Lolo Teban the oldest man in our barrio passed away in the age of more than 100. He’s now really a history - many tales about him he himself told - mixed of noble and awful. Stories like how he survived from Spanish to Japanese up to American rulings and managed to amass vast amount of lands in our place. This made him virtually owner of the whole barrio and nearby places. In fact the house we are living today was his previous family house and almost all of our land properties were bought from him. One great legacy he left is his big family circle. I’m not sure, but I guess he had 3 wives and I’m really not sure about the number of children. One interesting observation in those 3 (or so) families, it was in different generations. You can easily distinguish the difference in his set of children in age and in breed. Well, I don’t want to classify person here but that’s the way I observed.

Since I was a child, I looked Lolo Teban as a human to study how to live fully in this world. He’s my constant teacher about history, present and future. He’s very intelligent, conversational and religious - not to mention his passion and sense in life.

He looked me as a delicate person and always warned in all kinds of adversity in life. He knows me very much from my root – my grand grandfather lives to what I’m now. He has a pretty descent understanding in computers though he based it in films he watched.

He truly believes on me and to my family. Every time we have conversation he is always convincing me to run for public official and to lead our place…. He always reminds me to don’t ever forget my birthplace, the people in our barrio, to share and help them the best that we can.

Endless words of wisdom I can remember from him. Definitely he is one (of many) person shaped my life. Whatever I will achieve in the future, Lolo Teban is one of the reason.

Thank you. I will always remember you with prayers as my teacher, my father, and my friend. Rest in peace Lolo Teban. God Bless you.