That persistence and selflessness was the result perhaps of the fact that Sir Nick grew up taking care of his siblings. He was also an activist early on, having organized for Kabataang Makabayan, the foremost youth activist group during the dictatorship.
It was as a young teacher at the Tamayong Elementary School in Calinan during the 1960s that Sir Nick’s concern for the teachers began to show.
Bulac, who was a contemporary of Sir Nick in the Calinan District, recalled how during district meetings, Sir Nick stood out for voicing displeasure over school policies.
Sir Nick also took time to help organize KM’s first community chapter in Davao City. He also helped in mobilizing the workers at a company called House of Magno in their struggle against low wages and exploitative working conditions. It was there that Sir Nick met his wife Camila.
They got married in 1971. We thought of getting married because we heard martial law was about to be declared, Camila recalled.
Martial law indeed came a year later, in 1972, forcing Sir Nick to go underground, leaving Camila and their infant son, Dante.
To Sir, With Love. Colleagues, family and friends pay tribute to Sir Nick. (davaotoday.com photo by Cheryll D. Fiel)
Sir Nick endured the hardship in the hills. He had bouts of asthma. He lost his index finger during an accident involving a handgun.
On Dec. 28, 1975, Sir Nick was captured in Davao del Norte and was thrown to jail in a police camp in Cagayan de Oro City. In prison, Camila and Dante would visit him, and he would send cards and letters to them, which Camila keeps until now.
After his release from prison in September 1976, Sir Nick went back to teaching, this time ast the Rizal Elementary School in Davao City. A few years later, the hardships in his profession compelled him to help organize the teachers’ movement here.
Sir Nick was also active in other fields, such as organizing fellow detainees in Davao in pursuing the class-action suit against Marcos. The fight still continues as the funds that have been awarded to the victims of abuses during the dictatorship have not been released.
He was chair for Southern Mindanao of Selda (Samahan ng mga Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya) and a board member of the labor center Nonoy Librado Development Foundation.
Sir Nick’s health and age had slowed him down physically but not mentally, his wife says. Even after his retirement from teaching in 2005, he continued supporting fellow teachers and even joining in lobbying the City Council for the release of bonuses.
For Sir Nick, this is not simply begging for help. This is asking for what is due us teachers, said Carredo.
In his passing, Kamkem awarded Sir Nick the Gawad Dakilang Guro for leading with all humility the organizations he was in and working beyond the four walls of the classroom.
Gabriela Davao also conferred on Sir Nick the honorary Gawad Diego Silang Award for his support of women’s cause and his role in seeking social change.
For his family and children, time with Sir Nick was always enjoyable. His daughter Rhea recalled how Sir Nick would bring them to the sea to fish and swim. He would teach us to dive in the middle of the seas of Samal,” she said. “That’s how Papa was. He was not afraid to take the plunge.
Rhea said that as a kid she asked her mother, Why Papa is not always around? Why is he not like other fathers who stay at home?
She said she now understands that Sir Nick’s family includes his fellow teachers and the mass movement who sought his guidance, enjoyed his presence, learned from his wisdom, and took inspiration from his commitment. (Tyrone A. Velez/davaotoday.com)
