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Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Once upon a time in September
By Henry L. Yu, M.D.
SEPTEMBER 21, 1972. Where were we? What were we doing then? Thirty-four years ago, on that Thursday morning, our country was placed under Martial Law (Presidential Decree 1081). For us who were non-activists, we rejoiced at the thought of classes being suspended.
Yehee! Yes, we were just as excited as the rest of the student population to be homeward bound, to be with family and friends back in our respective hometowns. The airwaves were dominated by such songs as “Leaving On A Jet Plane”, “Mac Arthur’s Park”, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, among others. But on second thought, we were also worried as we were graduating from college then.
What if it would take months before classes would reopen? Yes, it took a long time for Silliman, one of the last among private schools, to resume classes because that campus by the sea was known for its student activism, where the campus paper printed Marxist writings, with pictures of Fidel or Che gracing its pages..
On October 15, 1972, classes finally resumed and we’re back to school, to the so-called New Society or Bagong Lipunan, with the prescribed semi-army haircut at one-inch above the collar. We were required to wear our university ID, otherwise it was “No ID, No Entry” to the campus beside the sea. It was a period of cessation from student activism, social unrest, Marxist writings, anti-Marcos rallies, and all that buzz, fuzz, and jazz.
There was peace and quiet and open air. We led life like contented cows bound by a 7 p.m. curfew and certain prohibitions. Night life was on an absolute zero point with us turning ourselves to reading our books and saying goodbye to cramming. Indeed, 1972 was a memorable year for the simple reason that it has left so many significant memories in our lives. But most of all, because we were at the prime of our youth.
And being young, we felt that we were on top of the world, that there was so much time to do the many things we wanted to do, so many promises of dawn to look forward to. Yes, “We’re on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation and the only explanation we can find is the love that we’ve found ever since we’ve been around. Our love has put us on top of the world...” Remember this song by the Carpenters?
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 12, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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