Apung Tino will be missed...

"namahinga na apo Tino, kanina 8:08 (am). Ibuburol sa sta. rita chapel." reads a text message from my dad who currently resides in Pampanga.

i don't know how i'd exactly feel but knowing that apung tino's hardship was put to an end, i guess i can say i'm happy. the respected old man died of old age and not of any sickness. he celebrated his 89th birthday this year.

one thing i am proud of my father's side of the family, most (if not all) grand children has undergone living under the care of the grandparents. from the first grandchild, who incidentally is my sister, up to the youngest grandchild to the grandparents child living near them--- we all had the "taste" of their care. perhaps it also explains why we are closely-knit cousins. apung tino is a man of principles who wish to live life at the simplest. the not-so-blur memory of my early teens introduced me to a head of the family that knows nothing but to do good to everyone in his own silent way. his day to day routine included waking up early, taking his breakfast while tuning in to the AM radio for the days news & commentaries, visiting his children's place and do gardening, come back home for lunch, siesta, come back to gardening in the afternoon, meet with some social groups within the barangay, come back home for dinner and end the day while tuned in to his favorite AM radio station. he's well-known in our town and well-respected as well, for he served as school superintendent in the only (well-famous) public school of our barrio, and later on served the province as school district supervisor. he's active in doing voluntary works for the (catholic) church and almost became the official care taker of the chapel in our barrio. he's one of the tireless members of the musikos in town, giving his old saxophone an added value to the family's treasures. apung tino's values is something to be admired. he never compromises it for anything. he stands by his principles. maybe its only now that i fully can understand how he lived as my sister pointed out in her friendster testimonial for me (when i still have my friendster account) that my principles in life are like that of apong tino. i am proud of that!

my unforgettable memory of apung tino was during my primary years of living with them. i transferred school at the time i am graduating from grade school. it was difficult for a graduating student to transfer school (honestly up to now i don't know why) so apung tino had to accompany me to the school i will be enroling in. tirelessly, he talked to the school administrators & principals carrying my "credentials" and asking me to be accepted in their school as a graduating student (as i was really on my last grade school year). i sensed my lolo's patience and never did he leave me in a hanging status. even after i was admitted, he made a few days visitation in school to check how i was doing. my parents were then working in Manila and i was left under the care of my grandparents in Pampanga. through apung tino, i learned to appreciate living a simple but peaceful life. i learned to value other people that even if the situation permits you to take advantage of anything, it still is more preferable to be fair--- that everyone has the right to live like the other in spite of social status. i learned that any dispute can be settled in the most peaceful & civil way. apung tino is a silent man but within, he is full of everything good. everyone has their own weaknesses but in the short span of time that i've lived with apung tino, only his goodness and positive traits were the ones i came to see and never was a time i remembered i ever saw what his weaknesses were.

the old man will be missed...