Through the Decades....the 1970's

i spent the 70's largely as a high school and college student. I finished my 4 years of high school education at the Notre Dame of Manila in 1973. That same year, i started college at the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of the Philippines, Diliman where i took my 2-year pre-veterinary medicine studies then entered the U.P. College of Veterinary Medicine in 1975 for my veterinary medicine proper. After 4 gruelling but fun years, i finally obtained my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree in 1979.

Dekada 70 covered one of the tumultous times in Philippine history. During the early part of the 70's, there were a lot of demonstrations and bombings in and around Metro Manila. Then in September of 1972 martial law was declared by the then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. I remembered well the day martial law was announced....there was nothing on TV and radio or in the newspapers, except for the government-owned or controlled TV & radio stations and newspaper. I was on my senior year of high school and it was the first day we wore our military uniforms for our Peoples Military Training (PMT) at school .... i was very proud to wear it when i left home ....when i got to school, we were told to go home because martial law has just been announced on TV and radio. I immediately removed the top of my uniform and went home just wearing my white undershirt, my fatigue pants, and my military belt and boots because i was so afraid i would be mistaken as a member of the military.

For 1 month after the announcement, there were no classes ....that gave me time to have my eyes examined only to find out that i desperately needed eyeglasses ....so when i got back to school, all of my classmates were surprised because i was wearing prescription eyeglasses. since then, i have never been without my glasses or my contact lens.

In spite of the times, i was able to concentrate on my studies and finished college on time!...i knew of several classmates, neighbors, friends, etc. who never finished school because they opted to join the underground to fight the Marcos rule ...i figured, i'd be able to serve the people better if i finish college then serve them as a competent veterinarian!

i finished college in 1979 ....in fact, UPCVM Class '79 had our 25th Anniversary celebrations in 2004 ....but that'll be another entry in this blog! Immediately before graduation, i was invited to join the Faculty of the UP College of Veterinary Medicine ....one week after graduation, i started on my first job.