The Man and his Faith

My lolo, my guardian in Cebu, was a man of faith but he was not religious by any means. He could've told you specific verses of the bible but you couldn't make him kneel in church or go to confession. He believed in God but would only kneel to Him and asked for His forgiveness. No middleman required. He was a man way ahead of his time. He was a modern man of honor, truth and the ultimate sarcasm. He refused to let politics corrupt him.

When he got very old and very sick, people around him tried to get him to say his final confession. I rallied for him since he didn't have the strength anymore. Although their intentions were good, taking advantage of a frail man to do what he does not believe in was for me unacceptable. Though he could no longer speak for himself, the look in his eyes spoke volumes.

When he finally died in 2004 at age 89, hundreds of people came to his wake and funeral. He passed away on April Fool's Day and was buried that Easter Sunday. How fitting for a man of faith and of humor.

Hours later, his grandchildren invited 200 of his family and friends. We threw a party for him. Lots of his favorite music, food and drinks. We made a slide show celebrating the terrific life this man lived. The life that his grandchildren share and very few others understand. One by one his grandchildren and his great-grandchild testified how he has enriched our lives with his own. The life of a man who in the 1930's wrote in his journal, "If you must have religion, don't leave it behind, inside the churches and at the altars of your homes; take it with you wherever you go. Don't just utter or mumble your prayers; live by them. Don't be religious for other people; be religious for yourself. Others may mistake you as irreligious but that does not make you one. Religious appearances are most often fanciful than factual. If you believe in God, don't try to understand Him; pray that He understands you."

Happy Birthday Beloved. You are forever missed.