I'm reposting here a biography of my grandfather, in time for his natal day tomorrow. Though he is long gone, his memory lives on in the family and perhaps in others who find some worth in the study of the Leyte-Samar language. This post is from Waray Museum, where you'll read other related texts.
Vicente I. de Veyra, Biography
by Victoria S. Salazar
Towards the end of 1903, an envelope postmarked Washington, D. C., made its slow way across the seas to the modest home of Pedro de Veyra and Ines Loanco of Palo, Leyte. The letter came from their eldest son, Martin, a government pensionado(1) in Columbia University. A photograph accompanied the letter.
Fifteen-year-old Vicentico, studying his brother's photograph, idly turned it over. Some words were written at the back of the picture. He proceeded to read the lines aloud: Bisan magpakainkaen an sakayan, mabalek gihapon ha duruungan. "No matter where a ship may make its way, back to port it will return one day."
What a world of meaning lay in that simple sanglitanan (saying) of his people, mused Vicentico. To his mother, anxious for her firstborn so far from home, the aphorism said in effect: "Don't worry, Mother. I shall come back."
As he read the lines a second and yet a third time, a feeling of excitement slowly possessed him. He would collect this and other wise sayings of his people and write them down so they would never be forgotten. And he would begin right now with Agurang(2) Martin's inscription. Off he rushed to get paper and pen.
by Victoria S. Salazar
Towards the end of 1903, an envelope postmarked Washington, D. C., made its slow way across the seas to the modest home of Pedro de Veyra and Ines Loanco of Palo, Leyte. The letter came from their eldest son, Martin, a government pensionado(1) in Columbia University. A photograph accompanied the letter.
Fifteen-year-old Vicentico, studying his brother's photograph, idly turned it over. Some words were written at the back of the picture. He proceeded to read the lines aloud: Bisan magpakainkaen an sakayan, mabalek gihapon ha duruungan. "No matter where a ship may make its way, back to port it will return one day."
What a world of meaning lay in that simple sanglitanan (saying) of his people, mused Vicentico. To his mother, anxious for her firstborn so far from home, the aphorism said in effect: "Don't worry, Mother. I shall come back."
As he read the lines a second and yet a third time, a feeling of excitement slowly possessed him. He would collect this and other wise sayings of his people and write them down so they would never be forgotten. And he would begin right now with Agurang(2) Martin's inscription. Off he rushed to get paper and pen.
Add Comment
RSS Feed