Suddenly tears rolled down from my eyes as I learned the news about the passing away of Dean Eugenio the other day from the email of one of his granddaughters. For an instant, I couldn’t help but sobbed wretchedly as an orphaned child that I felt so shattered and forlorn for having lost a very dear and beloved person whom I highly esteemed and respected as my own father.
How I remember him very well that summer of 1963 when I decided to enroll in the university after 3 years of reflection since I finished high school when I took up different vocational courses in order to learn a trade so that I could get a decent-paying job in order to support myself to finance my college studies. Somehow, I felt a certain pang of fear and anxiety as I approached his table hesitantly. In a split of a second, I had to stop midway in order to decide whether I should make a go at it or just walk away. In the stillness of such a seemingly critical soul-searching moment, I heard his soothing voice calling for me to advance as he said the magic phrase “what can I do for you young man” with such a smile which could practically make that of Mona Lisa as an obvious sign of derision and provocation. He immediately broke the ice and made me feel at ease as he presented me the subjects for the semester and then enrolled me officially.
Through him, I saw the very image of what I had wished my father would have been as a role model had he ever lived to see me grow up. Even though he exercised the function of a dean, he never showed an air of self-importance and a somewhat dictatorial authority over others. As a matter of fact, he had a very direct and close personal contact with his students and teaching staff which I did admire as his extraordinary human quality. His office doors were always wide open and anybody could drop by and say hello or even consult him for a tête-à- tête without a prior official appointment.
Finally, I’m very grateful for him for having taught and shown me the importance and true essence of such virtue as honesty, humility, loyalty, patience and perseverance, but most especially the respect for others. If ever I succeeded to carry the good name and reputation our school as the only French Government scholar during his time, it is exclusively thanks to him for which I feel very proud to have made it in his honor.
Goodbye Dean Eugenio. You will always be forever in my heart and prayer.
