Author Topic: An Interview with Mrs. Carmencita Dominquez-Arcay (CDA)  (Read 1128 times)

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An Interview with Mrs. Carmencita Dominquez-Arcay (CDA)
« on: May 29, 2009, 07:54:53 PM »
By Loy Palapos

Vibrant and full of life. All smiles, and at peace with her world. At 76, Mrs. Carmencita Dominquez-Arcay (CDA) is totally involved with community projects, and there is no way of stopping her from her usual daily grind. She wakes up early in the morning to do her “Taebo,” tends to her plants and talks to them. Greets the birds as if they are human beings. At nine, she is either in her office, or fulfilling some appointments. This septuagenarian is a lady on the go, while many of her contemporaries, or those younger in years, have decided to call it quits and lead life in the doldrums.

      This 30-minute interview took place last Monday. She was on her way to another gathering at JJ's Seafoods Village. There's no way of conversing with Mrs. Arcay a long time. She is always racing with the clock.
 

LMP: How young are you now?

CDA: I am yet 76 years old.

      LMP: I understand that you have been teaching. At what age did you start to         teach?   

CDA: Eighteen years old.

      LMP: At that time, what was the course that you finished?

      CDA: I finished ETC, Elementary Teacher's Certificate.

      LMP: And what kind of class were you teaching?

      CDA: I started with primary pupils.

      LMP: And where was that?

      CDA: In Plaridel, Misamis Occidental.

      LMP: Where are you from?

      CDA: I was born in Dansalan, Lanao, now Marawi.

      LMP: And where did you get this maiden name de Guzman?

      CDA: My father was a Philippine National Guard in Camp Overton, Iligan City. He was from Pampanga.

      LMP: So basically, you are a Pampangeña who became a Boholana?

      CDA: No, because my mother was from Bohol so I could still consider myself a Boholana. Her maiden name was Dominguez.

      LMP: So, you really wanted to be a teacher right from the start. You were studying somewhere in Mindanao, right? Now that you have retired from being a teacher, is it fulfilling?

      CDA: Teaching is a very fulfilling profession. My cause was to serve God through my fellowmen, and I began with the children.

      LMP: As far as your profession is concerned, were there any frustrations that you had when you were teaching?

      CDA: There were many.

      LMP: Like what?

      CDA: I spent my own money to buy school materials. It was in 1950.

      LMP: Oh yes, because you were teaching when the classrooms in those times were still inadequate, and there was no supply of classroom needs.

      CDA: Yes, they were inadequate. In fact, I needed to buy my own chalk because we were not supplied with chalks. All the school and visual aids for the children had to be purchased using my own money so that meant teachers like us in those times had very little savings. And some of my pupils were incorrigible.

      LMP: How much was the salary you received for the first time?

      CDA: It was around P100.

      LMP: But because of low prices, it was still enough during that time.

             By the way, I heard that you had an interesting love-life, that you almost married a Muslim who was very rich.

      CDA: That's the scary part. My parents arranged my marriage to a Muslim, without me knowing about it. When everything was ready, they told me it was for my own good, that the guy was handsome and wealthy.

      LMP: How did you react?

      CDA: I panicked. I ran away from home without telling anybody. I cannot marry a man I didn't know fully well, no matter how good-looking and rich he was. I cannot help but think that, because he was a Muslim, he can have more wives.

      LMP: Where did you go?

      CDA: It was timely. I was just informed of a scholarship grant to study Physical Education at the Rizal Memorial College. I packed my bags and, without telling anybody, boarded a ship for Manila.

      LMP: So how did you meet your husband?

      CDA: In Manila, I met Fabian Arcay there. There was not a long courtship. I did not like to go back home anymore.

      LMP: Why did you marry Fabian?

      CDA: Because he was a Boholano. I trusted him at once. When he learned that I went to Manila, he thought I was kidnapped. He found me in the dormitory of William Chiongbian, who was a neighbor in Mindanao.

      LMP:  Alright. So you got married, even without your parents.

      CDA: We had a civil marriage in Manila. The late Severino Estonina, who became a mayor of Panglao, was also there.

      LMP: How about the church wedding?

      CDA: It was held here in Panglao.

      LMP: So you realized that you married the right guy.

      CDA: Correct. Even if we were poor, I was satisfied with our love for each other. You know, we always told ourselves that Boholano joke “Bahala'g saging basta loving.” He was really a good man.

      LMP: Your six children are successful. How do you account for that?

      CDA: It is because I believe that God rewards those who are faithful to Him. I am grateful that God has given me what I have wanted. Until now, I believe that God still blesses me because I am still working. I even say that I am not “retiring,” that I am just “changing the tire.”

      LMP: You have worked with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) right? You were the Bohol Provincial Office Coordinator. At the same time, you have been very busy with a lot of things. Now, can you name some of the affiliations that you have or had? Let us start with your writing.

      CDA: During my teaching years, I wrote scripts for the different occasions, like Teachers' Night, and Christmas Programs, among others.

      LMP: Was this something because you were teaching P.E. and the P.E. teacher was supposed to be the one to coordinate, train and come up with all of those stage productions?

      CDA: During December, I wrote plays. These included The Creation, Adam and Eve, and the Nativity. During Lenten Season also, I wrote a play entitled “Ichi Homo.”

      LMP: That title, what does that mean?

      CDA: It means the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

      LMP: Is that Latin?

      CDA: Yes.

      LMP: So you really started liking stage productions and writing when you were still a teacher. And now, even if you are not a teacher anymore, you are still at it. What are your affiliations now?

      CDA: I am connected with the Association of Writers and Radio Announcers Foundation, Inc., LUDABE, Bohol Literary Arts Circle. The Compadres Club Incorporated's now our affiliate.

      LMP: Are all of these writing groups?

      CDA: Yes.

      LMP: What year did you retire from active teaching?

      CDA: 1998.

      LMP: That was 11 years ago.

      CDA: Yes, as a retiree.

      LMP: But you have mentioned that you are not retiring and that you are merely “changing tires” which means that you are still full of energy?

      CDA: Definitely. I would even get upset when I don't involve myself.

      LMP: Aside from that, what motivates you to be active until today? I have known a lot of retirees; they just stay at home, they don't do anything until they disappear to oblivion. But in your case, you are still very much around. What motivates you?

      CDA: Perhaps, I am driven with my motto which is to serve God through my fellowmen.

      LMP: So there you are. And you believe that when it comes to service, age doesn't matter?

      CDA: Yes.

      LMP: And you make yourself available for any kind of organization that needs your service. How about the Church, what are your affiliations?

      CDA: I am a member of the Catholic Women's League (CWL), Treasurer of all the different chapels around Panglao, Kinabuhing Malamboon, Marianology, and Couples for Christ. I am also a facilitator of the Youth for Christ. We have even reached as far as Talisay, Cebu.

      LMP: How would you picture your ordinary day?

      CDA: I wake up at around five o' clock in the morning and do the Taebo. It's a kind of exercise.

      LMP: Do you do that everyday?

      CDA: I usually have my schedule and that's twice a week.

      LMP: After exercise, what do you do?

      CDA: Just cool off. Afterwards, I take a shower. Then, after that, I prune my flowers and plants. I even talk to my plants because I believe that they also need someone who would talk to them.

      LMP: You're alone, you cook your food but you don't stay at home all the time.

      CDA: That is because I like to work.

      LMP: At what time do you usually go out of your house?

      CDA: It depends because I stay in the office.

      LMP: And where is your office now?

      CDA: It is in Mac Jac on the Green.

      LMP: The way I look at it now, you really enjoy life.

      CDA: With the grace of God. But sometimes, I would reflect and ask myself “Where are my children now?”

      LMP: Well, they have their own lives already. The consolation is that you know that they are living their own lives and that you are still on and you enjoy life and all the pleasures that go with it.

       So what is your dictum, your philosophy in life?

CDA: Just have faith in God. Never doubt Him.

      A busy bee… that's what Mameng Arcay is. To think that she is staying in Panglao, and many of her activities are in Tagbilaran City. Call it zest for life… whatever propels her to non-stop activities is remarkable.

      She stays alone… with all her six children living with their separate families. But this does not deter her from moving on; although there are times when, at home alone, she misses the noise and voices of her husband and kids. And sometimes, she asks herself… “Where are the children?”

      But instead of dwelling in life's inadequacies and wants, she takes the bull by its horns… with exuberant smile. After all, she understands everything is up to Him. She is only serving Him by serving the community.

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John 3:16-18 ESV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

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