YAGTING

CORNELIO FESTIN FAIGAO
(1909-1950)
Educator, Writer, Poet, Lawyer
by: Romulo A. Faz, Sr.

Faigao saw the first light of day in the rocky isle of Baton, Romblon on 16 September 1909 to erstwhile notary public and town president Rufo Faigao and Bonifacia Festin. His illustrious brothers were Teotimo, teacher; Sancho, nurse and ex-mayor of San Agustin, Romblon; Vicente, journalist and ex-administrative officer, Division of Romblon; and Diosdado, who died single. The lone but equally distinguished sister was Felipa who got married to a fellow teacher, Luis Fabicon.

Faigao’s intense thirst for education was first quenched at the Jones Elementary School now Banton Elementary School, where he was the first honors of the first batch of graduates. Three years thereafter, he earned his high school diploma at Romblon Provincial High School, Romblon, Romblon as salutatorian.

Like other ambitious and hardworking Bantoanons with unsatiable desire to attain higher education, Faigao went to Manila for his college studies. Upon the inspiration of Prof. Gabriel Fabella, Sr., he enrolled at the University of the Philippines and took up the teacher’s course. That time he was working as a janitor in the House of Representatives during the incumbency of Don Leonardo Festin, who gloriously served in Congress for 27 years. (The longest solon to stay in the legislature, Festin was considered as the "Dean of the House of Representative" and was once elected Majority Leader. Festin was also the first census commissioner of the Philippines.)

A renowned intellectual, Faigao had already passed the senior teacher’s examination before he graduated from the teaching course. After his graduation, he went to Cebu City in search for greener pasture. Luckily, his quest for employment was blessed with his landing on a teaching job.

While teaching during daytime, he was taking units in Master of Arts. And after successfully depending his thesis, he was warmly welcomed as professor of English and later head of the English Department of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City.

Faigao has a penchant for the legal and interesting knowledge. He studied law at the University of the Philippines and did place himself in the list of top ten in the bar examination. In an interview with Norma Fonte, niece of Atty. Faigao, the late Tang Cone practiced law not only in Cebu but also in some Mindanao provinces. In recognition of his prodigious legal talents, he was sent to the United States of America as a scholar sponsored by Fullbright Smith Mundth. After returning to the Philippines, he was felicitously elected president of the prestigious Cebu Bar Association.

Having a prolific pen, Faigao had writing as his favorite pastime. During his off hours from his professorial task, he wrote articles to some newspapers and magazines. He put up a newspaper nameplated "The Southern Star" of which he was the fightingest editor-in-chief for some years. His brothers, Sancho and Vicente were likewise writers in their own right. Some of their works saw print of the famous Philippines Free Press during the pre-martial law regime.

According to Prof. Fabella, grand old man of Banton, Faigao was probably one of the best figures in English literature during their time. During his early stay in Cebu City, he wrote some poems and stories published in the metropolitan papers and magazines. His immoral poem entitled "The Brown Child" won for him first prize in the golden jubilee contest of the Philippine educational system. He would have an annual debate with fellow noted poet, Jose Garcia Villa, on the merit of the English literature. Three of Faigao’s poem taken up in college in those days were 1) The Song of the Hare Hawes Katting – a narrative poem (1936); 2) The Song of Freedom (1946) – celebrated the historic passage of he Tydings McDuffie Law which in effect, granted Philippine Independence; and 3) Commemoration Ode (1948) – a poem in connection with the jubilee celebration of the University of San Carlos.

Faigao’s crowning glory of his struggle for education was attained when he graduated with the doctoral degree on Philosophy from the University of San Carlos. He had also taken up Arts and Printing courses at the same institution and was once elected president of the Philippine Arts and Printing Association. He was an active and ranking member and contributor to the Philippine Poets and Writers Association.

In 1959, Faigao came to his peaceful and beautiful birthland of Banton, Romblon to visit his relatives and as a guest of honor and speaker in the commencement exercises of the Banton High School. While taking a walk around the town, he stumbled down near the historic catholic church, and one of his legs was fractured. After the mishap, he returned to Cebu City, his second home.

Though Faigao was bedridden, he wrote letters to then President Ramon Magsaysay, and he was sent some medicines. Prior to the April, 1957 presidential plane crash at Mt. Mununggal, the "great man of the masses" visited Faigao in his sickbed.

Faigao was married to the former Rosita Go, a nurse board topnotcher by whom he had three children. They are Arturo (Mabuhay), Ernesto (Bataan), and Linda (Kalayaan), who is also a writer. They are all American citizens now.

Dr. Faigao passed away in 1950 at Cebu City. Had he lived a little longer, he would have won more honors, distinctions, and recognitions for his literary famed family and hometown of Banton, Romblon in all his chosen fields of endeavors worth emulating and inspiring to the Banton youth.

A thoroughfare in Banton was named after him to perpetuate his loving memories.

Volume II No I