By Ricky T. Gallardo Photos
by Noel Alova at Sofitel Philippine Plaza
I FIRST met Margaret Wilson at a
beach resort in central Philippines some years ago. She was then a
typical teenager, bubbly and carefree, and ready to plunge into the
cold open sea early in the morning. I immediately warmed up to
Maggie, as she is called by most of her friends, because she is both
childlike and charming.
Still wet from her morning
splash, she told me that her dream is to become a beauty queen
someday, “just like Ruffa Gutierrez, tito.” I frowned a little
when she referred to me as tito, but I just let it pass, in full
acceptance that Wilson can surely pass for my daughter.
IN the history of the local
beauty pageants, only two winners are in the record books for having
graduated summa cum laude. And both of them went to the University
of the Philippines in Diliman.
THE Philippines has amazing
biodiversity. As compared with other countries, she has more endemic
species in groups like plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and
butterflies.
THAT morning I remember, one
among those other Saturday mornings when I travel from the city to
Mauban, Quezon. As with the other Saturdays, I attempted to teach.
ALTHOUGH writers prefer, in most
cases, to be read rather than seen,teachers of literature have been
required to invent some way of motivating the interest of their
pupils...
