PROFILE: RAY ARGOSINO
Introduction by Rosie Amat-Veluya:
The first time I received Ray's email address it was not his face that I
immediately remembered. It was Ray's voice! When we were in elementary
school in Lucena West I, I would always turn around when Ray spoke. It
was always a puzzle to me how such a small boy would have such a
powerful, persistent voice. It was a voice that seemed to say: "Listen
to me...I know what I'm saying". Ray is another classmate that I came to
know better after 35 years. Yes, through email exchange. However, my
knowledge of him is nothing as compared to his siblings. Ray's brother
Wally and his sisters, Ellen and Cris (Neneng) Argosino more than
willingly and gladly gave their accounts of their older brother. And so
here they are as they fondly recalled Kuya Emon's life.
By Cris (Neneng) Argosino
Kuya Emon is the 7th child in a brood of 10--family planning didn't seem
to be in fashion those days! I'm one year younger than Kuya Emon, then
Ellen and our youngest brother Wally. We were much younger than our six
older brothers so we were known as the second batch. The three of us
(Wally wasn't born yet) were barkada and we always went together to the
movies at Lucena Theater. Since I was always taller than Kuya Emon, the
'takilyera' would give him a look as if to say "Are you old enough for
this movie, or why don't you let your Ate pay?" Ellen and I tried hard
not to laugh because Kuya Emon was already furious and we didn't want to
upset him any further. Ellen and I were the only girls in a family of
eight boys. This was probably why Kuya Emon was always protective of me
and Ellen. During one of the school dances at the Gym, he stood beside
my chair and if he didn't like the guy--no dance! He would only allow me
to dance with his close friends. When I was in college Kuya Emon took me
and picked me up from school. That's how he was--protectively strict of
his sisters. His protective clout extended to Nanay, too. When he was in
grade school, he wouldn't allow any man to sit beside Nanay on the bus.
He would always wedge himself in between so that no strangers sat with
Nanay--matindi rin!
Small in stature as Kuya was he was very agile--parang hangin sa bilis.
He could grab anything with his hands in seconds. A small mouse would
have no chance of escaping if Kuya saw it. His hands were not only quick
but very artistic as well. He drew extensively in his leisure hours. He
taught us how to appreciate creating things with our hands.
We called Kuya Emon the lawyer in the family. He would talk back and he
always had something to say--makatuwiran ba. He fought for principle and
for what he believed in to the point of sometimes displaying his short
temper. Nanay attributed his temper to his curly hair--pag kulot ang
buhok medyo madaling mag-init ang ulo. I remember when Kuya Emon got in
trouble with one of the QPHS teachers which almost resulted in a lawsuit
from our family. Kuya Emon was strong and undaunted while his classmates
stood by him in defense.
Ellen Argosino:
Kuya Emon was and is a role model to me. He always inspired me in music
and the arts. He taught me how to play the guitar and how to draw. He is
the most talented among my brothers. My youngest brother Wally was so
close to Kuya Emon when we were little. Kuya is ten years older than
Wally and he looked up to Kuya and imitated what he did. Kuya took Wally
everywhere sort of guiding him into the real world.
Kuya Emon knew the value of labor even at an early age. He used to sell
ice candies and gave all his day's wages to Nanay. He was not only
protective of us but he also looked after the welfare of our parents.
By Wally Argosino:
Kuya Emon as we fondly call him is an avid scuba diver. The thought of
snorkeling and venturing to scuba spots is enough to bring sparkles in
Kuya's eyes. He has always been an excellent swimmer. My wife, Claudia,
and I recently went on vacation with Kuya Emon in Boracay. He logged
some 30 meters medium dive along the reefs. One would be amazed at the
dexterity and skill which he exhibited when he unleashed what seemed to
be a most sophisticated set of scuba gear.
Deep sea fishing ( and I'm sure fly fishing to some extent) is his
other passion. It is both therapeutical and calming for him. It seemed
that he has a constant love and fascination for the water. As a brother
I would love to see him own a boat someday...to free him from the same
humdrum we all have to deal with everyday.
Kuya Emon has four children - three girls, Lideth, Arlene and Kay.
Raymond Jr., the youngest is ten years old. Two of his daughters
graduated from college and Kris will be senior in high school next year.
Arlene, Ray's second daughter is a Medical Technologist
graduate from
Centro Escolar. She currently owns her own laboratory in Bulacan. His
eldest daughter Anna, is a registered nurse graduate and is connected at
UST hospital.
My brother and his wife, Ate Tessie, are grandparents to Lideth's
daughter, A.B. Kuya Emon met his wife, the former Teresita
Encarnacion
of Mariveles Bataan, in college although they were not from the same
school. He is an architectural major from the Mapua Institute of
Technology in the Philippines. He currently works at ARAMCO home based in Dharan,
Saudi Arabia as a Business System Analyst.
Kuya Emon was my first music teacher. He inspired me to play the guitar.
He is also gifted with good vocal chords and I am witness to his
evocative singing when he sings with his children in the videoke machine
back home.
For all the wonderment I have for my big brother, his love for our Tatay
and Nanay topped them all. He has always been a wonderful and loving son
to our parents...through both the good and not so good times. His
sincere appreciation of what our parents' unconditional love provided to
us were gifts that Kuya Emon constantly reminded us, his siblings.
Just seeing Kuya Emon is happiness in essence. His smile which is
contagious is both a beam of assurance and a flirtatious tease. They can
somehow brighten ones day. As a brother, I've always admired Kuya Emon's
resolve, his initiative and his protectiveness over the people he holds
dear. He is non-judgmental and he is very perceptive.
There is one memory of him that is stored in the back of mind like a
picture frame--Kuya Emon with a box of ice drops which he used to sell
on one shoulder and his pack of clothing on the other, waving good-bye
to us. Ate Neneng, Ate Ellen and I stood holding back the gravity of
tears while Kuya made his way out of the house. In retrospect this
scenario posed as a testament to Kuya Emon's work ethics and his
strength of will.
I cannot end Ray's profile without words from our classmate since
elementary school, Uel Ongwico. His fond memories of Ray range from
funny to envy on Uel's part.
"Back in the early days of West I, Ray is the one classmate I will
always remember because he had this distinct hairstyle that didn't
change and was left untouched by the changing times. Back when the
Beatles pervaded the air and let loose a crazed horde of worshippers
like us who were tapping every available desk in the classrooms, while
belching out a "Hard Day's Night" or a gut wrenching scream of
"Mr.
Moonlight," Ray's J. P. Rizal's hairstyle, with a sheen parted in place
with a light coat of pomade, remained resistant to the fad that was
invading the school ground. Every time I think of Ray now, the image of
a young boy neatly sporting a fresh look in his starched-ironed shirt,
khaki short and the ever famous 'Bantex' slippers, flashed like a black
and white photo.
In high school he preferred the company of only the quiet and the
talented, Danny Sambajon, Federico Daleon, Tomas Llorin, etc. To my
envy, Ray used to wow the discerning tastes of 'the ladies in the house'
and got their approving 'oohs' and 'aahs' with his intricately designed
greeting cards. I watched it happened at times that deep within the
reaches of my young mind, I envy Ray and the talent he has for creating
artworks. It is no wonder that Ray was the school newspaper, THE
COCONUT's artist. He carried his addiction to the arts in college and in
his present job. His talent is now eternally etched in the logo which he
created to represent Class '69.
Our sincere and profound thank you to
our classmate and web site artist, Ray Argosino.
Click Here: Ray's Family
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