Kaban ni D_BystandeR: PAGHANDOM NI DODO PACIFICO

Usa ka banggiitang magbabalak nagkanayon nga ang kinabuhi sa usa ka tawo maoy usa ka dakong tigmo tungod kay bisan gani ang labing mahal nga butang nga ania ning ibabaw sa kalibutan talikdan mo man lang kon moabut na kanimo ang panahon nga ikaw tukoyon na sa mabangis nga kamot sa kamatayon. Si Dodo Pacifico, sa pangidaron nga 62 diin motakdo siya sa tukmang pangidaron nga 63 sa buwan sa Disyembre 2015, nagsubay sa usa ka mabulokong panid sa kasaysayan sukad pa siya ihimugso sa mga ginikanan nga sila si Inday Leoning Mandawe ug Mano Nene Pacifico. Ug ginaingon nga kon unsa gani ang punoan mao usab ang imong mapaabut sa mga bunga niini. Bisan pa sa ilang gidaghanon nga miabut ug  onse ka buok, upat ang babaye ug pito ang lalaki, ang ilang gidaghanon wa makapahimong babag sa pagpalampus kanilang tanan sa nagkalainlaing kurso nga ilang gidamgo.

Ang ilang amahan, si Mano Nene maoy usa ka tawo nga dalaygon tungod sa mga kadaugan nga iyang nakab-ot sa panahon nga dinhi pa siya uban kanato niining walog sa mga buhi. Ug ang anak niya nga si Dodo way kalainan sa iyang amahan tungod kay daghan usab siyang naangkon nga kalampusan sa iyang mga pakigbisog aron pagpalutaw sa usa ka dalaygon ug dungganan nga kaliwat nga gibarogan sa iyang mga ginikanan. In the early 1970's, Dodo already became one of the youngest and energetic Branch Manager of William Lines in Iloilo City And in the year 2000, my wife and I witnessed the Silver Wedding Anniversary of Dodo and Alma held in the Cebu Archbishop Palace where a reception followed at the Casino Espanol. The program proper was emceed by  Boy Pacifico, the eldest among male siblings, where about a hundred guests were in attendance.

And lately about two months ago in June, Dodo and his beloved wife Alma celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and their family picture with all their relatives who joined them in  that memorable occasion was posted in Facebook. I was happy to see the picture in FB although I was not there because by that time I was still in the US. But when our scheduled vacation to the Philippines was approaching - July 27 - a sad news noticed earlier by my wife in FB told of Dodo's untimely passing away on July 25 due to cardiac arrest. Before that I was  expecting a happy reunion with Dodo and his family in Bogo City because the last time we saw each other was in 2005 when we made a road test going "going North" after we bought a brand new car "Adventure." And from Cebu City we went straight to the house of Dodo and Alma in Alpine Subdivision before vising my cousin Inday Ester in Tupaz Street, the mother of Emma, Elwood and Al Kipte. Inday Ester was the younger sister of Dodo's mother, Inday Leoning. I didn't think that 10 years after when I came to visit him again Dodo will already be inside his coffin. But even though Dodo is gone but I still consider him as alive and together with us, smiling in his place in heaven and acknowledging our presence that although he can no longer talk to us but all the good things that he has done in life will forever live and will never be forgotten.

 It will not be easy for me to say goodbye to Dodo, my good nephew, but with a heavy heart I have to say this and we must all admit that in this world nobody lives forever. But what remains as years go by is the memory of a good man, Dodo, who like his father, I consider as my very close relative and a best friend. - By Ondo Lobedica, 08/02/15. This eulogy was read for me by Boy Pacifico inside the church after the Requiem Mass in honor of the dead.D