Over The Years (Vividly and Vaguely), Version 2.1
Martial Law (1972-1979)
After our "Commencement Exercises"(whatever that means), he missed enrolment at UST due to procrastination (a virtue he will not deny) and ended up enrolling at Adamson University. He took Engineering. This was the beginning of a long and fruitless escapade of skipping classes and enjoying every minute of it. This was the 'second experimental stage.' You guessed it! He believes he lost his virginity sometime during this period (Oh Gad!). He can't tell you just how bad he was doing in school and in February 1975 (Referendum), he had his first car wreck. That same year he was able to transfer to DLSU (IT) and almost redeemed himself but just before he finished, in May 1977 he had his second car wreck (Oops, he did it again! hopefully the last one). This was a turning point in his happy go lucky carefree life, he decided to find a job and not finish school. He found one and worked for about a year.
In May 79, together with another Red 505, he began his journey as an Enlisted U.S. Navy Serviceman.
Michael Jordan Era (1987)
Rommel is a native of Lipa. In November 1987, he got married to Maria Luz Salvanera Permalino of Lucban, Quezon. They got married again in May 1993 (dalawang beses siyang napikot). Marialuz or Lulu is the eldest of two, a UST'80 and CHS'83 alumnus, and works as a printer at Teradyne San Diego. They are blessed with three beautiful girls (he thinks they are!). Roxanne, 11, is a sixth grader at Black Mountain Middle School. She roller blades and likes to draw, read, and write stories, and she wants to become a doctor and an artist. She plays chess and the violin. Richelle, 9, is a fourth grader at Rolling Hills Elementary School. She also roller blades, likes to draw, wants to become a dentist, plays chess, kickboxing, and wants to play the flute. Rejean, 6, is a first grader at Rolling Hills Elementary School. She likes to roller blade, scribble, loves adobo (a self proclaimed adobo queen) and pancit, and loves to play the organ. She never really learned nursery rhymes but began singing Spice Girls songs. All three 'spice' girls loves to play the computer, loves to play their favorite CDs (Nsync, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, etc), loves their movies, and they always bring home very good grades. They are all proudly made in the USA of 100% foreign components.
In January 1993, Rommel became a naturalized U.S. citizen. As an American, he can now proudly claim that he speaks 4 languages namely: English, Filipino, Tagalog, and Batangenyo, and some or little Spanish, Japanese, Serbo-Croatian, and Greek, etc. In December 1994, he retired from the Military. Well, it wasn't really retirement, it is ending up a lifestyle and switching back into an old (or new) life, a more subtle civilian life.
Tiger Woods Regime (1995-present)
He stayed home mostly. He worked on a project car, watched the OJ Simpson trial (mistrial), and took care of his three kids. He moved to Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, in July 1995. In August 1995, he was hired by the U.S. Postal Service as a casual (temporary employee). He worked as an Information Systems Assistant for 10 months doing customer service, move/install/set up/fix computers, loading software, etc. In June 1996, he was hired as a permanent/career flexible USPS employee as a Flat Sorter Machine Operator. He was an FSM operator for 3 years and became a sales associate/window/distribution clerk in July 1999 and was assigned to Rancho Bernardo Station (about 5 miles where he lives). In April of this year, he moved back to the main processing center (about 3 miles from his home) as an automation clerk. A job that he best describes as devastatingly physical, excruciatingly boring, and undeniably bloody tragic. However, there is peace when he gets off work and that he is undoubtedly gainfully employed. Hakuna Matata!
He has been living in San Diego since 1979. He also lived aboard the USS Ranger for a few months, aboard the USS Leahy for over a year, aboard the USS Enterprise for over a year, and in Croatia for 6 months.
His Military Assignments: Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, Naval Technical Training Center, Meridian, Mississippi, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron TWO (HS-2), Personnel Support Activity Detachment, Naval Regional Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USS Leahy (CG-16), Personnel Support Detachment, Naval Station, San Diego, CA, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron SIX (HS-6), Naval Dental Center, San Diego, CA, Fleet Hospital SIX (FH-6). HS-2 deployed aboard USS Ranger (CV-61), HS-6 deployed twice aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65). FH6 deployed to Croatia.
His Military Decorations: Two Navy Achievement Medals, Three Good Conduct Awards (one for each 4 year period without getting caught), Two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, Three Meritorious Unit Commendations, National Defense Medal, Two Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, Three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, Expert Pistol Medal, Expert Rifle Medal, United Nations Medal, Armed Forces Services Medal, NATO Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal. He believes there are more Unit Awards awarded to FH6 after his retirement. He is a recipient of various letters of appreciations/commendations including a letter of appreciation signed by Bill Clinton.
Some ports/places he visited: Pusan, Korea, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Japan, Adak, Alaska, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kenya, Africa, Bangkok, Pattaya Beach, Thailand, caves of Postojna Jama, Llublijana and Bled, Slovenia, Vienna, Austria, Prague, Czechoslovakia, Budapest, Hungary, Rome, Vatican, Velika Gorica, Krapina, Sisak, Zagreb, Croatia, Milano, Varese, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Italy, Subic Bay, Philippines, Hawaii, Grand Canyon, Arizona, Yosemite, California, Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada, Mexico.
He sailed the North and South Pacific Oceans, Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, Sargasso Sea, Bering Sea, South China Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Thailand, Strait of Malacca, was on the Danube in Budapest, strolled along the Danube in Austria (Lobao, a nudist purgatory) and crossed the equator several times. He has driven across, sailed under, and flown over the Coronado and the Golden Gate Bridges (no intentions of jumping from yet). For him 'a girl in every port' is not exactly true. As sailors are ambassadors of goodwill, a more appropriate phrase would be 'at least a girl in every port!' A more accurate statement is that 'there is a port in every girl!'
Jobs held fulltime and part time: Credit Investigator/Collector, Assistant Credit Manager, U. S. Navy, Data Entry Clerk, Newspaper Route Carrier, and the whole Silkscreen Printing Process. He assisted in carpentry and process management of his parents former handicraft business.
Schools attended (aside from La Salle Lipa): Adamson University, De La Salle University, National University (San Diego), Chapman College, Lipa South Elementary School, Sapac (now preferred to be addressed as San Isidro, I wonder why?) Elementary School.
Yeah he had hang around lots of street corners, Copa Cobana, St. Peter's Square, a snake farm in Africa, lots of sleazy clubs and just about done it all.
One summer night in 1997, he searched for Sam (Gretzky), knowing Sam migrated to Canada and lo and behold, we are having fun here! (claimed as the official US/CANADA version). He strongly believes that there is an Austrian-Bavarian version.
At present, he is preoccupied with dropping/picking up kids to and from school, working in the front yard, backyard, in and around the house, vehicle maintenance, and work. He did play the guitar but now just mostly playing the wife(huh)! He is a true believer of 'the golden rule.' He still admires and appreciates beauty (who doesn't?). He still likes cars and motorcycles and speed as well. Man's intelligence never ceases to amaze him. He still ponders on the miracles of life. He is still fascinated by space and the entire universe. He still savors each day and cherishes each blessing. He enjoys corresponding with all of you and words just can't express the pride in him knowing all of you and the overwhelming joy he gets with every reunion (he knows there will be a million more to come!). He had to censor some of the things he was going to include here due to our 'significant others.'
Quotes: Drink moderately so that others may live! Ang babae kapag tinusok mo sa mata at pumikit pa, pwede pa siya! He who wanders, is probably lost. You are one of the more than just 42 reasons why Red-505 of 72 is good.
Let us change the world!