An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

98 History of the International Rice Research Institutewere present. The professional talent included Vijji Lakshima De Datta, whohad been a classical Indian dancer and film star, and the earlier mentionedNancy Breth, pianist. Mercy Drilon presented her well-trained young dancers,from College and Institute families, who performed a versatile repertoire ofballet, hula, and Tahitian dances. Younger generation talent also included theOus’ son, Shukong, at the piano.Art shows, arranged for the most part by Lina Vergara and featuringalready famous or up-and-coming artists of the Philippines, were held in thelounge of the cafeteria-dormitory building. Films were shown weekly at theauditorium, with tickets issued to College as well as IRRI personnel — andwith both groups booing cheerfully when projection or sound proved imperfect.Lest the impression be given that entertaining and being entertained werethe main interests of the wives of IRRI staff members, it must be emphasizedthat in addition to their family responsibilities, many were involved in localcharitable or educational causes. Some pursued postgraduate studies at theUniversity of the Philippines. Others taught — Margo McClung, for example,5 days a week at the International School in Manila, Avelina Salacup andJustina Vega at the College of Agriculture, and Lydia Santos at the UniversityRural High School. Jinny Barker coached a group of swimmers at the Collegeand after obtaining (despite her seeming lack of brawn) her brown belt in judo(in Japan) gave on-campus lessons in that manly art. Mercy Drilon raisedpedigreed dogs and orchids and, a dancer herself, gave inspiring instruction(as noted) to others. Almost always there were self-improvement activities,organized by the wives themselves, such as studying Tagalog or anotherlanguage, giving and receiving cooking instruction in the various nationalcuisines, taking lessons in painting and flower arranging, and improving one’sswimming and tennis. Although the availability of maids freed the wives fromroutine housework, they did their individual and collective best to use theirtime constructively and thereby forestall the classic ennui of compounddwellers.PROGRESS TOWARD THE COMMON GOALIRRI scientists, as pointed out in the next chapter, were not required to submitproject outlines before starting a new study, and reports of research findingshad to be submitted only once a year. To many research administrators, thiswould seem to be a rather loose way of running a scientific program. Thepurpose of such policies at IRRI, however, was to relieve the scientist of asmuch routine work as possible so that he would devote more of his energy todeveloping new information and less of it to time-consuming paper work.Again, IRRI was small enough during the first decade so that maintaining closecommunication between the administrators and the scientists was relativelyeasy.When asked how IRRI administration kept the research program on targetyet allowed the staff enough freedom so that they would not feel that theirpowers of initiative and creativity were being stifled, I have no better answer