THE talisay tree (terminalia catappa) has become quite a silent national symbol for academic achievement in the Philippines. It is said that declared national hero Jose Rizal taught his students—while in exile in now-Barangay Talisay, Dapitan— . . . under a talisay tree. University of the Philippines (UP) campuses have a lot of these trees standing alongside the more renowned acacias. De Veyra did this drawing inside a lecture room at the UP at Tacloban’s campus while waiting for/on his students during a summer art workshop.