I vividly remember her as a passionate orator who fiercely breathed life to now National Artist for Literature Amado V. Hernandez's Marxist's poem "Kung Tuyo na ang Luha mo, aking Bayan" during student rallies in front of the Commerce Building where the whole body of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Arts and Letters was, and still, is housed.
Ma. Elizabeth Marcelo would recite the Hernandez' literary masterpiece with gusto after fiery speeches of student leaders from Artlets like former senator and now President of the Manila Hotel Joey Lina, now professor Archimedes "Archie" Marquez, former dean of the Ateneo de Manila University College of Law Cynthia Roxas-del Castillo, among others.
After college majoring in Journalism, Maria Elizabeth, better known as Beth Marcelo, became a broadcast news reporter of the People's Television (PTV) Channel 4.
Beth has had other media work as well.
After fifty years, what has become of Marcelo?
I found out she is in Olongapo City and has been writing a lot when I recently attended their Artlets Golden Jubilee celebration at the Manila Hotel.
My batch, Artlets '75, was invited to receive the passing of the baton from their class.
Nothing much has changed in Beth.
I teased her to render again at this time the Hernandez's opus. "Naku, baka magrebolusyon (Oh! There might be a revolution)," she chuckled and then burst into guffaw.
Artlets '74 grand reunion was indeed a hit with Beth's batchmates in an enthusiastic and groovy mood.
Marcelo's fellow Journalism majors in the affair were entertainment writer Nestor G. Cuartero who was one of the active organizers of the event;
Joel Macanaya, a member of the boy band Rainmakers, very famous for their signature songs like "Binibini," "You and Me," among others was a prime mover as well of the party;
Myrna Castro-de la Torre, former ABS-CBN executive producer Myrna ("TV Patrol," "Hoy! Gising," "Knowledge Power," etc.) who radiantly paraded her Renee Salud creation when she was called to represent her class and
Sonny Ordona, former publicist of the San Pedro City, Laguna Local Government Unit (LGU) was nostalgic in remembering his Artlets days.
According to Marcelo, it was a very memorable night.
"Let the celebration begin... Golden Jubilee celebration of Batch '74, UST Faculty of Arts & Letters, trying to recall faces and names was a challenge but it felt so good reconnecting...tonight is our big night--out gala night at the Manila hotel. praise & tnx be to God for making all this possible," Beth wrote in her Facebook wall.
The 70s, when Marcelo, Cuartero, Macanaya, Castro-de la Torre, Ordona, etc. were in college, was the height of student activism which challenged the corrupt regime of the Marcos, Sr.'s dictatorship
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