By:
Dr. Guimba B. Poingan
I met an extra-ordinary friend at the defunct MSU-Preparatory High School-Marawi in 1964. I was then Second Year and he was First Year. Since then, we have been together as good friends for about four (4) decades.
One peculiarity of MSU-Prep. was not only on its general academic excellence in the region but most importantly on its evolved culture of intimacy and personalized relationships among its constituency especially the studentry. Almost everyone knew everyone from First Year to Fourth Year.
The extra-curricular activities and the frequent week-end outings reinforced the traditional academic regidity which served as binding factors for a cohesive and cooperative relationships among themselves.
My extra-ordinary friend was relatively tall, slender (when in high school), fair in complexion, friendly, supportive, very kind, very concerned, very caring, and above all, he had a commanding personality which insinuated his innate and acquired leadership potentials. Just his surname and middle name alone revealed that he came from noble families. He belonged to the Meranao aristocracy which was hardly be reconciled with his inherent simplicity and humbleness in all his acts and deeds. He has been so respectful, tolerant and helpful to children, women and elders especially the aged. He was an elite by birth, but he was pro-poor by outlook and perspective. In his professional life, he has never been insecured in whatever position he held. He always encouraged and motivated his pairs, subordinates and others for higher challenges and opportunities. I had never seen in him any semblance of selfishness, personally and officially. In his peculiar ways, he displayed in real life the meaning of the concept of public service and public servant. In most cases, he gave preference to his official functions over his personal matters. He preferred others than himself. He has been so development oriented professional. He usually adopted democratic style of leadership and supervision as he was always favoring people over tasks.
My extra-ordinary friend and I became so close to each other when I was in Fourth Year high school and he was in Third Year at the new site of MSU-Prep in the Main Campus. I was then the Corpse Commander of our PMT unit under Commandant late Prof. Federico Lucas. I was about to surrender the imposition of discipline to the third year cadets, most of whom belonged to the group of my friend. I talked to him about the problem and at once he promised to help solving the problem. He was made as Marshall and true to his promise we were able to impose the desired level of discipline. From that time on until his parting moments we remained good friends for about four decades.
In the later part of our company, our mode of contact and communication changed. He moved to Iligan City while I returned to my birthplace in Marantao. Our meetings became irregular and our communication was limited through cellphone either by voice call or text messages. I noticed in his recent text messages that he had been so apologetic as if he were so sure to leave soon with no return. After his presidency in MSU he had a total change of perspective on earthly affairs. He became so religious minded man. He has been so proud of his wife and children and always texted me of his concern to Dau’wah activities. He was so gratified with the scholarship of one of his sons to South Africa to pursue Islamic Studies and from which I started addressing him in my text messages as “Amai-Aleem”. He was Prof. Diamael “James” Magarang Lucman.
GBP: 12-17-08
MAORI SA TADMAN I MORI SA PAGIROWIN
KI DIAMAEL MAGARANG LUCMAN
Ini Sorati:
Dr. Hj. Mohammad Guimba B. Poingan
Pamayobay ka ranon na panolatangka gagao sa mabalon a tadman a mawit a panginogon a di khada sa ginawa o khisalimbago a tao.
Di ko aya katawan na ba anda ko inambay o malaikat i James na siarigid akonda o makato i Tolawi.
So sanggibo a ranon a gi-i melimbo-limbo na oman raken domansal na manako a khatanao ko kalodan da-a garing a laod da-a pagari.
Salakao a rangkono so ipendaloyong a ndo ka pakada-an di mada na ribonen di maribon ka makalabao rendanen na lebi pephananggolo.
Kanogonay kanogon na kanogon o sadaong i alongan a da ondas na nogon o sadayday i senang a da ontawar.
Apia ka miaog ka miangandingan laod a daden a khaneganon na diko maphakakelas sa bako pakalipati so kiangginawa-i ta ka oman raken lomimbo na mapagiroy tademan so sagola sonor tano ko diboden pira pangkat a singanin ko pagtao a kabsaran ko inged.
So kia ribon ka na aya katao ko ron na maphamakada aken i bokor sa karendeman ko sarigido saolan; ba aya ko ron sabot I oman themeg so mosim na baden pekhabagowi i rangkono sa kanggaring.
Sansara imangko ron ka odi klas so boko na kharambiton so amal ka di ta kapethindegan so takdiro Daphayag.
Riwada ka den James ka bakari ba mi Solog a nayaongka ka mendod; pangalikhodangka den ka baka mi zamboangan a tagaden ka balingan.
O so kipantagkhoron na di ka den kagaonan ka ibarat o kanditar pito lapis so soyao na sekay tampar ki badan.
Tarima-anta baden a o limo so Kadnan na so pinggeka a ranon sa doniya ini sayan na midadayon a sonor a masamporna tano ko sorga Firdaus a darpa-a zonoran a inged a zagola-an.
Oba seka ri Tola a miada ko sansara ka mindod ko kalilintad, ino so sakena-i a di ta khaingaranan i legawan dapen magid ka pribaren ta sosa na phelimpangen ta dosa ka liwaleg so doniya.
GBP: 12-17-08
source: ranaw.com and msuans.org
