One of those conferred with the title "Most Honored Elder, 2008" - the Asian Reporter Foundation (April 26, 2008)
Crowned "Poet Laureate in Kapampangan, 2008" by the Holy Angel University's Center for Kapampangan Studies (May 17, 2008)
Crowned "Poet Laureate (Oregon-Washington area) 2008" by the Poets-Laureate International (August 10, 2008)
Ernie C. Turla (full name, Ernesto Carlos Turla) was born on Three Kings Day, 1938 in Plaza Lubao, Pampanga, Philippines, hometown of President Diosdado Macapagal. He was raised by his single mother, Belen, his maternal grandparents, Lucio (a member of the revolucionists under Gen. Maximino Hizon) and Juana, and his uncle and three aunts all of whom were school teachers and all living in one household. Their Spanish-style two-story house was in a street corner just across the street from the back of the old Lubao church, and just one house from the central elementary school. During the war, it was one of the few houses in its area that was not burned by the Japanese after getting hit by cannons during the war. Today, although having undergone a lot of renovation through the years, it still stands on the same place and is a century old.
Ernie was just four years old when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. His family evacuated in a remote barrio, Sto. Domingo, and it was there where he spent the next three restless years of his life. They were years of living dangerously. They had to move from place to place within the same barrio to escape the enemies, hid in dug-outs quite often, and figured in close encounters with the battles between the Huks and the Japanese. It was very scary, he would tell his wife and children later.
When MacArthur's forces returned and liberated the islands, he was seven years old, just in time to be able to go to a school that just opened in a neighboring barrio, San Roque Dau. He was able to see the U.S. flag still being raised before the Philippine flag, and the Star-spangled Banner (which he and his classmates got to memorize) still being sung in flag ceremonies in the morning and in the afternoon. Eventually, his family moved back to the old ravaged house in the poblacion and it was there where he later continued his early schooling. The medium of instuction in all grades, as well as all the books used, was English. He was accelarated twice and got to graduate from high school in 1953 at fifteen.
He enrolled in a local college where he finished his BS in Education. Because he passed the Civil Service Examination for teachers in 1956 at age 18 and while still a junior in college, he was given a permanent or regular teaching position without ever starting first as a substitute. His first assignment was in a school in Lambike, a barrio in the Pampanga River delta and which was not far from Manila Bay. Six years later, he got transferred to barrio Sta. Cruz, and it was during his stint there when he pursued his A.B. in English with a minor in history at the same college in Guagua. His teaching career in the public schools spanned over a period of 12 years interrupted only when he moved to the U.S. He also taught English in high school briefly but had to return to grade school teaching because the former were mostly private ones. He got accepted for a teaching position at the Pampanga High School twice, but twice withdrew in the last minute because the school was just run by the provincial government and he could not afford to have his salary, small as it was already, to be cut in half. He took up units for a master's degree at the Philippine Normal College and which he just later continued at the Pasadena College and at the Northwestern College in the U.S. He taught for two years at Jackson School in Altadena, California after passing the English Proficiency Test (correct usage mostly) given by the L.A. County School and for which he scored 148 out of 150. He also eventually got his California standard teaching credential in that same year, 1969.
His first job in the US was at Caltech (1968). Then, as a teacher in the Pasadena School District (1969-1971). He also worked at Fred Meyers and at Oaks Amusement Park, and at Midland-Ross Corporation and Gilmore Steel in Portland, in the latter as a steelworker and as a maintenance clerk (1972-1976). Then at the main Post Office in Portland as a clerk, for 23 years until his retirement from the Civil Service on Jan.1, 2000.
He met his wife, Angela Bonifacio of Masantol, while she was a University of Sto. Tomas internee (taking up Education) assigned in the school he was teaching. They married each other Nov. 20, 1966. Immigrated to the US on May 27, 1968. Became U.S. citizens in 1973.
They have four children, all of whom are college graduates:
Michael - married to Logita Pavo, and living in Seville, Spain
Pamela - married to Jonathon Orlove, and living ing Olympia, Washington
Eileen - married to Chris Burdick, and living in Portland
Kathleen (Kathy) - married to Jeremy Erickson, and living in Portland.
They have two grandchildren: Hannah Orelove and Cade Burdick
Accomplishments:
Ernie has got:
1. His poetry included in the following books published by the National Library of Poetry): America at the Millennium, A Prism of Thoughts, The End of Forever, Rhymes of Greatness, The Best Poems of 1998, The Best Poems and Poets of 2002.
2. Websites (e.g., Kapampangan In 10 Easy Lessons, English Grammar - Correct Usage of I and Me, The Turlas of the World, Word List on Philippine Languages)
3. Forums of which he is the founder and moderator:
Academia ning Amanung Sisuan, DILA, Fil-AmForum, Searchlight, Christ-God
4. YouTube videos - more than 100 (on music and Kapampangan poetry)
5. English poems published in Filipino Reporter, and news articles in Philippine News. He also wrote a few articles for MagNet.
6. Numerous Kapampangan Poems which he self-published in his book, "Kapampangan Folk Songs and Poetry"
He has been the curator of anthologized Kapampangan poetry written in an ongoing workshop which he also currently chairs.
A lexicographer, Ernie C. Turla is the author of the Classic Kapampangan Dictionary (published in 2000).
As a free-lance writer with writing as a hobby,
he wrote:
1. a religious booklet entitled The Divine Fairy Tale,
2. short stories in English: The Last Kapampangans on Earth, etc.
3. essays in English: Defenders of Indigenous Languages, Lucio Turla - Unsung Hero of the Revolution, etc.
He wrote and composed a Kapampangan song, "Pascua Nin'Dispu" (Merry Christmas) which was included in the CD, "Album of Kapampangan Christmas Songs" which was recorded by the Holy Angel University Choral and which is on sale.)
Miscellaneous stuff about Ernie Turla
Past:
President - Sta. Teresa Teachers Ass., 1959
Treasurer - Holy Name Society, 1965 - 68
Rover Scout, Scoutmaster, Sta. Cruz Boy Scout Troop
Associate editor of The Torch, the newsletter of the Lubao School District, 1962-1968
member, Lubao District Folk Dance Troupe
President of a Philippine nationwide club, the WO or Wonderful Ones Society, as well as the Elvis Presley -
Teresa Brewer Fan Club, mid-1950s and '60s
Performed in a number of plays at the Arena Theater
during summer studies - 1960s
Passed the Civil Service Exam for Teachers (Senior)
Wrote potboilers for the Philippines Free Press
Graduate of Scout Wood Badge Course 1963, Mt. Makiling National Park
Chairman, language arts department, Jackson School, 1970
Present:
President, Academia Ning Amanung Sisuan, Int'l. (ANASI)
President, Akademyang Kapampangan, USA
President, (and chief founder) Aguman Capampangan Northwest USA
(Note: The Aguman has garnered 5 awards from the Asian Reporter for launching medical missions.)
Other recognitions for the club:
Plaque of Appreciation - from the Rotary Club of Magalang
Certificate of Appreciation - City of San Fernando under Mayor Rodriguez
Certificate of Appreciation - Greater Salem Fil-Am
Certificate - Filipino American Historical Society
Other personal awards over the years:
Standard Teaching Credential (1969) - California
Special Achievement Award (1986) - U.S. Post Office
Achievement Award - from the Aguman
Editors' Choice Award - National Library of Poetry
Poet Laureate (in Kapampangan) 2007
Cited in the following books:
A Country Of Our Own by David Martinez
Lubao, the Cradle of Kapampangan Civilization by Dr. Rodrigo Sicat
Casapunggul A Sampaga by Renato Alzadon
The Towns of Pampanga by Alejandro Camiling
Filipino Is Not Our Language by DILA Foundation
Hobbies: Travelling
Ernie and wife Angie have travelled to: Spain, Great Britain (London, etc.), Belgium, France (Paris, etc.), Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy (Rome, Venice, Florence, etc.), Monaco, Finland, Russia (St. Petersburg, Moscow, etc.), Belarus, Lituania, Latvia, Estonia, Greece, Turkey (Istanbul), Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Hongkong, China (Beijing), Singapore, Thailand, an island in Indonesia (Batan). Angie has also gone to Australia (Sydney, Melbourne) as well as to Benguet where the rice terraces. They have also been in Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and in world-famous Boracay where
they have two condos for rent (see www.lingganay.com ). They have driven coast-to-coast from California to New York and across 22 states, and have been in Alaska, Hawaii and Florida as well.
***************************************************************
Ernie Turla's family:
Wife: nee Angela Bonifacio
Date of Birth: May 31, 1943, Masantol, Pampanga
Educational Attainment: B.S. in Education, University of Santo Tomas
Taught at Sta. Rosa College in Intramuros, Manila. Served as a substitute teacher
at the Lubao (Pampanga) School District for three years. Passed the Civil Service
Exam for teachers in 1968.
Immigrated to the U.S. with her husband andc their first-born on May 27, 1968.
Worked at Winter Products as a supervisor.
Retired at Tektronix, an electronics company in Beaverton, Oregon in 1999.
Michael B. Turla
September 13, 1967, Masantol, Pampanga
B.S. in Bio-Chemistry, University of Oregon, 1990
M.A. in English, University of Seville, 2006
Came to the U.S. with parents when he was 8 months old.
As a student, he received quite a few awards, including one in Spanish. He
represented his school in a Spelling Bee. He was consistently in the National
Hhonor Society.
Immigrated to Spain (Seville) where his wife is from in 1996, and it is there
where they now live. Both have passed the federal examination for airport employees
and they now both work at the Seville International Airport. Michael used to be
a teacher at the Academy of St. Mary's, a junior college in Seville.
Pamela Turla-Orelove (also: Pamela Turlove)
October 19, 1968, Pasadena, California
B.S. in English, University of Oregon, 1991
M.A. in Psychology, St. Martin University (Lacey, WA) 2007
As a student, she received several awards including in French, Spanish and
Blue Beaker. Was in a basketball team in junior high. Was first honors at St. Mary
of the Valley but transfered to Aloha High School on her senior year. She was consistently in the National Honor Society. She was news editor of their school organ.
Married Jonathon Orelove of Juno, Alaska in 1993. Have a daughter, Hannah,
who was born on April 9, 2000. Changed their family name to Turlove.
Both she and her husband served the Peace Corps for 3 years in Honduras.
She now works as a guidance counselor at the Lacey School District. She
and her family live in their home in Olympia, WA.
Eileen Turla-Burdick
March 22, 1976, Portland, OR
B.S. in Business and Communication, University of Puget Sound 1999
Throughout her years as a student, she reaped so many awards, including the
prestigious presidential award.
In junior high, she was proclaimed the school's "student of the month" and
she eventually was proclaimed "student of the year".
She was consistently in the National Honor Society as well as in May Fete.
She was president in their Junior Class organization. She was vice president
in their Senior Class org. She was secretary of the Student Council when she
graduated with the 19th highest rank among 450 students at Hillsboro High.
Every year for 4 years in a row, she was a cheerleader, and at some point,
a basketball player too. At Puget Sound, she was with the girls football team.
She took up violin lessons for a few years in school and piano lessons for some
ten years at home.
She married Chris Burdick of Lake Oswego, Oregon in September 2005 and have a
son, Caden. They live in their condo by the Willamette River.
All her work even when still in high school was in offices. As a high school
student, she worked for the agricultural extention office of OSU. She has worked
in middle-level management (sales manager, marketing director) for First World,
Optek and Enron. She now works as a sales manager for ____.
Kathleen Turla-Erickson
April 28, 1978, Portland, OR
Attended the University of Oregon for five years, majoring in Sociology.
In 6th grade, she was the champion in the Spelling Bee of Indian Hills Elementary.
In high school (Hillsboro High), for four years in a row, she was in the U.S.
Who's Who Among High School Students.
Even when still in high school, she already worked only in offices. She took over
her sister's Oregon State University work when the latter left for college.
She married Jeremy Erickson of Portland and the two now live in their home in
Portland. They have a dog named Lionel.
Kathy is a notary public and an escrow officer for Pacific Northwest Title
Insurance Company.
Ariel asked:
> Tang Ernie e co mig-basketball player canita ? Y
> Cong Louie siguro
> basketball player ca naman neh?
Ali cu, aguiang mig-basketball cu, e cu mequiabe
careng team. (Ing Mrs. cu meguing cheerleader de pa
reng basketball team da reng qng Pampanga Institute
qng Masantol. Balamu ining metung careng anac cu,
mig-cheerleader ya naman, at ita namang metung
mig-basketball player ya.)
Mas ilig cu ing boxing canitang anac cu, deng idol cu
anti mo ri Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson...
Siguru uling dacal la reng bully queta quecami,
pamamaglocuan do reng mangalating anti acu! Casi neng
e la mecapagaral iniang gubiernung Apon, tia 10 anyus
ne idad iniang magumpisa lang grade one, samantalang
acu, pitu cu mu. Metung pa, mecaladua cu mi-promote
(accelerate) ania apat yang banuang quinua cu ing
elementary at lacuas la pang metua at mas maragul deng
caclasi cu, maca-macuyad cu pa salol, paca-pantalon
nong macaba! Paglocuan dacu, ique reng abe cung
mangalati. Paglucutan de ing papil at basibas de queng
gulut cu queng clasi. Neng cai, ustung ume na cung
lucluc, gulpi reng abitan ing luclucan cu at misalsal
na cu mu queng tabla. Ustung cai pitican da ca pa
balugbug saca pota e la bisang misancanan anti la mong
santung e miraunan. Ania siguru nung mecataduampulu mu
mequi-tumbucan cu iniang elementary at high school,
aguiang maragul la ustung caing e cu na abata,
lalabanan cula. Oneng iniang manga-15 cu, mica-boxing
glove ya itang siping ming bale a caluguran cu. Pane
queng mag-practice ique reng aliwa cung casiping bale,
at mebiasa cu, ararayig co reng dacal. Oneng ing
diperencia, tauli na ing sabla uling mig-graduadu na
cung high school at e cu no acaclasi retang
mangayabang a papatasan do reng mangalati. Puera pa
meragul na cu at quetang idad aita, ilig mi naman ing
mag-baras at mag-barbel, y Charles Atlas idolo miya
iqueng teen-agers. Sayang na, uling ustung amunan co
quetang cantu at quetang isqui detang sadia-sadiang
maglocu canacu, mamaco la :) |