understand the difference between real politics and magic politics. One is common sense and the other is nonsense. During lunch in the classroom, I could not forget that my lunch box was made of banana leaves and my first groups of loyal friends were those coming from the farms and sitios also. Together, we dreamed of a bright future and together we passed the test of time.
Today, Colegio de San Agustin is already 48 years old. It is a landmark in Negros education......surging high like the eagle. We are proud of our Alma Matter. It is our school! CSA-B is not for students who are better than the rest... but for students who sincerely try to become better than they are.
CSA-B is our home because here we walk when others are running; we whisper when others are shouting; we smile when others are frowning; and we pray when others are worrying. Be humble in your greatness. You are an Augustinian!