They were young, adventurous "GI's" (Genuine Ilocanos), fresh from college with degrees in Elementary Education from the Philippine Normal School. They were assigned by the Ministry of Public Instruction (today's DepEd) to Misamis Occidental. They were the pioneers in establishing and improving the public school system of the province.

Each one got married to a fellow school teacher and raised their families where their assignments took them. But, eventually, Mr. Balaoro settled in Oroquieta, Mr. Nerida in Calamba and Mr. Estillore in Plaridel.

So, who was Mr. Estillore?

Salvador Mendoza Estillore was born January 24, 1905 in Bauang, La Union. He graduated from Philippine Normal School with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education degree in the late 1920’s.

Mr. Estillore, or Badong, as he was fondly called, did not speak Bisaya. He only knew Ilocano, English and a little bit of Tagalog. He communicated in English and worked hard to learn the Bisayan dialect. He started as a classroom teacher in Plaridel Central School. He rose to Principal then District Supervisor of Plaridel, Calamba and Baliangao Elementary Schools.

The job required frequent moves to different towns as he helped establish the public school system - to Baliangao, Jimenez, Tangub, Plaridel and Calamba. In 1935, he was transferred to Jimenez, then in 1939 to 1941 to Tangub School Districts.

This would explain the different birthplaces of their children.

During World War II, December 1941 to August 1945, schools were closed as the Japanese occupied our country. He was a reserved officer in the Army so when the war broke out on December 8, 1941 he was called to active service.

After the Japanese beat the Filipino-American forces in May 1942, the remnants became guerrillas. Mindanao guerrilla forces under Col Wendell Fertig harassed and resisted the cruel Japanese.

As 1st Lieutenant Estillore, later promoted to Captain, he was part of the resistance movement and was in charge of a unit headquartered in Calamba which later moved to Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte. After the war he was promoted to Major. In September 1945, Japan officially surrendered to the US forces and ended the war.

Finally it was peacetime and schools reopened. He resumed his duties as District Supervisor of Plaridel, Calamba and Sapang Dalaga Elementary Schools. Later, Lopez Jaena was added to the district but became separate after a few years.

He worked hard and made sure the curriculum met or exceeded school standards. He often visited the barrios and conducted informal audits. During those times, the barrios were mostly dirt roads and not easily accessible.

He loved flowers and cultivated a variety of orchids hanging from the windows of his home. The yard was always fragrant from blooming roses, jasmine, morning glory, bougainvillas, etc. He carried this passion and love of nature by ensuring the beautification of every school grounds with shrubs and flowering plants.

He was fair, honest and an ethical gentleman, often wore a “white duck” and alternated it with white shirt and khaki pants. He would not accept gifts from people who asked him favors. One time he returned a pig and sacks of rice that was given to him in exchange for a favor.

He was also a philatelist, collected stamps and wrote letters to fellow collectors.

He retired in 1970, sadly, not long after on September 22, 1972, he passed away at 67 years old. His final resting place is in Lao, Plaridel near his wife of 42 years.

His family life started in 1930 after meeting a pretty young lady, Remedios Valdehueza Lim, who herself was a school teacher in Plaridel Elementary School. Remedios, fondly called Mende, later became Principal in Mamanga then Looc, then Plaridel Central School until her retirement.

He courted Remedios by inserting love letters inside a book and handed the book to her. They married a year later on March 15, 1930. They were blessed with eight children.

He was a good father and often told bedtime stories to his kids at night in the “sala”. He would tell the same stories over and over and evoked same laughter and enjoyment.

As educators, they both strived and made sure the children went to higher education and got their college degrees. With patience, perseverance and sacrifice, their children all went to school in Manila and successfully got their degrees.