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Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Jeanette Dunn, a lady with many talents
By Nena Neri Hernandez
R.S.V.P.
A LADY with many talents! Her name is Jeanette W. Dunn Aragon, known to friends as Jean and Bebe to family. I just met her at TIGUM 2006 because she was the Program Chairman for the three days affair, which turned out to be a very successful and interesting get-together. Tigum is a reunion of all Cagayanons who resided, worked or attended school in Cagayan. This is an occasion to remember, to recollect and to reminisce the early days of the true spirit of being a Cagayanon.
But, this was not the reason why I find her a very interesting person. Other than a registered nurse by profession, she also writes poetry, fiction novels, and does other things that she enjoys, like interior decorating, cooking, etc. She has stayed in the U.S. for many years right after school. A Filipina by heart, she is proud to be one. She gives seminars in the States titled: "The Assets and Liabilities of a Minority or Filipino Leader."
A graduate in the College of Nursing from the University of Sto. Tomas, and completed her Masters in Health Care Administration at La Verne University, California, she became the youngest Director of Nurses in an acute hospital in her time, at age 24. She was promoted to be the Associate Executive Director and Director of Nurses after two years. Divorced now for 5 years, she has two adorable children, ANDRE and MARNIE, both married and successful in their chosen professions. She has two grandchildren with daughter Marnie, named Jarri and Isabelle.
Her first book of poems called "The Emotion of Love and Life Poetry Book" was published in the year 2001, and her second edition called "The Heart Speaks" is almost ready to be printed, followed by the fiction romance novel; "Tears of the Heart."
Reading her first book made me teary-eyed. It was a book filled with emotions and an explicit inscription of one's sensibility to life and love. Jean won an award as Poet of the Year for three consecutive years. If I am allowed to describe the book, it is a manuscript of one's seat of passion that is down to earth, and I instantly fell for it! I wish I could do what and how she puts words in a poetic form. Currently, her book is sold in the Internet and all the bookstores in the US. She donated a copy to the CDO's City Library, and to her high school alma mater, Lourdes College library. This really is a talent and why I call her an Interesting Personality.
To others who do not know her, they think, she is unapproachable. Perhaps, we have to agree with the saying: never judge a book by its cover. When you get to know the real Jean, she is gentle, loving, warm, kind, witty, and most definitely, has a good sense of humor! She will give her right arm to a person who she thinks needs her help. This is the real Jean, born to the late Leo B. Dunn Sr. and the late Juanita Willkom Dunn of Carmen, Cagayan de Oro.
Her decision to really retire in Cagayan is still in the stage of indecision, a very mixed emotion, indeed! After living in the U.S. for many years, adapting to the ways here is not that easy. She mentioned once to me, quote and quote: "Talk about culture shock, I am shock with my own culture." Mainly, because she is very independent and honest about how she feels, she is sometimes misunderstood. Driving her own car made her gain a lot of insights to the city's shortcomings and good points. What drive her crazy is the traffic and the manners of how our drivers drove. Additionally, I forgot to mention that she also plays the piano well, both classical and standard music. I hope Jean decides to retire here. I think we need more like her here in Cagayan de Oro, the woman with many talents!
Below is her poem on her return to the city.
Return
Gone from my hometown many years, this is how I felt when I came back.
Like a little ghost returned,
I sought the old familiar turns.
Where happy childhood memories
Had long supplied my meager wants?
Down dusty streets of years,
Unerringly I walked before
The well-remembered places were
Nobody knew me anymore.
The dear beloved house is gone,
Bridge needed repairs, river still clear,
The shops multiplied and everywhere
So much had changed...or, was it I?
Somehow, a friend seemed to understand
An old acquaintance who held my hand.
Jeanette W. Dunn
Copyright 2005
(July 5, 2006 issue)
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