She comes back a savant

Title

Creator

Aller, Emilio B.

Language

English

Year

1953

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

SoU&L Si&Up She Comes Maek a Savant Emilio B. filler When the Pontifical University of the Philippines (UST) award ed to a spirited, vibrant-looking girl who can easily pass for an undergraduate with her naturally compact vim and vi tality, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education last March 20, 1953, that famed institution was undeniably more than eager to give it to her, because the degree was granted benemerifus. And more, it was reliably bruited about that for the first time, UST has given away that top-rung mark of educational distinction to a girl below her thirties. But in spite of her high achievements, she comes back to teach at San Carlos. Fortunato F. Rodil who was born 29 years ago in Cebu City talks without affection and acts with .simplicity. She has no flare for showing-off her mental worth, as a person in her enviable circumstance could be prone to have. When asked about her feelings now that she is a Doctor of Philo sophy, she declared point-blank: Frankly I don't feel any dif ferent now that I have a Ph.D. degree than when I finished high school. The only change is that I am now more con scious of the weight of my responsibilities. The load is heavier now than ever." Dr. Rodil (Pacing to her intimate friends) belongs to an educationally affluent family of degree-holders and honor getting kinfolks. Her father is a retired Clerk of Court of First Instance. He was chosen as Cebu's, model father of the year 1952. Five other professional sisters, most of whom graduated at USC, grace the Rodil family circle. Amparo finished her BSC summa cum laude at USC, is a Certified Public Accountant, and currently teaches at USC’s College of Commerce. Con cepcion got her BSE summa cum laude and was awarded her MA last March at USC. While Carmen took her AB summa cum laude and BSE magna cum laude both at USC. Rosario took her BSC magna cum laude also at USC, and passed the CPA Board exams given last February. A friend reading the list above, astounded, exclaimed spontaneously: "What a family!" We had the same reaction when apprised for the first time. USC is justly proud of Dr. Rodil. She is a model of diligence and efficiency, not to mention that she has talent inherent. She has acquired the signal honor of being the first Carolinian to ever attain the degree of Doctor of Philo sophy in Education. And yet there are three institutions of learning who may equally claim the honor of having nur tured her into the lady of achievement she has become. She finished her High School at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion of Cebu City as head of her class. In 1940, she enrolled for the first time at the College of Education of the then Colegio de San Carlos. She finished BSE. at the Univ ersity of San Carlos summa cum laude. She took her MA at UST and graduated benemerifus. Finally, last March, she garnered the latest of her laurels, that of Ph.D. in Education, benemerifus at UST. Of the lighter side of her, we have this to say: She plays the piano; swims like a fish; smiles all the time to everybody; laughs freely; prefers the fragrance of "Desert Flower"; loves distant music, shaded lights, scent of roses, abiding friendships, pastel colors, pretty frocks, high heels, well-turned phrases, coke and lazy afternoons; has a deep (Continued on putje SUMMER, 1953 Page 3 --------------------------------She Comes Mack a Savant (Continued from page 3) bent for everything that is beautiful in thought and feeling. Faculty member Miss Leonor Borromeo of the USC Col lege of Liberal Arts, Dr. Rodil's former teacher, when asked to comment on the subject of this interview, enthused: Look ing at her and thinking of the many things she has accom plished, I feel like one standing before a shop-window on a raw Christmas night and feeling empty-handed and poor!" And she had to admit Dr. Rodil’s efficiency as a student under her when she further said, "I wish I can have even just one-fourth of her diligence!" And that from her former mentor and dear friend. Dr. Rodil is likeable and friendly. Anybody in her presence feels at home with her contagious sense of humor and charming repartees. In the course of this interview, she had more than amply given evidences of her agile thinking powers. We could not pin her down into committing as to which institution she loves most out of the three which has nurtured her. But she was profuse in her averment when she enthused that she loves all of the three equally. And yet, a particular meaning can be deduced with her coming back to USC. . . that she loves this alma mater more. This summer has seen her doling out what she knows about Principles of Education and Ethics to undergraduates and Socio-Educational Situation of the Philippines to the students of the Graduate School. We did not need to fathom out the Doctor's impressions about USC. She was open about them. She believes that, generally speaking, USC compares very well with any insti tution in Manila. She likes the kind of environment we have at the USC campus which is conducive to study, and the high standards which the- University has safe-guarded and maintained. But finally, perhaps without intending it, she crowned San Carlos with her last words: "Of course I like San Carlos or I would not have come back." And her words are in themselves a pledge of love and respect for San Car los. . . an eloquent proof as to the reason why Carolinians are so acute in coming back to this home where precious me mories live, and whose hallowed walls evoke in every trueblue Carolinian heart sublime feelings of loyalty and devotion. WHAT DO YOU THINK . . . (Continued from page 27) "The Recto-Castelo light should be continued, even, I would say, to the bitter end.” Felix Eamiguel • FELIX EAMIGUEL, College of Law, says: "It is useless of Recto and Castelo to be hurling brick bats at each other when the country needs more constructive ellorts. People become so engrossed in in trigues and imbroglio that they forget about the more essential and delicate tasks they should render to their country. We are forced by internal and external dangers which need close and careful attention if we must protect our ideology. There is no time for puttering around pick ing quarrels. Right now, a big bully is trying to stub our corns. We ought to fight him and teach him a lesson in meekness. Besides, much as we would like to know the truth about the RectoA CAROLINIAN . . . (Continued from page 16) many degrees and doctorates, still, not satisfied of all these beads of achievements, he plowed further to delve on the mysteries of tomorrow and the unseen gyrations of yes terday. His unwavering thirst for more knowledge knew no bounds. To cultivate his mind fully, to en rich his spiritual capacities, to fur bish his moral endeavors... these are the true marks of a well cul tured man. .. Reverend Father MA NUEL SALVADOR. To all these we can meekly say that there is a seemingly perpetual attraction in this man to that pot of knowledge at the foot of the rainbow. To the layman, with all these bundle of learning tucked safely in him, it is time for him to settle down in a comfortable corner and rest. He has come to the point of earthly satisfaction, armed well enough to clash with the forces of hardships and virtuous sacrifices. For us, the preparation is met: now, for the real battle. For him, it isn't even the beginning of the prepa ration ... he is yet to step on the first rung of the ladder. We do not know how many honors are there yet for us to await by way of his restless strive for perfection. We do not know how Castelo battle, it usually never comes out. The combatants are not on even terms and it is very un likely that they will ever be. One is so low he can crawl under a lizard's belly." LETS BE HONEST , . ._________ (Continued on page 31) men and who could still with child like sincerity, even risking assasination, disclosed to the citizenry the hurting truth which caused so much misery and confusion of this once peaceful country, if you can be that other man, then let you also be our guiding light until all the forces within and without us shall have subsided. And then when you and I and every true and faithful son and daughter of our country shall be standing beside her and shall lift her chin in pride and confidence; when you and I can proudly present her to the noble and dignified society of free nations, then can we withdraw from this earthly stage bowing with joy and peace in our hearts, carrying the happy thought that we have left an everlasting souvenir to the world, that we have given our share in making a solid bastion in these beautiful islands of ours, a realiza tion of the only outpost of Christian Democracy in the PACIFIC. many laurels he will yet garner: and by these, San Carlos will re joice at the sight of a man once her child, and has came back once again to her laps with a ransom of knowledge. And we should await not only with fervor and admiration of the man but also with prayer and thanksgiving to the Almighty that as he had left us with honors, he came back to us with more honors. Page 34 THE CAROLINIAN

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