Nilo is a dear family friend. He is a close friend of Benjie; they call each other “Pakner.” We first met when he and his wife Lita treated us to a dinner, a welcome of sort for me to their company.
My profound memory of him was how his alertness saved us from sure death. It happened when we were driving back from our trip to Dubai to Riyadh. Our car broke down we have to ride on his car. Benjie opted to stay in the car with the tower. There was a long queue on the highway it will prolong our trip thus; he tried to overtake them when suddenly a speeding truck came head on to us. It was very fast had he did not turn on the desert side, we were all dead, he, my children and I. The road was narrow and has no barrier. If he turns right we will be dragged by big trucks. His last recourse was to bring the car on the desert. And big luck, he managed to stop as it landed close to an edge of a ditch. It was too fast all I said to my children was to cover their heads. I never tell the incident to anybody I was just thankful we are still alive. Even Nilo and I did not talk about it. I last saw Nilo during the Christmas party at their office at the Department Foreign Affairs on December 2010. Tall and handsome during his healthy days, Nilo has lost a lot of weight and looked older than his age. He has been in medication for heart and breathing problem. But despite his state of health, he remains a jolly person. He knows my children, even some personal, he even told me to remind my daughter Barbarella to break up with her boyfriend whom he finds not suitable for her. “Sabihin mo nga ke Barbie na palitan na ung boyfriend niya, ke ganda niya at talino eh ang pangit ng boyfriend niya, di sila bagay!” was his message. He was happy though when I told him that Barbie had already broke up with the guy he was referring to. I believe he died a contented man. He was happy to have a granddaughter whom he said has grown big too fast. He was also proud of his son who is now working at the DFA and with his eldest daughter who is gainfully employed. His children are my children’s big sister and big brother when we were in Riyadh. Nilo, while your hope to get better and be posted again will no longer be realized, I pray that may you now rest in peace and enjoy the glory of His company.
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AuthorA mother, an aunt, a sister and a friend, they embody Archives
February 2014
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