Exactly a week ago, my beloved father passed away quietly, ending a long bout with COPD, exacerbations of which became more frequent lately. I'm sure he's resting there in heaven, watching over us on earth. Requiescat in pace...Many relatives and friends gave their gestures of love and support, including from my godfather, Ninong Amor, all the way from California. He sent me and the family many letters of condolences. I published part of his letter to me in Capampangan, our mother tongue...
'...Ketang belita meng meangu bie at angga na ketang aldu ning pangakutkut na, alos e mamaku keng kanakung kaisipan itang larauan na, babalik itang milabas a madalas keng misasabi ketang Judge's chamber na, at kareng lakad mi keng Rotary Club. Unabis, keng pamiabe mi, ala kung atatandanan a mikontra kami. Istung ating pisasabian keng kapulungan a tatagunan mi, parati keng mikakampi anya malagad mung tutu ing ating sasalangsang. Balu re amanu ing Compare ku. Mayap at tapat yang kaluguran y Daddy mu. Dakal ya likuan a kayapan.
Nung sanang mikapamikatagun ku, adinan ke sanang makuyad a eulogy ketang burul na; a sabi ku sana...
"Makanyan lalabas keti babo yatu,
anti mung paninap ing bye na ning tau;
ayup yang linimpad, besibas yang atu,
sala yang kinislap, mipaid yang banglu,
ban lalam ning aun kasakmal nyang abu!
"At ika Judge Fullen Z. Anicete, e raka kalupa
deta ning keraklan taung mauala bie,
ayalang melakwan nanu man ping bague;
king ika daka'la't myaliwang adle
ding keke likwan mu king ba'kang e mate.
"Lalam nang marimla ning kekang kutkutan
painawa nakang mitmung karatunan,
ya nang sunlag keka ing tune katutwan
at king paglakbe mu aliwang balayan
manatili keka tutuk mung kanwanan!"
...Nung nanu ing panandam yu king panga-angu na bie ning Compare ku, aliwa mu ykayu ing menandaman. Dakal la, at kayabe ku kareta. Sana ing panaun supan nakung masalese, at king pamanantabe ning Mayupa, itang meging kaburian na, mipamintu keti sulip anti banua, kalupa na naman ing pamagbalik na kaya ning kayang lelangan y Fulgencio Zabala Anicete. Midinan ya sanang lubus a katajimikan...'
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