Teodolfo Muyco
I am Teodolfo D. Muyco. And I am from Iloilo, living in the town of Dingle. I arrived in Guam on July 7, 1952. I was 23 years old. I live right now in Tamuning. I am already 78 years old, going to 79.
When we arrived here, we are housed in Camp Roxas, under the name of MASDELCO or LUSTEVECO, the previous name was LUSTEVECO. We live 28 in our Quonset hut together with your Dad (Loreto Provido).
When I arrive here in Guam, I am just only a storekeeper. I am assigned at the inventory department at NSD, Naval Supply Depot. During that time, we count all the items at the warehouse, like screws for, example. I am assigned as an inventory clerk. During that time, we are paid by hour. I am paid only 32 cents an hour during that time.
Every morning, we take a bath, go to the galley and then eat. There’s lots of Navy transportation. During lunch time, they pick us up again and bring us back to the camp. Then after eating, we go back to work again. It seems like every day, you were basically working all day while in Guam. Every night, there is a movie. 365 days. They show us movies from 7 o’clock in the evening, all the way up to 12 midnight.
During payday, they just only put your money in the envelope and then you fall in line. And then they call your name. That was every month. You spent whatever you like. You can send it to the Philippines, if you like to. If you have a family there in the Philippines, your wife will be able to take some money there at the office.
During that time, we are four of us. We just buy a car --- Power-glide Chevy. And it costs us, brand new, $1,800. During that time, we pick up some guys at the camp and then bring them to Town House. And then we charge them 25 cents per trip. And we only pay maybe $20, $30 a month or less for the car. We just only ride the car for fun. We used that car maybe two years. We sell it for about $1,000. Too cheap.
Because I arrive here in Guam before December 1952, I was qualified to apply for permanent residence. In 1963, I take my U.S. citizenship.
Now, I got two grandkids, Felix and, the other one is under my name, Teodolfo James, TJ. I have two children, Mae Fe and Mae Hope, twins. Mae Fe live right here in Tamuning with us. Mae Hope is married, living in the States. My wife is Corazon Muyco from Dingle, Iloilo. She came here in 1972 with our two girls, Monmon and Ditdit.
Every year, I go from Guam, to the States, going back to Iloilo. We are planning again to be back to Iloilo again this coming January.
--- Excerpted from 8/23/08 video interview, Tamuning, Guam,
by Bernie Provido Schumann and Burt Sardoma Jr.
Transcribed Dec. 15, 2008 through Jan. 3, 2009 by Josephine M. Garrido
