Kaleidoscope coffee table book of Dr. Marcelo Raquepo

KALEIDOSCOPEExploring the Hues and Shades of
DR. MARCELO REVIBES RAQUEPO
A Tribute from
FERDINAND BULUSAN
Assistant Professor III
Batanes State College

Note from the
Hero’s Apprentice
P
ablo Picasso is so illustrious for his saying which goes: It takes a long time to
become young. This adage seems to be contradicting my bits of experience
in life because every now and then people have always been mistaken about
my age. They say I am 28, 29, 32, and worst 37. This means that while I
enjoy my tender years, they pressure the calendar to make my age ripe; it now
takes a short time to become young. Instead of pouting and crinkling and scratching
my scalp, I pause for a moment, and, eureka[!], I should believe that life is not all
about being young or being old, but it is about how one makes his or her life
glittering in the firmament of young and old Homo sapiens!
One great truism of this newly-found philosophical thought is the
man who has kept his lower lights burning from his youngish to his ripe
age. He is the man whom I personally figure out as a hero, for he has
molded lives, created relationships, exemplified humility, and earned
the admiration of both young and old generations.
Indeed, a hero does not need to sleep soundly in a coffin
first in order to earn such a title; he does not need to be
a billionaire just to be accorded with such a title; he does
not need to please everyone just to earn such a title. He
just needs to be like this man to become a hero in his own
precious style. How? Turn back the pages of this book and
find out!
This book is so remarkable, for it does not only tangibly
prove that I can use my craft in writing, but also strongly
confirm that I am so grateful to my mentor, who has inspired
me to study hard, work hard, and earn hard. To the hero of
those whose lives were touched, Sir Marcelo Raquepo, this
magnum opus is humbly dedicated!
Your apprentice,
FERDINAND BULUSAN
Writer
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insideStoNote from the Hero’s Apprentice................................... 3
Messages..................................................................... 6
Harking Back the Lowly yet Green Beginnings............... 9
The Yellow, Dramatic Boyhood and Schooling of the Hero............... 12
The Orange-filled World in College................................ 17
Blue Mar on his Job Path............................................. 23
Yes, Mar is the Real ‘Violet’ on Stage............................. 48
Mar’s White Service for the Lord................................... 56
The Red Husband and Father in the Family................... 62
Retirement Snapshots.................................................. 72
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Message
F
inally, the time you waited for so long came—the time to drop your working tools as an administrator of one big community.
Words will never be enough to describe your accomplishments for so many years. Those years should be considered well
lived since many whom you served gained so much wisdom from you.
Sir Mar, I am happy to see you retire with a young face and smart posture. Use your remaining years for your family.
Go around the world. This is the time for you to relax and once in a while go back to the hobby you loved most but missed
to do because of your hectic schedules. Once in a while visit your friends including me and let us talk about work after retirement.
Lastly, I would like to wish you, your family bright days ahead, and a life full of blessings.
Sgd. URDUJAH A TEJADA
President
Cagayan State University

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Message
T
he Cagayan State University, Lal-lo Campus, has evidently served myriads of students as it helped them discover and nurture
their respective fields of crafts and interests. And as they carry the name of a CSUAN, they go and fight their own battles.
Many of them are on their way to realizing their own pieces of dreams; many had reached the realm of success.
For that, it is with deep pride that I come to honor a kind, brilliant and respective man behind this institution. The man behind
the continuing cry of this learning institution to help its students; the man who had inspired, helped and labored so much for all of
us; and the man who had lived and shared his life with his service as the Campus Executive Officer of this school.
I believe that service does not end when the position ends but rather continues as the person lives.
Let me take this chance to express my gratitude to you, sir. You were not just my partner in serving our constituents, but the
bond of friendship you shared is also worth a treasure. Thank you for sharing your gifts with our students, for using your talents for
a quality education. You are a reason why many of the students from this school were able to acquire necessary values, knowledge,
and training for them to be well equipped as they face real life. Thank you also for leaving it a very promising institution for the next
generations. You have done more that too much, sir.
With that, let me wish you the best grace as you start a new journey as a plain Dr. Marcelo Raquepo. I pray for God to keep
you strong, healthy and hearty that we may continue our partnership in helping our schools, our community, and our municipality.
Congratulations for a position well-served.
Mabuhay and God bless you more.
MARIA OLIVIA B. PASCUAL
Board Member, 1st District of Cagayan

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Message
W
hen I first served as Vice-President for Academic Affairs of the Cagayan State University during the incumbency of Dr. Armando
Cortes as university president, it was my pleasure to have made Mar’s acquaintance. I got to know how he worked in the Lallo
campus; I got to know how efficiently and effectively he taught in the classroom, particularly in the Graduate School. He earned the
respect and the admiration of his students and his peers. He definitely earned mine!
Through the years, Mar and I have had the opportunity to work closely together and, impressed by his intellectual acumen and his
faultless work ethic, I invited him several times to join us at Central Administration. But he was also pastor to a Christian community and
the head of his own family for whom he dearly cared, and so he respectfully declined. But he continued to flourish where he was planted,
in the Lallo Campus, never giving up on the campus to which he had dedicated the best years of his life.
Mar is the consummate educator. In an environment that easily falls prey to the lure of gossip and intrigue, he has maintained thorough
professionalism. I still have to meet a graduate student of the Cagayan State University who has not come away from Mar’s classes awed by this
professor’s incisive grasp of his subjective matter and the expertise with which it is taught. On a personal level, Mar is a genuine friend. He will
not flatter, nor will he endeavor to win favor, but you can count on him to stand by you if you stand on the side of what is true and just and holy.
I am sad that Mar has retired from the Cagayan State University, but I am sure that academe has not seen the end of Mar. His abilities are
far too precious, his expertise far too rare to squander in reclusion and retirement. I am sure that many educational institutions will seek after
him as a lecturer, many graduate students will turn to him for the knotty problems of statistics through which he can apparently make his way with
confident ease, and people in government will continue to turn to him for sound advice and sagely counsel.
Thank you, Mar, for the greatness that you embody, and for having been a true friend to me.
Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino
Dean, Graduate School of Law
San Beda College
Mendiola, Manila
Chair, Department of Jurisprudence and Legal Philosophy
Philippine Judicial Academy
Supreme Court of the Philippines

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Harking Back the
Lowly yet Green
Beginnings

GREEN CONTAINS THE
POWERFUL ENERGIES OF
NATURE AND IS THE COLOR
OF FERTILITY AND NEW LIFE,
GROWTH, AND ABUNDANCE.
IT ALSO MEANS LEARNING,
GROWTH, AND HARMONY. IT
ALSO SYMBOLIZES HOPE
AMIDST ALL ODDS.
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L
ike a hero in the world of literature, the cynosure of this book, Marcelo Revibes Raquepo,
first saw the light of the world on April 25, 1954. Along with his nine siblings, “Celo,”
as he was fondly called then, came from a typical family of subsistent farmers in Ilocos
Sur. Considered as Zeus in the home was Mr. Crispin Recaido Raquepo, a carpenter and
farmer, while the Hera was Prudencia Revibes Raquepo, a housekeeper.
As early as he was born, Celo has been a champion! If one were to compete in the most
number of birthdates, Celo would have won. Celo actually has three natal days: first, on April
25, 1954 (his true birthdate); next on January 19, 1954 (due to delayed registration); and on
October 24, 1954 (which his late mother insistently claimed).
The Raquepo family’s two-storey, bamboo-flooring house, with windows out of nipa, was a
living testimony that Celo was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. As a matter of fact, Mrs.
Prudencia Raquepo mastered the craft of slicing the hard-boiled egg among her children just to
have an edible for breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner. Also, Marcelo was a typical child, who
played rubber bands, luksong tinik, shatong, and other native games.
A son of a farmer, Marcelo had hobbies; one of his past time activities [which he quite
hated] was to tend their cows in the fields. Yes, like the people who are in dire need, Celo, in
his young age, dreamt that someday he would not just lead the fattest cows but most especially,
persons with high professionalism and wit. His childhood life was simple and green, symbolizing
a fecund of hope!
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The Yellow, Dramatic
Boyhood and Schooling
of the Hero

YELLOW IS THE COLOR OF SUNSHINE.
IT’S ASSOCIATED WITH JOY, HAPPINESS,
INTELLECT, AND ENERGY.
YELLOW PRODUCES A WARMING EFFECT,
AROUSES CHEERFULNESS, STIMULATES
MENTAL ACTIVITY, AND GENERATES
MUSCLE ENERGY. YELLOW RELATES TO
CHILDREN’S LEISURE.
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A
s young as six, the greenhorn shepherd Celo had already thought of averting poverty
through education. In such age, he already was desirous to enter grade 1 because he
was envious of her sister who went to school. Although his age was not yet allowed,
Celo served as pacer or [in his own words] saling-pusa. Hence, he entered grade 1
twice. His life as a grade-schooler was full of fun and unforgettable memoirs.
Asked if he was a voracious reader that time, Sir Mar answered “No”. But he remembered
scavenging in the garbage pit the thrown books and notebooks of his aunt from America. “When
my aunt throws away her novels, notebooks, and other reading materials, I would usually go and
salvage them. At the back of my mind, I know I could use them someday,” Sir Mar averred.
A hero rehearses his craft until he masters it. Mar’s passion for studying had gradually
been mastered from year to year in his elementary years at Busiing Elementary School, 500
meters away from their abode. He garnered sixth honors in grade1, fifth in grade 2, fourth in
grade3 until he graduated elementary as valedictorian.
Now, the journey toward the end of the needle hole of poverty gets tougher as he entered
high school at Ilocos Sur National High School (ISNHS). The elfin Mar needed to wake up before
4:00 in the morning so as to catch up with the jeep (sarao) of his uncle. Since ISNHS was just
30-minute travel from Mar’s house, his uncle used to drop them at the Vigan Church. There
inside the church, along with his cousin, Mar used to wait for the sun to illuminate the sky.
Marcelo’s Daedalian mode was always switched on just for him to survive. During break
time, Celo used to serve as canteen helper as a part of his subject “Retail Merchandising”. After
serving as mini crew, he received his merienda. He would never put into oblivion the taste of a
hard-boiled chicken egg because it used to be his main course in almost every lunch time. One
time, he remembered, her aunt, who used to sell galungong [dried fish] in Ilocos, observed
Marcelo’s daily serving for lunch. Out of pity, those which were considered reject fish were deep
fried, so Marcelo had another taste for lunch.
At noon, he and his cousin would again wait at the church for his uncle’s jeep to fetch
them. Ilokanos, like Mar, are known to be closed-fisted or stingy. You may judge the young Mar
as such because he would usually give back his 20 centavo-allowance for the day to his mother
when he got home late in the afternoon. But he contradicts this judgment. Mar opines, “I used to
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give back my 20 centavo-allowance, not because I became “kuripot” to myself but because I pity
my mother who tried her best to scrimp the money for us.”
In his second year, Mar needed to transfer from Ilocos Sur National High School to
Northeastern College in Santiago City, Isabela because of the Singson-Crisologo war. Mar’s
father, who was then a kapitan del barrio, embodied the true meaning of “protective head of
the family” when he beckoned his courage to look for a job and a simple abode for his family in
Santiago City. There he found Engr. Lito Alcantara, who owned a furniture shop. Mar recalled
Engr. Alacantara to be a generous man whom he owed a lot just for him to pursue his education.
Conversely, Lito Alcantara, who is a kababayan of Marcelo, has received numerous awards for his
successes, among them the 1997 Hawaii Entrepreneur of the Year Award (presented by Ernst &
Young LLP), Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented by the Filipino Chamber of Commerce
in Hawaii (1996 & 2008); 2006 Outstanding Union Builders Award (presented by the Hawaii
Carpenters Union); the Pamana ng Pilipino Award – Outstanding Filipino Overseas (Presidential
Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas by President Fidel V. Ramos in 1996);
Lifetime Achievement Award (presented by the United Filipino Council of Hawaii in February
2006); Businessman of the Year Award (Presented by the Kalayaan Centennial Celebration
Huwaran 2006); and the 2010 Outstanding Filipinos Abroad Award.
On the other hand, the cleverness of the hero, Mar, was truly mastered and used in order
for him to live life simpler as it should be. Instead of hiking more than a kilometer from the
family’s small abode to Mar’s school, he used to take the shortcut road with his improvised
covered path -- he used to walk under the high bamboo floorings of houses near his school.
During rainy days, he used to shelter under those bamboo floorings.
Should there be anti-bullying law during his time in high school, he would have sued many
of his classmates, so to speak. Mar, a new settler from Ilocos, used to be bullied by the sons
of high-ranking politicians during his time. As he recalled, the worst was when his classmate
pointed his gun to Mar’s face so as to order Mar to buy a bottle of softdrinks for him. In one of
his classes, he told a story about how he had treacherously cheated his classmates who bullied
him during exams. He narrated, “When I answer exams, I first write the wrong choice because I
know my classmates who used to bully me would copy my answers. After giving them my paper,
I would clandestinely change my answers. And presto, I would still garner the highest score in
class [then laughing boisterously]!”
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He also recalled how impoverish he was during his high school days. He used to have two
pairs of black pants only for the week. One time, his classmates noticed that he only wore two
pairs of slacks. The Marcelo’s reasoning power popped up; then, he answered them very proudly.
He widely smiled and calmly whispered: “These are my favorite pants. That is why I always use
them. Do you also have like these?” Wow! That’s an awesome excuse!
But then again, every hero has his own Achilles’ heel. Of all his subjects in high school,
Mathematics was his soft spot. Could you ever believe that his grade in Mathematics during his
first-year high school was flat 75? Well, you must believe. Mar vehemently remarks, “I really
hated Mathematics. I really hated numbers.”
In literature, there is a term called round and dynamic character. He is a character who
shows both his strengths and weaknesses or goodness and badness because indeed no man is
perfect. In one of his classes in Facilitating Learning in 2010, Mar opened a chapter in his high
school days about how he also became a cantankerous child. He narrated that he really hesitated
to go to the farm. So, whenever he was tasked to get absent just for the farm, he used to
pretend that the next day, his teacher would give them a summative quiz. Amidst the hardships in
studying, he hurdled high school, again, with flying colors as second honors.
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The Orange-filled
World in College

ORANGE IS A POWER COLOR. IT IS ONE OF THE HEALING COLORS. IT
IS SAID TO STIMULATE ENTHUSIASM AND CREATIVITY. ORANGE MEANS
VITALITY WITH ENDURANCE. PEOPLE WHO LIKE ORANGE ARE USUALLY
THOUGHTFUL AND SINCERE IN THEIR ENDEAVORS.
N
ortheastern College (NC) had been so instrumental in the life of Sir Mar, for it was
in this College where he garnered his diploma on Bachelor in Secondary Education
Major in English. At first, he was hesitant to take such major because his field of
interest is Science. His students could even recall how he used Science concepts in
giving his samples during his class in Principles of Teaching 2. Unfortunately, Science
was not offered as a major in NC that time, so he just took up English.
His collegiate life truly marked his metamorphosis from a dormant Celo to an active Mar.
The academe became his furnace, and he was the gold. His skills were excavated, his talents
were unearthed, his passion for teaching was straightened, and his love for literary and culture
was developed. His four years of rigorous training to become a would-be educator was truly
beneficial in boiling up his nerves as a writer, dancer, comedian, poet, reader, and many other
aspects.
Mar was one among the favorites of the spotlight! He joined the campus dance troupe,
which enthralled the multitude of Isabelaños during town fiestas. Among his favorite dance
genres were folk, native, pop, and even ballroom dances. Moreover, because he started to glitter
in the firmament of journalism and literature, he occupied the literary editorship of the NC’s
campus paper.
While explaining Albert Bandura’s Modeling Theory in 2010, Sir Mar narrated to his
students that he, too, had his models during college. His professors in Children’s Literature,
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Journalism, and English-American Literature ignited him to speak with American twang and to
become a total stage actor. That is why, even this time, Sir Mar gives a powerful final say to the
students who represent the campus in literary and academic tilts.
Meanwhile, Francis Bacon once opined that reading maketh a full man. If we strictly follow
this adage, Mar, even during his collegiate life, could have been considered a “full man” because
as he was on the verge of his extra-curricular activities, the young Mar spent most of his spare
time devouring reading materials. He was not only content with the taste of his hard-boiled
chicken egg, but his favorite was a saucer of highfalutin words, a plate of current events, a bowl
of novels, and a dish of literary readings.
In his college life, he had developed his infatuation to words, articles, and stories. He used
to have clippings of articles, like that of Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s. Such infatuation to reading
materials took the next level when he used to make the library of the graduate school as his
reading spree. The young Mar reasoned out that some books at the undergraduate level were
then obsolescent, so he would go to the graduate school library instead, where books were at a
higher level and more updated. Hence, ideas and concepts he knew were then more advanced as
compared to what his classmates knew.
Like an ardent lover, he was an obsessive reader. He even remembered that every time his
mother would come home from the market, he would salvage the newspaper which was used to
wrap the dried fish [galunggong]. Customarily, Mar sprinkled the used newspaper with water;
then, he had to sundry it so that the pungent smell of the dried fish would vanish. And presto!
He would devour the words, sentences, paragraphs, and articles, once again! Some were cut and
even included in his clippings. Such activity became his passport to have landed on the paradise
of erudite readers and witty speakers!
After four years of toiling and burning midnight candles, Mar received his most precious
diploma. During Mar’s epoch in college, there were no Latin honors yet. But he was proclaimed
as Salutatorian, equivalent to Cum Laude, an evidence of his great dedication to become an
outstanding guru someday, an evidence of an orange Mar!
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Blue Mar on
his Job Path

BLUE IS THE COLOR OF THE SKY AND SEA. IT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH DEPTH AND STABILITY.
IT SYMBOLIZES TRUST, WISDOM, CONFIDENCE, AND INTELLIGENCE.
BLUE IS CONSIDERED BENEFICIAL TO THE MIND AND BODY. IT SLOWS HUMAN METABOLISM
AND PRODUCES A CALMING EFFECT. BLUE IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH TRANQUILITY AND
CALMNESS. IN HERALDRY, BLUE IS USED TO SYMBOLIZE PIETY AND SINCERITY.
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H
is career as a teacher started in Northern Philippines Academy in Gattaran
from June to July 1974. He proceeded to Vigan City at the Bureau of Soils as a
laboratory aide from July 1974 to March 1975. Because he was really destined
to become a great teacher, he left the Bureau of Soils and applied at Western
Cagayan Vocational High School in Nabannagan, Lasam, Cagayan from 1975-
1976. In 1977, through his former principal, Mr. Eugenio Tolentino, Teacher Mar was
transferred to Cagayan Valley Agricultural College as a secondary teacher. Because of his
potential and conscientiousness in teaching, he was granted a 14-month scholarship by
the UP-MECS for his Master of Education major in English as a Second Language in UP
Diliman.
When he came back from UP, he was promoted as a college junior instructor. After
holding variegated designations, Mar was recommended by the Cagayan State University
administration for a doctoral scholarship again at UP Diliman. Since the university needed
a faculty who would be expert in research and evaluation, Mar took Doctor of Philosophy,
Major in Research and Evaluation. In his early years in UP as a doctoral student, he wanted
to quit because his soft spot was Mathematics, and he did not really love the course.
However, through his friends, Arceli Agu Del Rosario and Lourdes Arañador, he was tutored
and eventually understood the rudiments of Mathematics. He dipped his noses and burned
his midnight candles; hence, he graduated with academic excellence and awarded as an
outstanding researcher.
The 90’s marked the golden era of a legendary Teacher Mar. As his middle name,
Revibes, suggests, his name Marcelo Raquepo has reverberated in the region and has
established his integrity in the firmament of research and education.
He became the most sought-after lecturer in Lyceum of Aparri, Department of
Education Cagayan, Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines, vocational schools, Manila
Business College and other Universities and Colleges in the Philippines. He became the
most trusted researcher of Plan International, Department of Health, Department of
Agriculture, LGU Cagayan, UNFPA, PopCom, and other agencies.

Spending almost three-fourths of his life in the academe, Mar has jumped from one
designation to another. At the end of the day, he believes that people judge his work through
his dedication, acumen, and sincerity. “No need to vociferate to the whole world, after all,
God is silent in judging me,” he says. However, let us see what these people can say about
his career in the academe.
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D
ear Mar,
You may wonder why I am writing you this letter. I think now is the opportunity for me to
let you know that through the years that we have been friends and colleagues in the academe, you
have been my idol.
Decades ago, you were just a greenhorn instructor at the then Cagayan Valley Agricultural College in
Lal-lo. The rigorous work at CVAC tested the perseverance and even the physical endurance of the faculty and
staff. There were those who backed out, but kudos to you, for you have survived.
Now, you are an accomplished educator in the Cagayan State University excelling in all its areas of
concern. A “giant” in the academe, you have earned the admiration and respect of the students, colleagues,
superiors and even the community.
You always put excellence “first” in every task put into your hands. When we were at the University of
the Philippines in Diliman for graduate studies, I was privileged to have close up views of your scholastic feats.
Professors in that premier State University find joy and satisfaction in cracking the heads of the students with
voluminous academic work. Yet, you got citations for academic excellence.
You still remember Marifer Macapagal. She was one of those fellow graduate students who got your
services as their private tutor in statistics. Marifer who belongs to the elite class of society was administering an
exclusive school, and she was the daughter-in-law of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal. Bongga, di bah?
Your doctoral dissertation was stamped “outstanding” by the panel of professors that gave it a
meticulous scrutiny. They were amazed by the “Mar Raquepo” brand of work.
When you were graduating, you got invitations for lifetime membership in the Pi Gamma Mu and Phi
Kappa Phi, two prestigious international honor societies. Only those with an impressive academic record get
such invitations.
Indeed, all your achievements are admirable but what I admire most about you is your humility, In
spite of your numerous successes, you have kept your feet tightly anchored on the ground. You got a life that is
blessed, for God showers bountiful blessing on those who are humble.
Mar, you are sorely missed in the academe. After toiling so hard for the education of the youth and
giving your all for the betterment of the country, you now deserve to rest on your laurels.
NENITA CAPILI, PhD
Mar’s Friend
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36 Fishing Crescent
Brampton, Ontario L6V 4T4
Canada
D
ear Sir:
It is an honor and privilege to share my thoughts about my colleague and friend in the teaching
profession, Dr. Marcelo Raquepo. We were all together as faculty members in the 70’s. I came in with
Mr. Ricardo C. Caba into the Cagayan Valley Agricultural College on top of the hills, from Zambales
National Agricultural School, San Marcelino, Zambales in 1974, and Mr. Marcelo Raquepo, from Western
Cagayan Vocational High School, Nabannagan, Lasam, Cagayan in 1977. The late Superintendent, Mr.
Francisco Zamora facilitated our transfer to our new school.
The school’s location and set-up were the primary reasons why most faculty, staff, employees, and students
had lived in the campus. During our times, we stayed together as one big family in a tightly-knit community
setting. Every one knew one another. There was a very strong camaraderie among the residents. The campus was
clean and beautiful. The vibrant trees, the shrubs, the vines, the fragrant flowers... we smelled them every day. The
air we breathed was fresh and clean.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, rice, corn, root crops and legumes were harvested from the fields. . . the fresh farm
products of our very own students. We had also our poultry, piggery, goat and large cattle projects managed by our
very own teachers and students . . . The campus itself is a beautiful, unique paradise on top of the hills. Dr. Marcelo
for sure, remembers those days.
I would be unrealistic, if I wouldn’t relate that, being a part of the CVAC family, we had experienced the
combination of happiness and sadness, sweetness and sourness. Mar and I had experienced together, the hard times
and good times in the school, the ups and downs, but we never gave up and always had a brighter outlook to make
our teaching-learning environment, the best it could be, a very positive and pleasant one. I could say we were like
twins, in the sense, that we both looked together in the same eyes. . . the brighter direction of our teaching careers.
One very important activity, I want to share with everyone... During our times, there was no option. Living
in the campus, the faculty, staff, and students were required to attend the early morning Flag Ceremony and
Monday Convocations. We had to wake up early to be on time. Tardiness was not tolerated, otherwise, we would be
on the spot at the wrong time, so nobody wanted to be late. Good discipline for all of us. What impact did it leave
us and our students? We all developed the good habits of punctuality and persistence. It is worth mentioning
now, that trained in this aspect are two former students, now professors in their own right . . . Professors Adelina
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Wanya Unipa and Natividad Sinco. I am sure there are other teachers too, who had asimilar experience.
Congratulations to them.
On Monday Convocations, everyone in the gymnasium, teachers, as well as students had to be quiet, be
alert, and most of all listen attentively and carefully. But why? A quiz by Mr. Zamora for teachers and students
was given. Better listen, otherwise, you got zero. The quiz was about the themes of the convocations, what the
speaker talked about, parts of the program, and other items that had been announced. A never missed part of the
convocation was, “Common Errors Corrected”. I remember this particular error was always committed. Example:
Did you went to the field yesterday? Correction: Did you go to the field yesterday? Did plant, did water, did
harvest, did cook. . . Grammar: When we use the auxiliary or helping verb did, the main or principal verb must
always be in the present tense. Mr. Zamora loved to include the “Common Errors Corrected” when he gave a quiz
to teachers and staff before conducting the regular meeting for the day. Everyone had to listen attentively and took
down notes. What a beautiful and amazing way to get the audience involved!!!
Another special activity we enjoyed as a family was our “Socials” which were done once a month on Friday
nights. The social aspect of life was never missed. After those hard days’ work in the field, it was time to party. The
different classes of the High School Department and College Department took turns sponsoring the social event.
It was like a contest. Who would present the best program? There were lots of singing and dancing, lots of fun and
entertainment... During these nights, the atmosphere in the social hall was indescribable. . . a community of happy,
happy and happy faces from faculty, staff, employees, student body, parents, and friends. . . all coming to enjoy the
night. This social activity made all the teachers and students more creative, dependable, responsible and above all,
sociable beings.
We, who had lived on top of the hills learned how to be effective social communicators, as well. As educators,
we had trained our students to have well-rounded personalities and be ready for life when they begin to be on their
own in the real community setting and the real world. Mar and I were part of their lives and we tried our very best to
make a better and pleasant teaching-learning environment and inculcated moral values to our students, the values
needed in their life’s journey.
Dr. Marcelo Raquepo, I congratulate you for staying behind to continue your mission to serve the Cagayan
Valley Agricultural College, now Cagayan State University-Lal-lo to move forward. You are a brother and a
friend! I like your simple ways. You are a very, very, humble person. To be humble takes guts, especially with all your
big accomplishments and achievements as an educator. Your great virtue of humility makes me very proud of you as
my friend forever. Anyone who is with you can feel your down-to-earth personality. I love you for what you are!!!
37 zzz

This is your wealth! What you are today. . . from
Instructor to full-fledged Professor, to Campus Executive Officer
(CEO) of CSU-Lal-lo to a part-time professor, is the result of
your real hard work and outstanding performance as a public
servant. You are where you are because you love teaching and love
to educate. With God’s graces. . . Congratulations for all your
great achievements in your life!
Dr. Marcelo Raquepo, Ricardo and I wish to thank
you, too, for your patience in the statistical analysis of data and
valuable suggestions for the improvement of his dissertation.
Thank you. ..Thank you!
You have given enough in your public life. Now, you
deserve to enjoy life. . . this time privately with your loving wife
Mila and your family. They deserve to have your time now. Your
family says. . . It is our time. . . full time with your loved ones!
Your unique sense of humor, your innocent looks, smiles,
and laughter. . . remain vividly in my mind. . . Hi,Manang
Luz! So sweet, indeed! When you laugh, and it becomes too loud,
you just cover your mouth innocently like a little happy kid. I love
those acts, Dr. Mar!
Retirement does not mean. . . you are now in isolation
from the real world. You move on. . . you go on with life, only in a
very different way. . . life becomes private. There is more freedom.
. . freedom of speech, freedom to move around, and freedom to do
what you like as long as it is right! Dear Lord, I humbly ask You
to bless my brother and friend forever, Dr. Marcelo Raquepo!
Protect and guide him as he enters another milestone in his life. .
. his retirement years. Mar, enjoy your retirement days. . . life is
so good and beautiful! I quote. . . . Live Well. . . Laugh Often...
Love Much. . .
We Love You!!!
Sincerely,
LUZ ANZA CABA
zzz38

TO SOMEONE WHO INSPIRED ME
TO BECOME WHAT I AM NOW
JOSE SARIO E. POBLETE, PhD
Education Program Supervisor
DepEd RO2, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
R
alph Waldo Emerson once said that our chief want in life is someone to inspire us to be
what we really want to be. I was fortunate enough to have found this “someone” during
my college days and in the early part of my career that I was able to harness my potentials
ahead with some of my contemporaries.
Those lively afternoon English classes are still vivid in my imagination. I don’t want to miss
this class because I was learning a lot! As if tons of useful information were dumped into my
head every time we finished a learning session with him. The professor had the knack of turning
a complex idea into a simple one. Moreover, his ability to inject humor in a supposedly boring
subject matter was so amazing. I still struggle with some grammar issues but one thing is sure
that he laid a strong foundation - those basic principles in English I learned in his class helped me
hurdle a lot of national examinations which served as my passport to reach my present position
and secured my future promotion.
I heard from the experts that language and numbers don’t usually go together. My
professor defied that observation. I enjoyed my Statistics subject the way I do with my English
subjects because it was handled by the same professor. Much more when those subjects were
put into action by undergoing a subject called Methods of Research. I still have a copy of my
first action research which I submitted in fulfillment to the requirements of our research subject.
However, I completed that because I was inspired when I learned that some of his advisees who
visited him in the campus were even coming from the prestigious universities in the country like
the University of the Philippines.
zzz44

I had the privilege of working with him as his staff in the Management Information
System (MIS) of the AGRITECH Project – my first employment. With my experience under his
leadership, I learned to write basic communication and management of databank. Those skills I
learned from him are now very useful in my present work.
I got him as my adviser in my researches in the graduate school. There I was a recipient
of his rich generosity in terms of information and services. I did not finish as an outstanding
researcher as I desired but at least I was able to finish my research at the projected timetable
through his assistance. Moreover, my research is still useful in my profession because he assisted
me in identifying research topics that were useful and at the same time in line with my field of
interest. With his generous support, my agency acknowledges me as an expert in Gender and
Development and Financial Literacy.
I concede that some people are regarded as successful today because in their earlier days
someone took the time to mentor them and showed them the way. I believe that success leaves
a mark, so it is easier to reach this destination if you are following a person who has been there
before.
I thank God every time I remember this “someone” whom He sent to assist me to discover
the best in me – DR. MARCELO R. RAQUEPO, my Mentor, my Hero and My God-Father.
Ninong Mar, Sir, I wish you all the best! May God return your goodness to me a hundredfold.
God bless you!
45 zzz

zzz48
Yes, Mar is the Real
‘Violet’ on Stage

V
ersatile is how others describe him, especially those who know his real playground—the
stage.
Mar is an aficionado of the performing arts because when he steps onto the
stage, he becomes a royalty. He loves acting. He likes singing. He enjoys dancing. Mrs. Cecilia
Maquiraya, a retired school nurse of Cagayan State University at Lal-lo, is always vocal in
reminiscing how Mar dances very gracefully on the floor. “He keeps the dance floor flaming,
while he sways with his mouth obviously locked,” Mrs. Maquiraya recalls. She adds, “Mar follows
dance movements very quickly. He’s teachable…that’s why he doesn’t fail his dance partner.”
During his days as a greenhorn language teacher at Western Cagayan Vocational High School
in Nabannagan, he was designated as socio-cultural coordinator. And lo and behold, he made the
choir sing with spectators’ jaws opened throughout the show. He made the students dance in glee
as the La Jota music was being played. Eventually, he earned the thunderous clap of his colleagues
and the sincerest pat on a shoulder from his boss. It was another Mar’s autograph of excellence.
And guess what? He is, after all, a language teacher.
Students in CSU Lal-lo would always love to recall Mar’s dance presentations with his
best dance partner—his wife, Mila. They would usually keep the audience clapping almost
VIOLET IS SPECIFICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ROYALTY AND NOBILITY,
CREATING AN IMPRESSION OF LUXURY, WEALTH AND EXTRAVAGANCE.
IT MEANS POWER. IT HAS A RICHNESS AND QUALITY TO IT THAT
DEMANDS RESPECT. THIS COLOR SYMBOLIZES AMBITIOUS AND
SELF-ASSURED LEADER.
49 zzz

throughout the presentation when the folk dancing faculty members of CSU Lal-lo exhibited
their dexterity on stage.
Armed with refinement and gracefulness, Mar is also a member of the Nueva Segovia
Cultural Dance Troupe of the municipality of Lal-lo that traveled in different places to do
concerts and cultural shows. Dr. Pio De Yro believes that whenever Mar steps onto the stage,
he feels relaxed because Mar makes the stage a place for ejecting all stresses not a place for
injecting anxieties.
Meanwhile, Dr. Robert G. Carbonell narrates a very interesting story of how Dr. Mar directs
plays during the Golden Years of the Cagayan Valley Agricultural College and Cagayan State
University. Here’s what he says:
zzz50

A GLIMPSE OF THE ‘PAGLIPAS NG DILIM’ROBERT CARBONELL, PhD
Associate Dean, College of Teacher Education
Cagayan State University-Lal-lo
B
rilliant. Compassionate.Responsible.Helpful. These are some of the
many good terms to describe the University’s great and passionate
thinker, Dr. Marcelo R. Raquepo. I came to know him when I first
set foot at the then Cagayan Valley Agricultural College where we
together with Dr. Pio S. De Yro, Mauro Ruma and myself composed the CVAC
folk dancers. As a dancer, he never stops trying until he perfects the hand
movement and dance choreography. And in many socio-cultural activities of
the University where a competition among faculty was called upon, the group
competed with a resounding acclamation because of him in the dance group.
Recalling the University’s past in Socio-Cultural activities under the
leadership of Prof. Erlinda S. Cortes, the wife of the former University
President Armando B. Cortes, I can say that Dr. Raquepo was a sought-
after personality in terms of the stage show. I remember him as the leading
director in a zarzuela titled “Paglipas ng Dilim” and I as the stage actor. We
spent sleepless nights memorizing scripts in time for the stage play where
personalities from PETA (Philippine Educational Theatre’s Association), other
local as well as regional dignitaries were invited by the University to witness
the show. It was his first directorial assignment, and as expected, his innate
talent in acting had surfaced.
With his stint in the socio-cultural development, he was elected
President of the Culture and Arts Council (CAC) of the University. His
leadership in the council has gained honor and prestige for the University in
regional as well as national limelight. During his incumbency as president,
various developments in culture and the arts have taken place like the putting
up of the museum where artifacts and memorabilia are kept and displayed.
The museum itself is a reminiscence of the University’s past and present.
His linguistic gifts have produced council’s maiden publication featuring
51 zzz

the various activities of the University Culture and Arts in songs and dances, speech choir,
traditional games, folkloric performances, and the like.
In the words of Goethe, “Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy
billows of the world.” The name Marcelo Raquepo has flourished during the time when the
University was still in the process of carving its niche in the local and national scenes. It was
during this period when his intellectual propensity was tested amidst the billowing waves of
indifferences among the University faculty and staff. His expertise in the field of instruction has
added a feather to his cap being an outstanding faculty of the University. His research acumen
has forged a milestone bridge between the university and other national government agencies
making him a social scientist.
In fact, he rests on power and authority. Because of his brilliance, his services to run
a sensitive position in the university administration was offered to him by the University
President but he declined – an indication that he has the sublime power to discard the offer of
higher authority. It cannot be considered an act of defiance when he can be of better service to
everyone if given the free will to serve.
Dr. Raquepo is a principled man. His principles in life have subdued all other authorities
for him to perform his job, for he is a man who is interested in doing something. Like what Art
Turock said, “when you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances
permit. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”
His commitment to public service is unparalleled. He is the idol of the Local Government
Unit of Lal-lo. His unquestionable work habit to the LGU has earned for him the title “Idol”
by BM Olive Pascual. He has earned the respect and reputation for his sterling involvement in
the affairs of LGU. The trust and confidence that the LGU have for him have forged various
creations in LGU organizations and activities. Among them; the Municipal Culture and
Arts Council where the group has performed in key cities like Vigan, Ilocos Sur during the
sisterhood agreement, Marikina City, and in Intramuros in Manila. The Local School Board,
DWRL 95.1 program host. He was the key person for the Annual Search for Miss Lal-lo and
Christmas Display scripts.
zzz52

Indeed, it is a destiny to reckon to have him in CSUL family and in the organization. His
smart mind is quick to respond to any personal problems, many times to anything under the
sun. But he is likened to an “ice” too difficult to solidify, for it takes a long process for him
to be convinced. When confronted with petty conflicts, he melts right away on condition that
somebody else must lower his/her temperature and pressure and ask an apology.
I have known him as a person who takes care of his reputation, and his reputation will take
care of itself. His enthusiasm and brilliance would linger forever in the hearts of so many CSUans.
His conquest as an academician, researcher, and an administrator is about to reach the finish line
with great success so with the “Paglipas ng Dilim.” He must be great, and truly he is.
53 zzz

zzz56
Mar’s White Service
for the Lord

WHITE IS COLOR AT ITS MOST COMPLETE AND PURE—THE COLOR
OF PERFECTION. IT MEANS PURITY, INNOCENCE, WHOLENESS AND
COMPLETION. IT ALSO CONTAINS AN EQUAL BALANCE OF ALL THE
COLORS OF THE SPECTRUM, REPRESENTING BOTH THE POSITIVE
AND NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF ALL COLORS. THE COLOR WHITE IS
CLEANLINESS PERSONIFIED, THE ULTIMATE IN PURITY!
S
erious service to the Lord means a continuous spiritual journey toward a nearly
impeccable life. This road is the exact road Mar has been trudging—a road that he
silently shows to the public through his words and deeds.
Religion has never been an issue. As a member of the Seventh Day Adventist of the
Guising congregation, he has always been showing respect to other denominations by living up
to the teachings and doctrines of Adventism. Although he is considered an influential person
in and out of the four walls of the classroom, never did he proselyte people to join his beliefs,
but never did he forget to illustrate the difference between the spiritual and the religious.
Because of his deep devotion and strong leadership inside the church, Doc Mar had a
chance to attend the Haggai Institute in Hawaii. Lasting in 30 days, the Haggai Institute is an
annual gathering of various church leaders of different denominations around the globe. In
his sharing, Doc Mar said that his experience made his relationship with the Lord deeper and
deeper. He has sustained the leadership he has for the church by becoming a Sabbath School
teacher and preacher.
Here’s what Mrs. Miriam Sampayan can say:
57 zzz

S
ir Mar, I salute you for your gift of wisdom to generate
the moral strength and spiritual resources of every church
member, nurturing them with Christian beliefs based on
the Scripture and Prophetic lineages. I commend you for
your vigilance that no matter what the odds are, you did never
compromise your faith. Despite the sensitivity of your position
and all that entails it, you remain steadfast as to the “Pole stars”
that every surrounding star looks up to. The supportive attitude
you’ve always manifested in every church endeavor to include the
Church School for normal operation and financially stable is
written in the book of remembrance and we pray it will ever be.
The dynamic qualities you model such as humbleness, sensibility
to the needs of others, truthfulness and trustworthiness have
put you in the position of a church leader and the Keeper of the
“Church Treasure” for more than a decade of years. Doc Mar
Raquepo, you have fought a good fight, you have finished the
race, you have kept the faith. Always remember that “The Path
of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto
a perfect day”. Proverbs 4:18
Sincerely,
MIRIAM SAMPAYAN
61 zzz

zzz62
The Red Husband and
Father in the Family

RED IS ASSOCIATED WITH MEANINGS OF LOVE,
PASSION, JOY, STRENGTH, LEADERSHIP, COURAGE,
VIGOR, WILLPOWER, VIBRANCY, RADIANCE, AND
DETERMINATION.RED IS ASSERTIVE, DARING, ENERGETIC,
POWERFUL, ENTHUSIASTIC. IT SYMBOLIZES ACTION,
CONFIDENCE, AND COURAGE.
M
ar’s family life is an open book to his students and friends. Inside the classroom, it
would usually be an abnormal scenario if he does not crack jokes akin to the topic.
He would usually share both funny and serious segments from the colorful cosmos
of his life as a father and husband.
In an interview with Mrs. Milagros Raquepo, she said that she is convinced that she
is the luckiest lady in the universe, luckier than any Miss Universe titlist. “Mar does not say
‘I love you’ very often, but he grasps every opportunity in every second to show us that he
loves us in the family,” Mila said. As a husband,Sir Mar is very supportive to Mila. Taking his
mother-in-law under his care is one of the best expressions of love to Mrs. Raquepo.
“Kahit na sobrang abala si sir mo (Mar), hindi siya nakalilimot sa kanyang pamilya,” Mrs.
Raquepo said. Mila further explained that their family has been an example to others because of
Mar, who does not have any vices and who prioritizes the benefit and safety of his family members.
63 zzz

Tracing Mar and Mila’s love story,
Dr. Pio De Yro and Mrs. Chona Bulusan,
contemporary faculty members of Mar
and Mila, could vividly hark back how
such love story flourished on the red
and fertile ground of romance. Dr. De
Yro would usually become the courier of
small notes inscribed with love letters to
then Miss Milagros Juan. Orchestrating
the courtship, too, was Mrs. Bulusan.
Mar sometimes recalls the moments
when he would usually walk along the
corridor to pass by the room where Mila
was teaching. In such incident, eyes can
really be communicative.
Asking permission from the father
of Mila before their wedding caused
Mar to experience the longest hours
in his life. He would even recall that
while walking toward Mila’s house,
he would repeatedly say his prayer
for success. Although with rats in his
heart and butterflies in his stomach,
he successfully copped the nod of his
parents-in-law.
Dr. Leonita Garcia also shared
stories of the young Mar and Mila
during the onset of their family life.
Since Mila’s year was quite advanced
during such time, it was biologically
difficult and fragile for her to conceive
and give birth. Nita would usually
65 zzz

become Mila’s little OB-Gynecologist, telling every scientific technique for Mila to bear
a child. “When we were in Manila,” Dr. Garcia recalls, “I would usually bring upstairs her
chamber pot because Mila’s pregnancy was very, very fragile.”
How about as a father to Jaymar and Maan? Here’s what they can say about Doc
Mar as a father:
67 zzz

I
am Marcelo, and I am his Junior. For all that he did to me, I can say that he is brutally
alcoholic.
Well, that’s a joke!
He was always strict and protective of us when we were kids, now that I’m an adult, I now perfectly
understand why. As my sister and I were growing up, this firm father-son relationship loosened up to a
barkada-type relationship, and this made us closer. I can now crack jokes on him, the type that would get
me scolded when we were kids.
I came to know how well-known and respected he is in his work through the people I randomly
meet who had the chance of working with him in the past. Being his junior, many people know my
story telling him how I hated my name when I was a kid, but now that I’ve grown up and matured, I
want people to know that I came to love and become proud of the name Marcelo because of my father.
Not because of the “Dr. Raquepo” you know but the “papang” that he is to me and to my sister.
My daily quest is to be at least half as respectable as he is.
Love,
MARCELO JR.
A
s his daughter, I have the wonderful opportunity to have this awesome father. Papa is a simple
man with big dreams…dreams he already realized. As a kid, I saw him as a responsible, kind
and hardworking father. He has been so workaholic (well, until now.) He gets up before the sun
comes up and works until after dark.
Papa does not usually show his feelings a lot. He might be strict and serious but I know that he
loves us and cares for us. He shares a deep, faith-filled relationship with us. That is an important blessing
in my life.
My description of my father illustrates qualities like honorable and dependable, loyal and
respectable. He is a very good-hearted man who is outstanding for a variety of reasons. He is an
inspiration for me as a young person and continues to inspire me as an adult. He is the greatest father I
could ever ask for and I am proud to be his daughter.
All the best, Pa,
MAAN
zzz68

Dr. Pio De Yro also has a testimony of Mar as a close friend and family man.
M
arcelo Revibes Raquepo, a name to be long remembered and will always stay in my heart. Mar,
as his friends and colleagues used to call him, is a rare species to find not only because of his
academic achievements but also because of how he deals with people from all walks of life in a
very professional manner.
I met Mar in 1977 in one Monday morning convocation of the then Cagayan Valley Agricultural
College now Cagayan State University at Lal-lo. I was seated beside him, and at first, I had a pre-judgment
of his outer personality because all I thought he was somewhat aristocratic and difficult to approach.
Judging him instantly as a person was a big mistake on my part. After the convocation, we both went out
from the gym, for we had to attend our classes – his on English for the first year students and mine was in
Physical Education. After a week of adjustment with him, I was able to make friends with Mar; that was the
very beginning of our friendship and the flames of friendship have still been burning.
Like me, Mar was then skinny; our friendship has continued to spark until one day Mar decided to
marry a young lady from Catayauan, the former Milagros Juan now Mrs. Milagros Juan Raquepo. On the
day of their wedding which was held at the CVAC gymnasium, I was his best man while Marilu was the
maid of honor. In their wedding entourage, other members of the faculty and personnel were also in the
background of their marriage ceremonies that include Dr. Robert Carbonell, Prof. Natividad Sinco, the
former Miss Justina Compares now Mrs. Mamalio and the former Ms. Cecilia Natividad now Mrs. Capara
and others who witness their marriage vows were all from the academic community of CVAC and friends
and relatives of Mar and Mila were also there.
Mar is a very accommodating person, God fearing, humble, straightforward man, intelligent, and
righteous. He is very instrumental to some of his colleagues not only at CSU Lallo but to the other
campuses of the university by helping them to realize their dreams in the completion of their theses
and dissertations to reach the summit of their academic pursuits. He serves as their adviser, a critic, a
consultant, and a panelist. Mar had shared me bright ideas when he helped me a lot for the completion
of my master’s and doctorate degrees which I cherish from his unselfish contributions to my educational
pursuits. He is also a man of dignity. He never lets you down, especially when you are in trouble. He is
always there to console you and to give pieces of advice. This is evidenced when the cottage which I and
my wife once occupied in the campus all turned into ashes. Again it was my friend Mar who unselfishly
sent messages especially those that bear about God’s words. Moreover, he gave me many books to learn
more about the gift of life. These helped me a lot in my total recovery from mild stroke. These good
gestures will always linger in my mind for Mar is a man of honor and wisdom – truly incomparable.
You are indeed a paragon to all, a versatile man in all seasons, a very loving husband to Mila and
father to Ma-ann and Jaymar.
Congratulations and God speed!
71 zzz

zzz72
The fortieth year of Mar in the government service has come like a
swift thunder. Such event also marked his entrance to the world of
privileges and discounts in 2014. For the millennials, Doc Mar has had a
sojourn stay in their lives. For his colleagues in the academe and in the
workplace, Doc Mar has already sown and reaped many laurels. But for
both the millennials and the old-time friends, Doc Mar continues to be
a beacon of light to every CSUan and to everyone.

73 zzz
Mar may have bowed out from the
government service, but his life is still
standing tall, acting as an exemplar of
dedicated service to people, to God
and to the country. Here are some
of the snapshots during his retire-
ment program on June 27, 2014.

Kaleidoscope coffee table book of Dr. Marcelo Raquepo

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