Memoir

Anne Frances Sangil

As an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Communication Arts, I was not exposed to the nuances and pleasures of literature outside of the basic units required by the College of Liberal Arts. While I could appreciate literature in general, I was not exactly feeling the love back from this particular area of study. I only received an average grade from Dr. Cirilo Bautista, my LITFORM (Literary Forms) professor, so I was not excited about the literary arts. I was also unfamiliar with the Who’s Who of Literary Greats at De La Salle University, and I never bothered knowing the pantheon. I first heard the name ‘Marjorie Evasco’ from a college friend enrolled in an elective called WOMALIT (Woman in Literature). The college friend would always regale me with their assigned readings and the latest lectures from Evasco’s class. As a budding feminist, I was envious, naturally.

I first met Dr. Evasco in the flesh at a craft lecture sponsored by the Writer’s Guild at DLSU about a year before I graduated. Evasco was the facilitator that day, Valentine’s Day, and she was asked to deliver a lecture about writing poetry. Marj was the person who introduced the name Aphra Behn to a curious and very much overwhelmed me. Little did Marj know how that moment practically defined the path I would take later. In hindsight, perhaps it was Marj who planted in my head the desire to pursue Literature immediately after graduating. This is all speculation, of course, as one cannot be 100% certain of the whys and wherefores of our past actions. What was undeniable is that I was supposed to pursue International Studies in graduate school, not Literature. Still, I guess Fate has a funny way of introducing us to people who would plant little things and little insights in our heads. Until you realize later that you are already too deep (and quite happily, too) to change course.

As a young faculty newly hired by the department, I have seen Marj in action, especially as the Graduate Programs Coordinator. “Detail-oriented” is putting it mildly when one describes her working style as an administrator. Marj was also the steady voice of reason in the Literature department. She always had wise words to share with me, especially when I later served as department Vice Chair. And despite the aura that Marj exudes, she can be a jester when she feels like it. There was one workshop outside of Manila, and I remember Marj seeing me sitting quietly in one corner of the venue, furiously reviewing the flowchart of our literature majors. When she saw the seriousness on my face, she said, “Nag me memorize na siya ng course codes, o!” and was greatly humored when she heard me pronounce MAJELE (the course code for our Major Elective) as ‘maaahjuleeey.’ I have to say that I had many misses during those years of service for the department, but I could always count on Marj to help me reset those misses to eventual hits. She was also quick to say ‘yes’ every time I would ask her to teach a particular course for the students, a relief for me, who had to accomplish the cumbersome task of looking for professors for highly specialized courses.

Marj is also very perceptive (of course, Frances. She’s a poet!), as I have learned, especially during those times she would invite me for some girl talk (usually with Shirley Lua), either during a national workshop or over a bowl of sampaguita ice cream at Intramuros during a rare downtime. Marj can also be wicked when it comes to teasing me over something or other, usually about my non-existent love life, but all in good fun, of course.

As somebody who loves to move at a fast pace, I sometimes forget to take a breather, and it was Marj who would always remind me to have a break and take it slow occasionally. A few months after my medical leave because of an emergency head surgery, I was ready to return to school. When Marj heard that I was on campus, she immediately sent me a message telling me to be careful and not to hurry. That each step I take must be measured, even enjoyed.

If there is one word I will forever connect with Marj, it is ‘grace.’ I have never met an educator who thinks, speaks, and acts with such grace that I feel ennobled just by being around her. I am also thankful to her for all her crucial advice during the start of the pandemic, as I was trying to navigate the demands of online learning. She knew the pressure I was feeling as I tried to cram the ins and outs of our course management system. Reading her emails and the many insightful essays she shared comforted me. Hearing her express her worries was reassuring, but they always coupled with faith and trust in our collective strength. We will get through this. We will manage, says Marj.

For all these and for the blessing of knowing her, I am grateful.

Anne Frances N. Sangil is a full-time faculty at De La Salle University, Department of Literature, where she teaches art appreciation, Philippine and world literatures, and popular culture. Sangil was also a writing fellow for the Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center of DLSU and worked as the Assistant Editor of the Film volume of the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts. She received her Ph.D. in Literature from DLSU in 2019, specializing in Filipino filmmaker Mike De Leon. Frances is also a storyteller and has conducted storytelling sessions and workshops with Scholastic, Inc., National Bookstore, and the Department of Education.