Good Afternoon I am Felicidad Licyayo Rulli from the Philippines. My theme is to look back before the current moment, to try to think of my childhood. In the early 19th century, the Trinidad Valley, which is in central Trinidad, was sparsely populated. There were a few houses five to ten blocks away were owned by blood relatives. The valley was surrounded by bush and green mountains. There was one main road, it ran from the southeast to the northwest.
My parents happened to inherit a wide patch of land at the centre of the valley. They raised two cows, one horse, two pigs…with three piglets, some chickens, a dog and a cat, as farming was their occupation, they planted sweet potatoes, yams, cabbage, beans, peas, carrots and spinach. The work kept them very busy even though they had two paid helpers. We children were left alone to be just children.
The house was build of wood, with a galvanized sheet roof and glass windows. The second floor had two bedrooms, a wide living room and a balcony. The ground floor level was partly open space, we stored vegetable baskets and garden tools there. The kitchen was a separate smaller building. The upper floor was the dining room and cooking area, the lower floor was a storage space for chopped firewood and a place for the dog. The barn was a little further away from the house.
A primary and elementary school with a training department was five blocks away from our house. The training department was known as “The Trinidad Agricultural School,” it was established by the American Administration.
As a child I was clumsy and shy. My parents thought it would help if I went to school. My first day at school which was June 7th, 1936 was frightening. Before being accepted to grade one, I was told to put one hand over my head and reach my opposite ear!! [to test if you are ready for grade one]. When I was asked what my name was, I was flustered, I knew that my first name was Felicidad, but I had no clue what my last name was. It took a while to think, then I blurted out… “Felicidad Garcia,” which was the name of my cousin. For the three months I was known as Garcia. One day a student teacher discovered that I was really Felicidad Licyayo. I had to learn to re-write my proper name, which took several weeks. Finally I finished my elementary grades in 1941.
When World War II broke out all schools were closed for two years. The Japanese, under General Yamasita, ruled our country from December 1941 to 1945, after which General Macarthur returned to the Philippines. Girls ten to eighteen were recruited by secret agents, the agents were part of the Filipino 66th infantry. We were told to take messages and food supplies to the Guerillas, they were hiding in the mountains. I was one of the youngest children to be recruited…I as 12 years old.
One day five of us were each carrying some vegetables and supplies, we had to climb a hill to a designated hideout. Suddenly we heard a gun shot, then from the top of the hill we heard the word “Kurra, Kurra.” The leader of our group whispered, “act calm, don’t show you are scared.” Luckily we passed a bed and were hidden from the soldier above. One of us was carrying a secret message, which was clipped into her hair bun. She quickly disposed of the papers. A Japanese soldier approached. He demanded we get into the Nipa house, this was a small house made of grass and wood. He then forced us to squat on the floor with our hands behind our backs and our backs to the wall. We were terrified but we kept calm. We stayed like this for four hours.
Before sunset a Japanese farmer came along, he happened to be our neighbour. He spoke to the soldier and urged him to release us. When the soldier nodded his approval, we quickly left with thankful hearts. We ran in the dark as quickly as we could through the narrow rice field dikes, in our haste we stumbled and several of us fell but we finally reached home safe and unharmed.
At the age of 14, I was sent to work in the rice field. It was located on part of my parents land. I planted rice seedlings with several elders. One day we heard airplanes avove. We heard the rat-tat-tat of bullets. Terrified we ran to the river’s edge, we hoped the tall sunflowers there would hide us. We peeped through the tall leaves and saw the sign on the first plane USA. Then to our horror we also saw the hatch open and the guns appear. They were flying low right above our hiding place. The bullets they fired were shot diagonally at some target away from us. In about fifteen minutes everything seemed quiet, the planes disappeared. There was chaos all around. The guns and bombs had damaged everything but we were safe.
We returned to our homes. We left our planting undone. Even the Japanese soldiers did not bother the people as they carried their bundles and supplies. Families evacuated to the mountains where the American guerrillas were stationed. The Japanese soldiers were now in hiding. Peace finally came. The towns and cities were devastated from the bombing. The American soldiers stationed in the valley assembled the able-bodied young men and women, they were asked to help clean up the rubble, we were paid a dollar a day. Because of the peace, the schools were opened once more; businesses and farms could now start to operate.
I went back to High School, but I lacked books and other school equipment. The Japanese Ruler ordered all English books to be burned, this continued for the length of time we were under his régime. I graduated High School in 1947. I felt I hadn’t learned very much, but my experience taught me a lot. The memory of these experiences still lingers in my mind.
The last time I spoke was about my early childhood [1929-1947]. Today (now) I would like to give a glimpse of my life from 1947 to the present, January 2010. Bare with me because it’s quite boring.
Graduating from High School in 1947 after the Second World War (WW II) – Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, I enrolled at St. Lukes School of Nursing in Manila. The climate in the city is always hot, day and night, that I could concentrate on my lessons and ward activities. I opted to complete an Elementary Teacher’s Certificate at Baquio College in Baquio City, 7 miles away from my home. I graduated in 1950. A Bachelor’s Degree in Education was to follow later (1962).
For the next 13 years I was a substitute teacher, then temporary and permanent after passing the government Civil Service test. I taught at various schools in the districts of Tublay, Banaue, Bauko, Trinidad, Itogon, and Tuba. Apart from educating my classroom students (pupils), I was involved in Cub Scout and Girl Scout Organization as well as first aid school nurse. Looking back in my teaching days, I still associate my many hikes to the schools up and down the mountain, which looks like the Vancouver coast mountain trails, due to the fact that this was the mountainous Cordillera region in my country.
In 1962 my only sister Florenae, made a bold move to the United States for graduate and post graduate nursing studies, and eventually settling in Montreal in 1965, employment at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
In the fall of that same year, I was sponsored by my sister to Montreal for a 3 month Visa. When the time came for the Visa to expire, I was fortunate to have no difficulty in obtaining an immigrant Visa. I was allowed to work without a written work permit.
I worked in the Infant Nursing Unit at the same hospital as my sister Florenae. Royal Victoria Hospital is also where I met my future husband working as a nursing orderly. By the end of 1966 Maurice and I fell in love and got married. He was born in Montreal of Italian parents.
It was an exciting time to be living as a new immigrant in such a vibrant and multicultural city, host of the coming 1967 World Expo. Everything was new to me – telephone, television, transportation, my marriage, my work, the weather, snow, and hustle and bustle of people going to work under the rain or snow storm – it’s a WOW!
1967 was the same year I gave birth to my first son Mario, then another son Wagner and a daughter Tosca Jennifer. Between 1967 and 1973 I had my hands full with 3 children. My husband Maurice wanted me to be full time stay-at-home to look after the children while he be the breadearner.
In the latter part of 1973, I decided to go back to work to help supplement our income. I gradually took on part-time employment, then I was given a full time work at the Montreal Extended Care Centre in 1974. Two years later I enrolled in the Nursing Assistant Continuing Education Course at Westmount High School. I passed the government Nursing Assistant exams in 1978 and was also required to take French language course in order to obtain a license to practice. From 1979 to 1982 I worked as Nursing Assistant in the Medical Ward of the Montreal General Hospital and also dedicated 10 years of service to the Reddy Memorial Hospital, working in the Medical/Surgical Ward Unit until my retirement in 1993. During the latter part of my term in the Reddy Memorial I juggled part-time hours at the Montreal Convalescent Hospital, who honored me with a plaque for excellent service.
Things sadly changed in 1990 when my mother died, followed by the death of my uncle in 1991. The worst part is when my husband Maurice unexpectedly died at the age of 75 from a Brain Aneurysm, the same year after our 25th Wedding Anniversary in 1992.
The next couple of years were lonely as my first born Mario also moved to Jasper, Alberta to work. Wagner and Tosca were still attending High School. Since I retired from the Nursing profession, I had to do other things to keep me busy and had to go on with my life without a husband.
In 1995 I became involved with the Philippine Organization called BIBAK. I was an Ifugao Representative and Liaison Officer. This embracing community allowed me to meet and interact with new people and take part in organizing various activities. I also discovered an ability to write when encouraged to contribute to articles to the organization’s magazine “Gangsa Magazine”.
Later Tosca moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. Wagner and I with some other family members remained in Montreal, Florence my sister, Hudson my brother and his family of seven children and various cousins who had all immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in earlier years. Though I had a circle of friends and family, there is no person who could replace my sister Florence who tragically passes away from cancer on July 1st, 1997.
The time has come for me to make a new start in 2002 when I moved to Vancouver to be with my daughter and son, leaving Wagner alone in Montreal, to follow when he makes up his mind.
I reconnected with some relatives and friends who lived here (Vancouver) and joined their organization PCIS and BIBAK. I did not limit myself to Filipino Orgnaizations, I took the initiative to involve myself to local community social centres and church activities. I am currently active in volunteer work with the Kerrisdale Seniors Community Centre, Kerrisdale, Oakridge Marpole Community Policing Centre and lately I left volunteer work at the Citizenship Oath Taking Division. I enjoy time dancing lessons, arts and crafts and seniors singing choir.
Apart form my activities I am a proud grandmother to 3 grandchildren which gives me much joy in seeing a new generation in the family. Wagner and his girlfriend Stephanie just moved to Vancouver in 2008, that makes my family circle completely within my reach.
In my 80 years of living, I saw and experienced many changes occur in the world and in the two Canadian Cities that I call home. A combination of an open mind and open heart and curiosity to learn about new things and different people is what drives me to appreciate and enjoy life with great enthusiasm along with faith in God. I feel blessed to have watched my three children grow up to be loving, healthy and well-rounded adults. Mario, a project coordinator for Epta Properties and married to a Greek Canadian Roula Tsakumis and they have two young daughters, Athens and Isabella. Wagner, a hard working Certified Personal Trainer is Supervisor at Richmond Olympic Oval Health Fitness Cnetre. Tosca Jennifer is a Customer Relations Manager of the Embassy Development Corp. Real Estate Division, married to a Canadian Michael Hopkins with whom she has a son Parker and is expecting to give birth to a girl this January 2010. I am looking forward to the growth and welfare of my growing family. May the good Lord bless and guide all of them in the daily life.