GOLDEN JUBILEE

Money Matters

Posted Wednesday, 19-Oct-2005 1:51 PM   

      Although Kuang Chi’s tuition followed the levels of the best schools in Manila like Ateneo and La Salle , yet, given the small enrollment in the first year, tuition income couldn’t account for much. The fact that, from the very beginning, out of 170 students, 28 paid only one-half tuition and two no tuition at all did not make things any better. But there was hope that with the expected increase in enrollment in the following year, tuition fees would cover a good part of operational expenses.

      The families sending their sons to Kuang Chi in the first year of its existence fell within the middle-middle class bracket; they were shopkeepers and professionals, most of whom resided in the school’s neighborhood, the Binondo and Quiapo districts. In the second school year, that of 1957-58, some of the wealthier families from what at the time was the plush district of New Manila enrolled their children in Kuang Chi. Yet, the resources of the Chinese Catholic community were then quite modest. Those were still very much postwar years, when the Philippine economy was beginning to heal from the merciless maiming caused by the war. There were no supermarket owners yet, no plastics kings, nor real estate tycoons; many Chinese had only recently arrived from China and were struggling to establish themselves financially. Some scratched a living tending a small stand in the Divisoria Market or hawking their wares from a rickety trestle on the sidewalk of Carriedo Street . The Chinese community was then far less affluent than now, and its ability to contribute to the building of a school was limited.

      Yet, the big money, the money that counted, was collected by Father Desautels himself almost single-handedly, through personal contacts and efforts. Writing to Archbishop van Melckebeke on August 17, 1956 , he says, “I have begged from door to door, and I am ready to do it again for the next eight years if necessary.” His regular partner in the begging business was Peter Lim. Every Thursday Peter would drive Father Desautels to visit the businessmen whom Peter had previously contacted by phone. During his “door to door” visits to businessmen in town, Father Desautels learned a few secrets of the trade. In his old age he loved to tell stories about his adventures with Peter Lim.

      Once there was this businessman who was already waiting for Peter and Father Desautels. As they arrived they were ushered right into his office. After making small talk for a few moments, there was a strategic silence, some guttural sounds, smiles, and finally the topic was brought up of his contribution to the school. “Well, certainly, here is your check.” He picked a check he had on his desk and gave it to Peter. It was a check for P5,000, payable to Kuang Chi School . Peter read the figure, smiled quizzically to his friend, and with a grimace, flipped the check back to him. “What? Now you do not want it?” the businessman pretended to marvel. “Who do you think you’re fooling?” retorted Peter. “Do you think you are going to get away with only five thousand? If that’s all you are ready to contribute, you can keep it. From you we will take ten thousand or nothing.” They haggled for a while, complaining about how bad business was at the moment, how tight money was, and so on. But Peter threatened, “We will not leave this office until you cough up ten thousand.” Dramatically, the businessman clucked his tongue and sighed aloud. He opened his drawer, pulled another check he had ready and with a mock murder look he handed it to Peter. It was a check for P10,000 similarly payable to Kuang Chi School . The impasse was solved with the three bursting into loud laughter.

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