by Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
Remembering Ramon Magsaysay!
We had a hilarious Monday evening with my bff Ardy together with four (4) other friends: Jo Caballo, Inday Cuarteros, Ruth Iyog and Longlong Clarin. This was our first outing after Covid – after two (2) long, long years. And those two long years became more depressing after Odette hit us. What with the telephone lines becoming non functional and “dead’ up to now.
When I came home that night, I went back to more serious retrospection of past elections when there were just two political parties: the Liberal party and the Nationalista party.
During that hilarious Monday evening dinner, we did not talk about elections. We played Maritess to things happening in the neighbourhood and many mundane topics. We chose a place in the “bondooks” where we could laugh to our hearts’ desire.
I could remember very well that day when president Ramon Magsaysay died. I was then in grade 6. We had our girls scout camping at the Baclayon convent compound.
Ramon Magsaysay was a well loved president. He was identified with the simple folks. I remember very well Iyo Binoy Bandala – our backdoor neighbour. He was the man always called upon by everyone for the bungay ug hagbas jobs of houses’ yards – back and front. In one of the campaign trips of Magsaysay to Bohol, Baliaut was on of his stopovers. Upon reaching the place, he alighted from his vehicle and shook hands with the Baclayanons including the tambay sa kalsada. Iyo Binoy was part of the crowd at that time. He was very fortunate as he was the chosen one given by President Magsaysay his personal jacket. ‘Sus, si Iyo Binoy, sukad nga nakadawat sa jacket ni President Magsaysay, mosimba na sa misa nga nagsul-ob sa maong jacket.
The Philippines mourned for the passing of President Magsaysay. And the women then, including my mother idolized Mrs. Luz Banzon Magsaysay.
I remember they had 3 children: 2 girls and a boy. The girl died young, the name was Teresita. The other girl turned out a hotel executive, a Mrs. Valenzuela. Ramon Magsaysay junior engaged into dairy farming in Zambales and has established a name for his products. They are not living in mansions.
My mother then would buy newspapers detailing the burial of the president up to the time they left Malacañang palace.
While we mourned the passing of the untimely demise of Ramon Magsaysay, then vice president, Carlos Polistico Garcia, became the president.