THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (Aug. 9, 1969)

He was the son of a wanderer from San Antonio, Zambales who turned him over to his grandmother when he was aged three so as not to be an obstacle to his travels. He was born on May 23, 1897, and took his elementary studies in “La Juventud Filipino” a Spanish college then located at Binondo, Manila.

He was ten years old when converted to Protestantism because of his aunt who objected to a certain catholic baptismal ceremony. He studied in several other schools:
1. His secondary grades at Ateneo de Manila.
2. At an English School, he took writing in Spanish, English, and Tagalog.
3. At “La Sale Extension University”, he took higher accounting.
4. Course and studies in Special Journalism.

He joined the Scouting Movement in 1928, married Maria Velasco Madarang on July, 1929. His wife died after a miscarriage.

In 1932 he was awarded the “Eagle” after passing 21 merit badges in land scouting. Then he joined the Sea Scout where he obtained the highest mark, a “Quartan Master”. He traveled much then he worked in a Navy Yard. Afterwards he became a messenger of the Cavite Court of First Instance, then a clerk, then an interpreter.Finally he was appointed Special provincial Sheriff by then Judge Manue V. Moran up to June 15, 1941. He was connected with the Bureau of Immigration when he met with an accident in 1946. While attending a Protestant Service in Balintawak he met Bishop Matias Cuadra who appointed him Superintendent of Sunday School.

In 1947, Bishop Cuadra suggested that he go to Alfonso in order to strengthen his legs while at the same time rehabilitating the Protestant Church in Bo. Marahan under Minister Filemon Rogelio.

In 1957 he was sent to Cebu and other places in the Visayas and Mindanao where he performed many assignments.

Back to Alfonso, Cavite in 1963 to organize a Training School for Evangelists he suffered from retinal detachment which made him blind. The disappearance of his vision did not worry him at all. He kept on going around with the help of a little boy whom he paid to guide him. He talked too much about too many things that later many were turned off by his repetitious stories.

By that time he was completely orphaned with no traceable relative to go back to. So, he decided to share shelter with other Protestants in Marahan. Those living with him started treating him coldly and indifferently, yet he remained faithful and sincere to his Lord. He was uncomplaining but what made him unpopular was his being boastful about “knowing too much”.

All those years of his stay in Alfonso were satisfactory. When asked what made his stay in spite of the offers of Protestants in Manila, he just remarked: “I don’t know really, I just love this place”.

About people that made impressions in his mind, he quickly answered: “The first two were Ciriaco M. Acuña and Lino Salazar, the last two were Doctors Rodolfo M. Poblete and Julian E. Aviñante”.

He first disliked the place because of the unruly Marahan youth but he came back in 1969 after turning down an invitation by another Protestant from Magallanes.
The experience of MR. SANTIAGO CORPUZ ESLAVA is one proof of the magnetic appeal of the town to the visitors. Anybody given a chance to live Alfonso for a certain period always hates to leave the place. If he does, he usually comes back without really knowing why.

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Mr. Eslava was reasonable in deciding to stay in Alfonso, for even during his hour of death people helped him and attended to his needs. Funeraria Alfonso offered its place for free during his wake while many Alfonso folks came offering prayers and donations.

From the book TINGKORAW:Alfonso's History and Legend by jett e. avinante,m.d.