Thank you so much,
Rolando "Jun" V. Redor, for enlightening me on the etymology and the Filipino translation of the word "scholar.”
"Scholar" comes from the Greek word "schole," meaning "a leisurely walk or stroll given to learning” --- An apt Filipino term would then be "lakbay-aral." Well, that's the true spirit of scholarship: a continuous journey to discovery and learning, and never a finished destination. Read the conversation in this Facebook post.
My lifelong learning desire
is to be a scholar of many fields and my interaction with you at
Sonolux Asia in the 90s
opened up for me the fields of “Philippine Sociology, History, Cinema” and many more, as areas of scholarship that I have pursued (in varying stages of exploration) even long after our status as co-workers has ceased.
My gratitude to you
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My Photo Album on Tayabas page 1 |
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My Photo Album on Tayabas page 2 |
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Tayabas Church bell |
because
you have sent me off
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Paraiso Resort, Tayabas |
to an exciting journey
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Lambanog with Tayabas ladies |
to these lands.
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Horseback riding in Tayabas |
Many days, I think about more opportunities to do scholarly work (and play) with you and now that I am with
it is imperative for me to study things Catholic and things Filipino.
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Tayabas Church Brochure front and back cover |
I find exploring “Tayabas Church Scholarship”
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Tayabas Church brochure inside front cover |
a perfect combination.
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Tayabas Church brochure title page with
Jun Redor's note to Rom Cumagun |
Your invitation:
may I invite you some time to visit my town Tayabas. Let's have a stroll on culture and history through heritage walks and an experience of local rituals: hambuhan, awitan, igbahan, suob, mayohan, hagisan, pasintabi...... Then you'll find yourself becoming a "co-scholar" of LIFE itself, and simply immersed into ordinary people's life stories.
is an advice on the scholarship method, to which I agree is the best way to go about learning Tayabas.
It is also a challenge of "living the Tayabas learning" which I know and feel is worth taking.
Doing it with you, a full-blooded Tayabas scholar, makes the work even more motivating.
Thank you for inviting; I accept your invitation.
Wishing you prosperity and long life in Tayabas and Asian Social Institute!