On January 16, 2023, the BSU family will unveil the name of some of its streets named after some previous officials at BSU, including daddy DOMINGO QUITONGAN CASIWAN. His name won't ring a bell to many now at BSU, and not that having a small stretch named after you has any eternal significance, but I know from my interactions with daddy of how he so loved MSAC/BSU. Of course, BSU has been our family's source of bread and butter as they say, but way more than that, I know how Dad sincerely and to the best of his ability served BSU.
The university board secretary was asking me a few days back what his milestones were as CA dean (as she said she has no resource person in mind). Honestly, I do not know. I only know he was a previous dean, a previous Vice President of Research and Extension, a long-time officer of the then BSUTEA, and the founding president of the BSU Faculty Club. At some point, when I was reviewing the draft BSU History Coffee Table Book being written by some BSU alumni, I didn't see much of his name there. I was tempted to insert one sentence to say that he was the founding president of the BSU Faculty Club, and that the now BSUGEA Entrepreneurial Bldg. was acquired partly through his efforts (and as I remember has been a subject of controversy), or that he facilitated a few of the first internationalization efforts at BSU. I remember seeing him in his study at our old house handwriting many letters (and maybe asking his secretaries or typing himself) to universities/institutions abroad (note that there was no fax or email then) and sending them through postal mail.
As a researcher now and as I browse previous BSU publications, I wondered, how he became a Professor VI and VP for research and extension when he has no scientific publications, or at least I can't find any on the net. And not even UMs. Of course, I know how he is known in the community of animal raisers and swine raiser associations in the past, and in our neighborhood at Balili where he was many times consulted as if he was a Vet. I also know he was sought for in relation to animal science problems, and mistaken to be a vet, but publications-wise, he would probably not be considered a faculty researcher (Peace, dad!). But like the old professors of MSAC/BSU, I know how they are known for their expertise or are usually known for practicing their craft, and hence, as a high school student, I was assigned at some point to tend to some goats, or give water and salt to a cow that is in front of the BSU Boy's dormitory (as MaryJane Tipayno would also do as a normal task budding and grafting of citrus seedlings). He taught my brothers how to do artificial insemination and cutting of newborn piglet teeth, judging gilts, etc. The rest of what I remember I alluded to in a previous blogpost Grace Faith Walk: Search results for warrior is a child
Anyway, I am happy to witness a BSU street named after him. My memory of our last talk when I came home for data collection when I was taking my PhD in Japan (a few months before he died) was very vivid. Even while many people at BSU have different narratives, during that talk, I knew and saw his heart. Whenever I pass by that now talipapa in Central Balili, I am affirmed of what his heart contains, his love for BSU. It is not in the books, and he had his share of follies in his lifetime, so history will not always be kind to him, but in my heart and in my memory of him as a parent, and in our frequent weekend talks when I started working, I know that there is no doubt he sincerely served and loved BSU as an institution.
So I know not of his milestones, I know not of his significant contributions, I know not of his legacies, but like my favorite Professor Rodolfo Abastilla, who I think has not been honored for his contributions at BSU as much as he should, that is their very strength, that is their very blessing--the not knowing what they have done, the not telling--maybe, that is their legacy, their reward.
Thank you MSAC, thank you BSU, thank you Sir Felipe Salaing Comila, and the current BSU management. It may not be necessary, but God is sovereign and allows all things for a purpose or purposes He only usually knows. May His purposes be accomplished, and all glory be Him alone.
(added to the post after the event)
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