One less scientist
I write this with deep regret but with fond memories. Dr. Pacifico Payawal passed away last November 28.
They said he was a terror teacher. That he starts the class on the dot and with a 100-point quiz every meeting. I found these all to be true. I found out more as well. He was “terror” in the sense that he tried to discipline us, to be punctual and to be always prepared. His quizzes were always a source of dread, not that they were very difficult. The questions were mostly from the lecture notes. How I hate to miss those quizzes, never mind that I couldn’t get a hundred points all time but that I did not get any zero at all. He was that strict with his quizzes. I do remember the time that he gave in to us, not to give us a quiz that day. That was when he won his car from a raffle by the San Antonio de Padua Parish in Crossing. News spread like wildfire, and the moment he entered class, we just started clapping and chanting “No quiz, no quiz”. He did his best to look stern at us, but broke out into a happy smile. He was so happy then, saying it is seldom that a government employee can afford such luxury. And gave in to our request. In later years, I always remember that day whenever I see him around campus driving his white car.
In the early 90s, two natural disasters struck the Philippines, the 1990 earthquake and the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. He was the voice of reason then - explaining those phenomena not only to his students but also to the community. He was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences when I graduated from UPLB. The day he signed my theses was my last contact with him. I did see him during mass serving at St Therese. It was inspiring to see him, a man of science but a man of God as well. He taught us the natural phenomena around us - from the solar system to volcanoes, from tectonic earthquakes to Pangaea… He also showed us by his actions, life outside the walls of the university.
Truly he will be missed.
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