My brother Ben was born on June 11, 1948, 4th child and 4th boy.
According to my mom, ipinaglihi siya sa tapa ng kalabaw kaya medyo kayumanggi sya in comparison with the rest of us.
He took up Electrical Engineering at UST. He had good grades and was already in his 3rd year.
His dorm mate introduced him to many things not good. He started missing his classes until he dropped out of UST and moved to MLQU. I think he switched to Architecture. He finished and passed all the academic subjects but chose not to take the board exam.
He loved his wife and kids dearly. I offered several times to send him to the US to start a new life there with my parents and other siblings. But he always refused. His answer was “hindi ko maiiwan si Elsie”. Wala raw mag-aasikaso.
He was very artistic. His idols were his Angono friends who were successful painters, sculptors.
He was only 57 when he passed away. One early morning, his family took him to the hospital because his jaw locked and he complained of back pain. Then at noon, he said he’s okay na daw. His wife, ate Elsie told me all his tests were normal.
The following morning, I was awakened by a frantic call from his only daughter Chingching. Then 5 minutes later, his eldest son Owell called and was crying. His dad was no longer responding.
I never really expected that my brother would die that soon and that young. But somewhere in the Bible says “no one is too young to die”. It’s been several years but I still cry whenever I think of him.
Last week I dreamed of him visiting me. He was wearing a golden brown polo and was standing in the kitchen. In my dream, I was so happy when I saw him because I knew he was dead, but then he was there in front of me. I was calling him “Kuya Ben! Kuya Ben! ”
Once in a while I visit his grave. I also offer masses every year to commemmorate his birthday. Every November 1, I bring him candles and flowers.
There was a panciteria across our house. And once in a while, my brother and I would crave for pandesal with pritong itlog and ketyap. We would look for coins around the house to be able to buy one piece of pandesal and one egg. We would share. But of course since I was still small and ate very slowly, he always ended up with a bigger share. Pandesal then was a lot bigger than they are now.
One time I visited his grave, I brought him some pandesal.
I missed your “Kuya Ben” so much. He is like a big brother who I hanged around during my teen and growing up years in Poblacion. Bentot as I called him was the founder of “Batang Poblacion” in Binangonan, Rizal which started back in the late 70’s provided a yearly fun and enjoyment during the month of May as they called it Maytime Festival and still being celebrated up to present by Barkadahan of Poblacion. He is always on my thoughts and prayers…. May our Dearest Lord tend him as one of his lamb in heaven….
Thank you for the kind words. I am glad Kuya Ben’s friends still remember him and value their friendship even when he’s gone. My brother was a good person. Thank you John, I really do appreciate what you said. Warm regards.
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