The Life Story of Sergio Aragones

Last night, Kuya Sering and wife Lydia drove all the way from San Jose to Hayward to visit me. He brought one kaldero of lugaw he personally cooked for me. My siblings and I called him Kuya because our mothers (+) who both hailed from Pila-pila were relatives.

I am sharing Sergio Aragones’ buhay to OH MY BUHAY readers upon his request and full consent including the real names of characters. For brevity, we shall refer to him as SERGIO.

Sergio was born in Tabon, Binangonan, Rizal. He spent his elementary days at the Talim Elementary School, a 3- kilometer walk or half-hour ride in a small boat.
He went to Rizal High in Pasig and stayed with a kumpare of his father.

Sergio’s parents, Camilo B. Aragones and Marciana Punelas, tubong Pila-pila like my mom, owned a carinderia in Pritil which helped them sustained their nine children.

After graduating from high school, Sergio applied and was accepted by the US Navy. Since he was only 17 and one year short of the required minimum age of 18, he needed both his parents’ consent and signatures which they did not give because they did not want him to be away from them. His parents said he need not work abroad as they could still manage to send him to school in the Philippines.
They were also worried that as a US Navy, he would eventually be sent to the on-going Korean war.

He applied at the Mapua Institute of Technology but decided to pursue his second choice degree at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos (UP Los Banos).

One time, he and younger sister Pining were riding in a BLTB bus, instead of sitting beside his Ate Pining, he decided to transfer to the next row and sat near the open side.
To those of you who have never seen a vintage BLTB because I believe they no longer exist or have been replaced by more modern types of buses, those were the red chunky buses with plywood walls, no door but all sides were open.
BLTB is owned and operated by four generations of the Potenciano family and stands for Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus.

The bus crashed into another truck carrying furniture. Sergio was thrown out of the bus through its open sides and was pinned-down by a large aparador that fell from the furniture truck.

The pahinte of the other truck pulled him away to safety, saved in time for being hit by another speeding vehicle. He was brought to the Binan emergency hospital with head and leg injuries. He was later transfered to the Philippine General Hospital where he recuperated for one whole month.

Despite this tragedy, Sergio still considered himself lucky because the person who was seated next to his sister Pining, on the very same seat he vacated died instantly. It could have been him.

He was severely traumatized by the accident and suffered from slight amnesia which affected his ability to cope-up with his studies delaying his graduation from 1959 to 1961.

After finishing his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, he taught for six years at the Balibago Elementary School in Cardona, Rizal.

He got a co-teacher pregnant but could not marry her because of his responsiblities to his siblings. His father told him to help them send his siblings to school.
If he married her, then he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his duties to his family.

Sergio abruptly resigned form his teaching post at Balibago and avoided the girl.
The woman sued him for rape and her family threatened to kill Sergio. He hid in Manila and found temporary refuge at the dormitory owned by Tenting Arago and wife Aveling from Munting Bundok. Ka Tenting was a Director of the Bureau of Printing.
I didn’t know that, kaya pala they had a big house in Binangonan and several automobiles.

Ka Tenting —- “Guro ka, bakit ka nadito? May pinagtataguan ka”.
Sergio——— “Wala ho”.
Ka Tenting—– “Hindi mo iiwan ang pagkaguro mo kung wala kang pinagtataguan.
Sabihin mo sa akin ang totoo at kung hindi, huwag ka ng pupunta
dito”.
Sergio——— Babae ho….
Ka Tenting—– Alam ko.
Sergio———- Alam ho nyo? Pa’no ho nyo nalaman.
Ka Tenting—— Makinig ka, ako dalawang teacher ang……….

Sergio only stayed for three weeks at the dormitory owned by the Aragos located near Far Eastern University in Adelina Street. Jobless, he started peddling Collier’s Dictionary and Encyclopedia knocking on doors.

After just a few months, the United States Embassy opened their doors to nurses, doctors, accountants, teachers and other professionals. Sergio grabbed this chance and applied. Remember he had always wanted to go to the US? His first try was the US Navy stint which his parents shot down.

Sergio drafted an application letter which he showed to Remedios Aragones for proof reading. Remy is now married to Boy Paralejas and she’s better known as Remy Paralejas. Remy told him his letter was perfectly written.

My brother, Kuya Lito, was also able to go to the US through this program. In those days, it was easy. One need not get an advance appointment and pay $150 beforehand. You just had to show-up and prove that you’re a professional.

According to Sergio, the US Consul who interviewed him was black.
Consul—— What are you applying for?
Sergio—— I would like to be a teacher in the US.
Consul—— What’s your qualification?
Sergio—— I was a teacher for six years.
Consul—— What is your education?
Sergio—– Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
Consul—– You are not qualified.
Sergio—– I can teach.
Consul—– No. Our requirement is BS in Education and a 5 year experience.

Sergio sadly accepted the rejection and started to leave. When he was at the door, the consul called him back. He thought he would be given a visa.

Consul—– This is what you need. Apply to a company in the US.

Sergio went back to Binangonan and after a few days, he learned that his cousin from Calumpang named Rodolfo “Rudy” Villadiego” had just came back from working in the US. He worked with McLelan Company while studying. They were only allowed to take jobs while they were officially enrolled in a school. Rudy had to leave the US because the immigration authorities have become so strict.

Sergio told Rudy that he wanted to work in the US. Rudy advised him to apply to McLelan and assured Sergio that his former employer would definitely accept Sergio.
Sergio wasted no time in sending his credentials to McLelan and in a just a little over a week, McLelan responded by sending him a letter of acceptance.

Sergio was naturally ecstatic but this was dampened when his parents told him
“anak, wala tayong pera. Saan tayo kukuha ng pambayad sa tikit?”
Then Tiya Marsi had a bright idea. She told Sergio to go to Judge Antazo.
Judge Antazo, from Paterno Street (likod ng simbahan), helped him get a Northwest Airlines ticket thru the “fly now pay later” plan as his guarantor.

Sergio finally left for San Francisco and started a new life.
Within months, he got a girl pregnant (again!)
to be continued….