Lolo Jose - On Growing Up
Years 1919 - 1937
Lolo Jose was born when his father Lolo Leon was working as chef in a hydro-electric plant in Bagatayam, Sogod, Cebu. He is the eldest of seven children, four of whom died young due to sickness and poor health. Lolo remembered staying at the staff house within the compound of the hydro-electric company during his pre-school years with his younger sister Rosario and his parents Lolo Leon and Lola Epay.
Lolo does not have recollection though how Lolo Leon and Lola Epay met.
When Lolo Jose was about school age, Lolo Leon had a transfer of work assignment from Sogod, Cebu to Dumaguete. Together with his younger sister Rosario, they went to Grade One at St. Paul's Academy in Dumaguete where Lolo Jose was accelerated to Grade Two in November. When the schoolyear ended, the family moved back to Cebu. There they stayed with the family of Lola Epay's youngest sister, Vicenta in the Kiamco ancestral home in Cogon, Carmen, Cebu.
Lolo Jose and his younger sister Rosario were unable to secure slots in the Poblacion Central School as classes were already ongoing when they arrived back in Carmen. Luckily, they were accepted in a neigbouring barangay school in Sitio Luyang and there Lolo continued his studies from Grade III to Grade VI.
After completing 6th Grade, Lolo Leon had a new job as Plumber in Maasin Waterworks. Lolo Jose studied Grade VII in Maasin Institute where he went on to finish 2nd year highschool. He would have wanted to continue with his studies but he chose not to because Lolo Leon became ill and in November 19, 1937 Lolo Leon died in Maasin - when Lolo Jose was only 18 years old.