As the famous quote says, “If knowledge is power, curiosity is the muscle!”
This millennial first got curious about the name of her father’s alma mater in Olongapo in 2021. After three years, she found the person, but it was not just the case, as she also discovered more about her roots in the province.
“Ang pinaka important na part sa akin in finding Nellie is mas nakilala ko ‘yung pamilya ko, nabigyan ako ng opportunity na makita ‘yung mga relationships na ‘yun na dati hindi ko makita at hindi ko naman masyadong maintindihan, na mahanap namin ‘yung mga pictures, ma-record namin ‘yung mga stories ng tatay ko at tsaka ng mga kapatid niya nung bata pa sila,” Archaeologist Ellie de Castro told The Philippine STAR.
Looking back, Ellie said that it was on her father’s 69th birthday when it all began after a former classmate sent several cakes on his special day.
“Sinabi niya na ‘yung friend niya ang nagbigay so tinanong ko kung saan sila nagkakilala. Ang sagot niya ay nagkakilala sila noong Elementary so tinanong ko kung saan siya nag-Elementary. Ang pangalan ng kanyang school ay Nellie E. Brown Elementary School. ‘Yun ay isang school sa Olongapo. So ang sunod na tinanong ko is sino si Nellie E. Brown. Hindi alam ng tatay ko kung sino si Nellie E. Brown,” she shared.
After their conversation, Ellie and her father, Leonardo, got even more curious about the identity of Nellie E. Brown. That’s when she started asking other family members and Leonardo’s batchmates.
“Narealize nilang lahat, hindi pala nila alam kung sino si Nellie E. Brown. Pero mahal na mahal nila ‘yung school. Kasi nung bata siya, two streets away lang sa bahay nila ‘yung Nellie E. Brown so tinanggap na lang nilang magkakapatid na ‘Ah, okay, may Nellie E. Brown Elementary School.’ Dito kami nag-aral. ‘Yung lola ko nagturo sa Nellie E. Brown. So parang napakanatural na mayroong ganoon sa neighborhood nila na hindi na nila kinwestiyon,” she said.
Since Ellie is an archaeologist by profession, she wanted some answers. She then tried searching for the name online, but she couldn’t find anything.
Noting, “Nagpatulong ako sa dalawang kaibigan ko sa US na teacher din sila. Sinabi ko na parang mayroon akong maliit na mystery. So sabay-sabay naming sinubok na maghanap kung sino si Nellie E. Brown [kaso] hindi namin makonekta ‘yung Nellie E. Brown sa internet sa Olongapo City na Nellie E. Brown Elementary School.”
Her father also tried to ask for a copy of the biography of Nellie E. Brown from the school principal. After receiving it, Ellie said that there are some discrepancies in the document.
“That time na nakasulat na si Nellie E. Brown ay isang peace cor volunteer na tumulong sa pagtatag nung eskwelahan nung 1950s. Akala namin ‘Ay, okay, tapos na tayo’ and then a few weeks later, nung tntry namin ifact check and iconsolidate ‘yung information narealize namin na hindi siya pwedeng naging peace cor volunteer kasi wala pang peace cor nung time na sinimulan ‘yung school,” she explained.
She then personally visited the school in July 2022. Ellie also asked for the assistance of the local government and teachers in the school to help them gather some information.
Ellie even received a grant from the National Geographic to fund her research. From being a two-man team, she gathered a total of 20 people to help her find answers.
On April 11, 2024, Ellie and her team were mission accomplished! They found who Nellie E. Brown is!
“Sa dulo ng lahat ng ito, si Nellie E. Brown ay isang teacher mula sa Bangor, Maine na nagtuturo ng kindergarten at noong 1953, ang commander ng Olongapo Naval Reservation, ang commander ng base ay si Captain Nickerson at si Captain Nickerson, ang teacher niya ay si Nellie E. Brown noong kindergarten siya,” she said.
“So noong may power siya sa Olongapo na magpatayo ng school at magpangalan ng school, napagdesisyunan niya na ipangalan niya ang kanyang eskwelahan sa kanyang teacher na si Nellie E. Brown,” she added.
Looking back on their journey, Ellie was thankful that she got curious because it paved the way for her to learn more about her family in the province.
“Makilala ko ‘yung mga kamag-anak ko at mga kaibigan ng tatay ko na hindi ko naman kilala before. Lahat ‘yun para sa akin ay pinaka-memorable na portion of the whole journey. ‘Yung moments na ‘yun actually ‘yung pinaka meaningful for me in finding Nellie, bonus lang na nahanap namin siya,” she added.
