Draw a line and live above it

As I walked into his creaking wood floor, beautiful house he set effort in decorating; standing strong even at eighty-one years of age, Delfin Mongaya refuse to settle in a retirement home but rather fulfill his life in every tick of a clock working as a crossing guard few blocks down Chevy Chase St. A father of two, he realized he was more than blessed. His reflective complexion of wrinkle erodes in his face and his calloused hands and feet are evident effects of working in the farm at a young age underneath a blazing heat of the sun in Philippines. As we sat down for sip of coffee he prepared, he reminiscence his olden times. The scars and unhealed wounds in his weakening body still remain as he recalls the time where he engage in battle during World War II. We should always carry our history with us, but we must never let it bury us. He feels that challenges are what makes life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes them meaningful.

Life in Philippines was difficult for many people, however they still managed to survive. I lived in a province but I see it more as in a middle of nowhere in the forest. Since I was young, I worked as a farmer, same as my other siblings. My mom gave birth to nine children, I was the third child and I have two older sisters. Since, they were both girls, they expected me to do most of the heavy housework. We used carabao, a water buffalo of the Philippines, to help us do our daily job in the We owned. . I guess you can call it a small restaurant. Even though it wasn’t a large place, it was a great help for the family. As people stop by to fill their empty stomach, I helped to lessen the labor my mom has to do. My father had passed away when I was eighteen years old. Our so-called small restaurant didn’t last for long because my father died. It was really difficult for us to survive without him. But as days go by, we learned to work together to make life easier.

  I married a woman who was also a farmer at the age of twenty-five, so as it turned out we all worked in the same job when she and I have kids. Not for long, we all decided to migrate to Manila. It wasn’t easy at all, because we knew from that point on that we needed money. I worked at Hendrice Laboratory for about eighteen years, where the medicine for animals and human are manufactured. Not all citizens were able to work. Some just found a way of living. Other strict companies, requires at least eighteen years of age in order to work. But other than that, it does not matter as long as you know a job for you to make money.

 I was thankful my two kids finished high school knowing all my hard work I do is only for them. Each went to college and in no time they graduated. Both of my kids lived in dormitories. However, my son soon left to work as a mechanical engineering for boats

I remember… at the age of eighteen, it was the most memorable part in my life when I became a part of the so-called “guerilla” who fought during the World War II. At first, Philippines lost the battle, but with the help of General McArthur, we won against the Japanese. General McArthur made it possible for the people to be armed with guns and weapons. It was a catastrophe in every part of Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas)

When Ferdinand Marcus was the President, I didn’t really have anything against him because the majority of the people living weren’t against Marcos. He had a way of gathering people in the town, for example, he announced out loud that he was giving away a sack of rice to whoever may chose to attend the meeting that will be held. Eagerly everyone wanted to attend, realizing a sack of rice would be more than enough for a month. However, in truth, Marcos just wanted to gather as many people as he can in order to give speech about his desire as a president. As he said “Does everyone agree? Whoever choose to will get a sack of rice”. The crowd replied “Sure! Sure!”

I didn’t really like him at all. Even though most people agreed with him to lead as a president I was in opposition to many opinions I have encountered. Give thought about it, the people just approved simply because they wanted to survive. Other than that, I think it is really wrong. He didn’t do anything to improve the society. There wasn’t really a difference made when he was the president. The government treated us fairly, so I can’t really say anything that’s offensive to them. Based on my experience, during his presence, it happened that he took all the rice and prevented people from eating it, but instead he gave corn to feed the people. It really caused a problem for many people for the reason that they starved to death.

In World War II Marcos also fought with us. No one was forced; no one can stay behind, as long as your alive, you fight in a war. Philippines needed many people to participate and be loyal. Even little children helped out carrying weapons and most parents couldn’t really do anything about it because they had to be there during the war too. The government made an announcement that everyone who has the strength to fight for his or her country must partake. If the government states an order, everyone must be loyal to follow its orders. The war ended because the Japanese surrendered. People felt more reassured and thankful that even though worst have come to worst, its over. I was thankful for Gods presence, helped the people during the way.

Interviewed by Anne Gielyn Asi