A Speech for Jaci

I first heard the name Jaclyn Dyan Wamberg in October 2009. The College of Arts and Communication was astir about welcoming her while I just sat outside imagining a Peace Corps Volunteer’s face as old, wrinkled, and silver-haired. When she finally emerged from the van I was jolted out of my senses to find a pretty young face. I was even more surprised when Ma’am Villa introduced us and told me – “ Meet your new best friend.”

Ma’am Villa’s statement was a tall order as it meant speaking English most of the time. To make matters complicated, it seemed that the majority at the College would clam up in her presence. Only a few dared to speak with her.

Perhaps yet in the getting-to-know you stage – and missing her friends back home, she would show me her album and tell me about them.

In February she texted me that she was excited to be my roommate. This was farfetched because the rooms in our house could not contain the two of us. Anyway. . she transferred to our house in February 2010. For two years and sixteen days we lived under one roof, adjusting to and enjoying each other’s idiosyncrasies and company. I had acquired a sister who was a foot or so taller and fairer. But we complement each other well. At the dining table I would eat the yolk of the eggs and she’d get the whites. And like the nursery rhyme, Jack Spratt, I like the fatty side of meat while she gets the lean.

Jaci is a good cook. Brenfred and I always looked forward to her mashed potatoes and guacamole when she’s in the mood for Mexican dishes. She would whip up dinner in a jiffty for her fellow PCV’s. So close had we become that these PCV’s would take me as the Jaci in the group if jaci was away for a seminar.

Applying her “What is mine is yours” rule – we would share whatever she had – cereal, chocolates, candies, peanut butter, nail polish, make-up, accessories, books even a joint birthday celebration. Hers is May 15 – mine is 22. And if her dresses and shoes were my size, we would’ve shared them too.

One amazing thing with Jaci is that she has mastered diplomacy. She is tactful in dealing with people, careful not to ruffle the feelings of others. She has awakened the caring attitude of the Mendiola people. For when Jaci is out of town I would be asked invariably where the Americana is – and the neighbours won’t stop asking till she sees her opening our grating gate. When Nanay fries dried fish early in the morning and she’d come down awakened by the weird smell, Nanay would apologize and she’d just retort – “oh that’s nothing”. She would charmingly declare of my nanay’s cooking – this is delicious! – a complement that has never seeped into my own vocabulary. Whenever we ate out, she insisted to pay her part. A freeloader she is not. Though tired, she made it a point to attend official school functions, prepared her lessons, and reported to class promptly – a model of the teaching profession which Columbia University saw in her application for graduate work.

She specially loved children and enjoyed reading to the kids in the Kiddie Learning Center. She would make time after school to play with my two-year old nephew Tomas, who enjoyed her despite the language barrier.

Jaci is concerned with the reading skills of even the college students, so she focused her energy and resources to putting up a Learning Resource Center. In tandem with Ma’am Ondette Olmedo, They combed the provincial capitol for monetary donations even as boxes and boxes of books began arriving. Today, the LRC has become a hub for book lovers – and Jaci has achieved her goal.

For someone who was born with six siblings – who has gone on a safari in Africa with her big family, who was soaked in the culture of Kenya as part of her degree program, Jaci remains unassuming and ready to be of service to others. Indeed the Peace Corps has a thoroughbred in her.

Thank you, Jaci, cook, diplomat, teacher, friend, surrogate sister. I really tired hard to use conversational English with you. Thank you for deliberately ignoring my shaky grammar. Thank you for understanding me when i get moody and refuse to talk. I wish i had your good naturedness.

And as you set sail for the world of Ivy League, may you stay as sweet as you are, constantly keeping our skype date.

After surviving your UEP stint – enjoy NEW YORK!! 

one of the best pictures we have :D

I had acquired a sister who was a foot or so taller and fairer.

her first time to be a guest speaker

her first time to have her thanksgiving in the Philippines