Tribute to Samuel S. Belo

Samuel S. Belo, a brother in Christ and a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ has gone on to the Lord.

My nurse niece,  Grace Bravo del Prado of St. Dominic Medical Center, informed me a while ago about meeting Lina Belo, who she recognized entering the hospital.  Lina informed Grace that Sam was a patient there but was not that lucky – the Lord took him “to rest in peace.”

I came to know Sam, as he is fondly called, through his father, L. N> Belo, who was our preacher in Koronadal, South Cotabato in the mid 50s. I was then a graduating student at then, Pioneers Coop. Colleges of Marbel, Koronadal.  One afternoon, the late brother Belo talked with me about his son, Samuel, who was then accepted as a student of Abilene Christian College, Abilene, Texas.  His problem was Sam did not have a traveling companion. Sam was also a graduating student of Koronadal High School.  And in 3 months, he will go to Manila to process his papers at the U. S. Embassy.  I was happy that I was selected as a “traveling companion.”  But, the late Brother Belo added, “I will write W. R. Smith, Vice President of ACC. so. you will also go and study.”  That week end, I went home to Malingon, Buluan, Cotabato and informed my parents.  They were so happy to say: “We will sell our 4 hectares at Estrella for your traveling expenses.”  When I returned to Koronadal, Brother Belo was anxious about my trip home.  He was so happy that my parents had some money for my travel to America.  In about 2 months, Brother Belo received my “letter of acceptance” at ACC.  Without any delay, we hurriedly went to Manila to process our papers.  After the interviews, Sam and I, were given our student visa.

It was August 28, 1956 when we boarded the American Presidents Line for San Francisco, California along with 28 Filipinos who were “our room mates” were also going to America.  After 18 days, we were already in San Francisco.  Sam and I thought  someone will pick us up until a security guard at the port asked where we were going.  The security knew Abilene but added, “Is someone going to pick you up?”  We said someone will come.  I was referring to one of our companions in the boat who I befriended by the name of “Eli Espinosa.”  I got his telephone number and in due time, Eli with his uncle came and picked us up.

From the residence of the Espinosas, we telephoned W. R. Smith at Abilene Christian College, who also telephoned our sponsor, Bennie Lee Fudge of Athens, Alabama.  Nobody  came to guide us  to Abilene but our sponsor sent eighty dollars for our fares with Greyhound Bus.  After 48 hours of bus ride, we were in Abilene.  Sam telephone his brother Dominador S. Belo who then was fondly called: “Jack Belo.”  We were so happy to see brother Jack. He came and brought us to the cafeteria of ACC where we tasted the very delicious Sunday meal of America!  The next day, Monday, we reported to W. R. Smith who examined our documents.  He understood Sam more than I do, so, it was Sam that he communicated what we must do as “student auditors” of 7 classes as we were already late for the semester’s study.  Sam continued to be my spokesman in classes and at campus work so we were able to pay for our meals and dormitory.  We also learned that Margie Alegre of Tacurong was a student of ACC.  With our eagerness to know everyone, we found out that our Filipino English was not altogether understood by our American class mates.  After 2 months of auditing classes, we came to the new semester where we enrolled officially the same classes.  Sam impressed our teachers knowing many of the facts of our Bible classes so that most of his grades for that semester were B plus or As.  This type of classes went on for 3 years when Sam had some skin problems due to the heat of Texas.  W. R. Smith called Harding College at Searcy, Arkansas and off Sam was in a milder climate.  Not to be outdone, I also called my sponsor if he can transfer me to David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee.  He liked the idea so on week ends and on the summer months, I worked as a “packaging and wrapping”  books for the CEI store of the Fudges.   Sam finished at Harding and I also finished at David Lipscomb and we determined to stay together at the Harding Graduate School of Bible and Religious at Memphis, Tennessee. We stayed for 2 semesters at the graduate school when Sam found a work with the Chamber of Commerce in Kentucky, where he stayed on until he retired.  He preached for a congregation at Morgan Field, Kentucky.   As I finished my masters degree at Abilene Christian University, I planned on going home.   I went on to Cabanatuan City and started the mission work there.  It was due to gospel meetings on the main street of Cabanatuan City, Paco Roman,  that I made  a right turn to devote my 24 years of work as a Bible teacher and later on administrator of Philippine Bible College, 18 Rimando Road, Baguio City, through the invitation of Brother Kenneth J. Wilkey, Director of PBC.   Sam came over one week end at the heights of my work at PBC and again came back just about 2 years ago when I was a graduation speaker.  At the banquet of PBC, Sam stated that he just arrived from America and  was in Cavite en route to visit San Felipe, Tatangan, South Cotabato.   That was the last time, I had a chance talking and reminiscing our colorful past in America!

Sam, rest in peace, brother!  The Lord be gracious unto you.  May God be with you! I surely enjoyed being your “traveling companion” and a co-worker in the vineyard of the Lord.  Good bye to you, Sam!

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