RENATO D. Tayag wants to be known as Katoks. Do you know that Katoks is the valedictorian of Pampanga High School, Class 1933? Tayag was born in Angeles City during a town fiesta (October 9, 1915). In 1939, he graduated from his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines. While at the State University, he was the editor of the Collegian and the Literary Apprentice (UP).
He fought in Bataan and became a prisoner of war in O'Donell. He was one of the pioneer journalists to go to Red China in 1964. His passions included playing tennis, travelling and reading. He wrote a book in 1985 titled Recollections and Digressions. His masterpiece is "Base Town, Asia". It is a reflection of the prevailing atmosphere in Angeles when the Americans controlled Clark. He erased the stigma that Macabebe soldiers were traitors. He listed well known Pampangueños and paid homage to them. I like to quote what Katoks said:
"An enumeration of those from the town of Macabebe alone is impressive.
"Among those in the list are Makati Mayor Nemesio Yabut, National Artist Vicente Manansala, actress Alma Moreno, singer Rico J. Puno, Jaime Cardinal Sin's ghostwriter anmd spokesman Felix Bautista, Jr., actor Tony Ferrer, lawyer Geminiano Yabut, journalist and Roxas admirer Felixberto G. Bustos and movie producer Espiridion Laxa. Sunga, Talag, Viray and Quiambao are some typical Macabebe surnames.
Ninoy Aquino is a descendant from a Quiambao from Macabebe, according to Nick Joaquin's book about the Aquinos of Tarlac.
The talented Gatbontons, the eldest of whom was the famed cartoonist of the Manila Chronicle Liborio T. Gatbonton, are half Macabebe. Gat's middle initial stands for Talag.
George Sunga, production consultant and co-creator of those TV hits "Three's Company" and "The Ropes", has a Pampango father, according to an article by Preciosa S. Soliven in Manila magazine. His family name indicates that the father is a Macabebe.
Frequently human drama is played up in the newspapers without readers knowing that the principal actors are Pampangos. Writers weave imaginary Pampango characters into their fantasies and travelers tell about some mention of Pampangos in foreign countries:
Consider the following:
1) Remembering when the gossips columns were filled with the love triangle of Dolphy, Alma Moreno and Rudy Fernandez? I have heard it said that they are all Pampangos.
2) Leo Parungao, of Arayat and Press Secretary under the Macapagal administration, made many people believe that he fraternized and talked with dwarfs. Later, he revealed that he had conversations with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some say that even Father Reuter, S. J. looked impressed while listening to Leo's revelations.
3) Then there is this columnist from the Times Journal (Bernie de Leon, Jr., a Pampango) who writes that he spent his early childhood in Tondo, not far from the old city slaughter house. Bernie wrote a whole column about the so-called "Battle of Mendiola Bridge", comparing it to the game of patintero he played in Tondo, without mentioning that the protagonists are Pampangos like him. Brig. Gen. Narciso Cabrera of the Manila Police is from Arayat and Butz Aquino is from Concepcion, Tarlac.
4) The news gave Butz Aquino national prominence and mentioned him as Quezon City mayor. If Butz opts for the latter, he may have to tangle with a Pampangueña from Apalit, Her Honor the Mayor Adelina Santos Rodriguez.
5) Remember when Ms. Polly Cayetano raised Cain over the nude photos of Tetchie Agbayani? Tetchie is not Pampango, only Polly is.
6) Manila audiences are moved to laughter by the antics of Pampangos, especially when they say cuss words in their language. I witnessed this in Makati at the opening night of "Doña Buding Sa Rizal" when Nanette Inventor (from the town of Mexico) shouted from the stage addressing an imaginary Christina Onassis: "Putanaydamo, Christina, nanung sasabian mu." The translation of this into English, though is no laughing matter.
7) The audiences are always moved by the performances of three girls named Cecile Licad, Vilma Santos and Lea Salonga. Aside from talent, they have something in common: they all have Pampango fathers. And Liza Lorena and Hilda Koronel have Pampango mothers.
(Recollection and Digressions, page 179-180)
Abong (a son of Katoks) said his father is very loyal to his friends despite their political affiliations.
Katoks started practicing law in 1940 and when Ferdinand E. Marcos was released from detention after being acquitted in the Nalundasan case.
Gerry (another son) said, it was Katoks and another fraternity brother Angel Limjoco Jr. who fetched Marcos from prison. He also said Limjoco, a Batangueño, later served as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Marcos.
After that, Gerry added, they formed the Marcos-Tayag Law Office at the Fifth Floor of Heacock Building in Escolta, Manila.
Gerry said Marcos and Katoks were a perfect combination. Marcos was the orator and debater and he appeared in court to argue his case, but it was Katoks, the writer, who wrote the pleadings for the cases.
Holy Angel University Vice President and CKS Director Robert P. Tantingco said Katoks has an appeal to the younger generation of today.
"The ability of Katoks to explain and to narrate with a very limited vocabulary -- not that he had a limited vocabulary, but he did not use polysyllabic words but used very simple words and yet achieved the same effect as somebody who has a wide vocabulary -- makes him an ideal role model for today's young writers," Tantingco said.
"That is the power of Katoks Tayag. Even if he did not use profound words, his writings could still inspire and appeal to a lot of young writers today," he added.
"There is this wrong notion among young writers that you should have knowledge of every word before you could write", Tantingco said. "But now it's alright and just as effective", he added.
We fully agree: Katoks is the least Pampango essayist in English because he abhorred high falutin words.
Katoks had 12 children by his wife Adoracion Suarez, all of them UP-Manuel, Mario (both lawyers based in Manila); Carmen (Mameng), now married to international boxing referee Bruce McTavish; Abong; Adoracion; Gerry; Teresita; Abraham; Claudio (Cloud 9), a noted writer and newspaper columnist); Apolinario; Ina and CJ.