On behalf of mommy, my brother and my sisters, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude for the overwhelming support that we have received from the time of daddy's hospitalization until his unexpected passing. Your visits, calls, sympathy, and offerings of love, flowers, prayers and masses, have gone a long way to comfort and console us these past difficult days.
Sa kanyang mga kaibigan, katrabaho, kababata at kaklase; sa aming mga kamag-anak, lahat kayo ay bahagi ng buhay ng daddy. Your presence today gives testament to how you have contributed to his having lived a full life. We may mourn Daddy's passing but let us also celebrate his life.
Daddy was always saying his children are conservative. But that is how he raised us. Talking among ourselves, we all agree that we had a strict upbringing, but we easily qualify na nasa lugar naman. As adults with our own families, we now understand how difficult it was to bring up eight kids on a single income. Yet, looking back at those times, we can even fondly and laughingly recall with no bitterness the times when we were scolded for some infraction or another.
Sabi ng mga kapatid ko, masuwerte kaming mga nakababata. Over the years daddy mellowed down a bit. Maybe its because, with time, there was more to go around. Or maybe because as we grew older, there was less to worry about our upbringing.
But even though Daddy was stern, we can never question his love. Daddy was always there for us at the slightest hint of need. In times of our troubles he would cry with pity while Mom would silently comfort him. During a death in the family he would weep with such grief it was painful for us to hear. But as he knew how to cry, at times, he was also funny and lighthearted. He would pull out his dentures or turn his eyelids inside out to scare the grandchildren who completely enamored their Lolo. The apos are truly the luckiest. With the apos, Dad was more generous, more loving, more playful.
Marami ang nabigla sa pagpanaw ng Daddy. Dad has always been fit. In fact, this has been his first and only confinement in hospital. He was a tennis buff all his life, even though the games have lessened with the years. Before the renovation of our house, he would climb up the roof to clear the gutters or fix a leak. These past few years, he would go to market on weekends and carry home 4 kilos or more of whatever fruits are in season, dried fish, boiled peanuts and corn, and bread that he would then distribute among us.
Daddy could be strong-willed, sometimes to a fault, like when he would not heed food restrictions for his diabetes and arthritis. Yet this very character trait served him well as he brought us up with a firm hand while managing to slowly work his way up at the then Philippine Trust Company. Yet he did not simply work for a living. Daddy valued and loved his work and in return, maaari sabihin, his work loved him back. Before his sickness, Daddy was still logging regular though shortened office hours as compliance officer at Philtrust Bank. For that we are forever grateful to Dr. Emilio Yap, who generously invited Dad to work again after his retirement. Philtrust Bank was Daddy's second family and we specially acknowledge its Chairman, all the directors, officers, and staff for all they have done for daddy.
We are proud of Daddy. We are so blessed to have him as our father. It's touching to hear so many people, some complete strangers to us, speak highly of him. He has been described to us as decent, straight, sincere, kind-hearted, dedicated, trustworthy, genuine, devoted, and, my personal favorite, a gentleman of the old school. At work, as at home, he was much loved and respected. All of us will miss him dearly.
You are a good man, daddy. We love you and will miss you so very much. You have taken care of us your entire life. Rest now. We hope that all our accomplishments made you proud. We're sorry for any disappointments and worries we've caused, our shortcomings, our thoughtlessness. Hindi namin kayang pantayan ang iyong pagmamahal o tumbasan ang lahat ng ginawa mo para sa amin but these will serve as our guide in raising our own family. In your memory and in your honor, we promise to do our best by our children. We also give you our solemn pledge – Iingatan at aalagaan namin ang mommy. Paalam, daddy.
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