(Given during my grandfather's/lolo's necrological service)
On behalf of Lolo Gene'’s family –- the people who listened to his stories, the people who watched with him the old movies he liked, the people he enjoyed Lola Fe'’s Christmas caldereta with– - I would like to sincerely thank everyone for joining us today as we send Lolo off to yet another journey ahead.
We have come not with grief and sorrow for the death of a brilliant lawyer. We have come with thanksgiving and praise to God for the life of a father, a grandfather and a friend.
When we’'re asked to say a few words of remembrance about Lolo, a few words don’'t seem enough to encapsulate who he is to us. And so I'’ll try to point out three things I will never forget about him.
1. Lolo Gene knew what he was good at (and used these to make people happy).
We all know Lolo Gene was a great lawyer. And, as we have probably observed, he knew this himself.
Lolo knew he was a great lawyer. He knew he had a great mind. And the thing that amazes me about Lolo is that he also he knew he had to use this to help people who needed him. He used what he was good at to make others happy.
Lolo knew he was an effective educator, and he knew he had to share his knowledge to students who were striving to become a good a lawyer as he was.
In the same way, Lolo knew he made excellent kinilaw. And we hope he knew just how happy we were and how happy our stomachs were every time he brought his specialty on to the dinner table.
Lolo knew what he was good at and he chose to use these to make other people happy.
2. Lolo Gene also knew what he wanted.
It is impressive how Lolo’'s life is the epitome of keeping it simple.
He could have lived in a large house and could have had a fancy car if he wanted to.
Lolo could have taken trips to different countries if he wanted to.
Lolo could have dined in fancy restaurants if he wanted to.
IF he wanted to. And he mustn'’t have because he didn’'t do any of these. He refused to do any of these.
Maybe he just wanted to live in the house he raised his family in. Maybe he just wanted to sit in front of the television and watch old James Bond movies. Maybe he just wanted to spend his time reading Dan Brown books. Maybe he just wanted to dance with Lola on Christmas eve to the beat of Dancing Queen.
Maybe he just wanted the simple life and maybe he was more than content living it.
Lolo Gene knew exactly what he wanted and that'’s exactly what he strived to achieve.
3. Lastly, Lolo Gene showed us that he had this BIG talent and, whether he was aware of it or not, he gave us the opportunity to discover that he had an even bigger heart.
When we were still little children, my siblings, cousins and I would always see Lolo as a lawyer, a no-nonsense grandfather, a strict disciplinarian, a meticulous man of manners and etiquette. As we grew up, however, we have heard less of his strict voice and have come to realize that whenever we visit Gemsville we are greeted with a toothless grin and a hearty laugh.
When we would bring our little dog, Tamsy, to Gemsville, we always had to keep an eye on her. Why? My sister doesn’'t want Tamsy to eat table food. Just dog food. We had to keep an eye on her because whenever she gets hungry, what she does is she goes near Lolo'’s chair and would just give Lolo this ‘luoy’ face. Sometimes she’d reach out to Lolo’s lap and beg him for food. And of course, Lolo would always give in and secretly hand her some pork. My sister would have to remind him again that Tamsy’'s not supposed to have any table food and Lolo would make up some excuse for it. And we see this as an instance when Lolo just can’t resist helping others.
We believe it is important for people to know that a lot may know Lolo by his big title and his big career. But we, his family, thank the Lord for having been given the opportunity to have known him enough to go past his big, tough exterior and to have witnessed his even bigger heart.
Lolo'’s life has made us realize that it’s never about success. It’s about significance. People may say that Lolo’'s life was a successful one. That may be true. But more than that, his life was a significant one. His was a life that made a lasting impact on ours; otherwise, we would not be here right now. Success does not necessarily mean significance. But significance means that one has been successful in leaving a mark in the lives of others.
Lolo’'s significance is not a result of getting high grades, marrying a beautiful wife, earning a strong name for himself, having professionals for chieldren. Lolo Gene’s significance was a result of a firm conviction, a sound mind, and a helping hand always extended to those who need it.
And because the of this, when we - his family - remember him, we don’'t remember the fierce Atty. Higinio C. Hermosisima. We remember and we embrace him as Lolo Gene, the man who cannot get enough ABBA music and the man who chose significance over success.
