(I am
currently in a proposal preparation cum technical writing workshop and there was a mention of Dr.
Abastilla and his “antics” in mentoring students in Technical Writing. I was
suddenly nostalgic (natzukashi!!). I
suddenly remembered that I really never paid a tribute to this one man (aside
from my Dad) who has influenced me in many ways, but whom I have had no chance
to thank. (He died while I was in Japan doing my Ph.D. and I mourned for a
little while). Anyway,…)
Who is Dr. Abastilla?
He is “the mentor” in the full sense of the word. Not a few of
his “drinking-mates” said that even while they were in their drinking sessions,
they are still learning from him. His name will almost always come up whenever
one talks about technical writing or writing in genera. And his “teachings” remain embedded to
people he mentored and inspired.
He is “the writer”. I remember back in my PhilRice days when in
our division “Social Science and Policy Research Division (SSPR), later Socioeconomics
Division”, almost all the SSPR ladies were single and getting older, and
biotechnology especially in-vitro fertilization was becoming more common (or
that a single person can give birth). Anyway, the question during one of our coffee
breaks, was, “Kanino ka mangunguha ng genes?” (of course napaguusapan lang) and without batting an eye, I said “kay Dr.
Abastilla”. And they all asked “Sino yun?”
I said, a talented writer who has the genes for talented writing and
mentoring.
He is more
remembered in technical writing, but he is also a story writer. I remember he
was boasting non-arrogantly showing his published short story in GRAPHICS, a
magazine with national circulation.
He was my first employer after graduation. “Cheryll, cheryll, be patient…”, “That
is false modesty!!” I still remember those words when I was trying to ask
permission from him that I will not finish my two-month contract at DOST
because I just got a plantilla position at PhilRice. He was then a consultant at
DOST on information packaging, and he took me as assistant. “What if I continued
working with him, and not have moved to PhilRice?”. I don’t have an answer to
that. Whatever, one thing, at least maybe I was able to attend his wake somehow.
What is the Dr.
Abastilla legacy?
He is
probably the last person who would be interested in thinking about legacy, but he
has definitely influenced a lot of people – highlanders or lowlanders, and students.
He will always be remembered always with a “prick in the heart”.
This may
end up underrating him, but if there such thing as a “Father of Mentoring on Technical
Writing in the Cordillera Region”, he would be that. He has produced almost all
the good technical writers in the Cordillera: Dr. Grace Bengwayan, Mr. Victor
Loakan, Mr. Robert Domoguen, Ms. Zyla Macasieb+, Ms. Lily Ann Lando, Ms. Betty
Listino… just to name a few I know. There are even those I do not know. Of
course, in their heart of hearts, they know who mentored them.
Thank you,
sir. I miss that smile and raised hand, saying my name as your form of
greeting. Just speaking out and thinking out loud sir, because you taught me
well that there is no phrase “voicing out”. Always, hats off, sir.
(I am not
doing a good job here writing about him; if he is around he would probably
crumple this and throw it out the window. But he cannot do that now; he is
probably just smiling, saying "come come, Cheryll, give justice and listen to your
speaker! Yes sir.)
