A eulogy for Kuya Paskie

“Kuya Paskie, ang imong mga buluhaton ug responsilidad sa imong pamilya, sa Philippines Network of Rural Development Institutes (PhilNet) ug sa Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) naputol sa imong hinanaling kamatayon apan ang atong relasyon ug ang imong mga maayong binuhatan magpadayon. ‘Your earthly life ended not our relationship’ (Mitch Albom , Tuesdays with Morrie).” 

Brothers and Sisters, are you familiar with the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey? To begin with the end in mind is the second habit that struck me that keep ringing in my mind.  In fact, I have written my personal reflection about my own death 3 years ago.  Recently, I have posted it in my website in honor of the meaningful and fruitful memories I have with Kuya Paskie.

On occasions like this, the Celebration of Life through the death of our dear, worthy and respected brother and friend, let us be reminded that “God does not tell us when we are going to die because He wants it to be a big surprise”.   Indeed, Kuya Paskie’s untimely death is a big surprise and a great loss for us in the Brotherhood (BCBP).  We in the BCBP Community share the sorrow that the family experience.  In behalf of the BCBP Consolacion Chapter and in my capacity as the Mission Director, I am tasked to deliver this eulogy expressing our common feeling of an intimate personal relationship with him.  This is also an acknowledgement of a valuable legacy he left behind.  Certainly, this relationship and legacy keep him alive in our hearts and minds.

Allow me to reveal a brief inside story with the hope that this revelation will lead us to know God more and see Christ being alive in each one of us.  Ate Pureza and my wife, Judy were high school classmates (Class ‘74 in St. Joseph’s Academy, Mandaue City). It was easier to convince Ate Pureza to join the Community but not with Kuya Paskie.  He had reservations and doubts regarding the sincerity of the renewal with his negative impressions from his hometown in Tacloban City.  I learned and understood how engrossed he was with his official duty as the regional coordinator of PhilNet.  He was too busy with his official and work-related trips that he had lesser time with his family and no way to spare with the BCBP.  You know?  God works in mysterious ways!  Through our fervent prayers and his exposure to the BCBP way of life, he attended the Christian life program (CLP) for the second time and finally committed after he declined and stopped with his first attendance.  In our intimate and personal interactions through our action group or prayer meetings, he used to express that his marital status lacked moral ascendancy.  He was an ex-Redemptorist missionary priest.  We prayed for his dispensation from Rome. 

           

With God’s Grace and upon special consideration or dispensation, Ate Pureza and Kuya Paskie singled out Judy and me as the second couple to serve as their wedding sponsors among the 2 couples they had fondly chosen.  Filled with thanksgiving and excitement, our BCBP unit and action group where they belong decided not to join the 27^th BCBP National Anniversary in Cagayan de Oro City because it coincided with their scheduled Church wedding.  We supported and celebrated with them the Solemnity of their Marriage Vows at the Holy Family Retreat House, Nivel Hills, Cebu City last April 28, 2007.  I remember the envious opening comment of the Solemnizing Redemptorist priest, “Paskie, how do you feel being there to be married? …. You have almost completed all the Sacraments of the Catholic Church!!.”

After that, they qualified to participate in the marriage retreat by November of the same year. Basically, he regained his moral ascendancy.  In one of the Novena Masses during his wake, Fr. Emy Maningo, a Redemptorist priest claimed that “Kuya Paskie has a vocation within a bigger vocation”.  

We in the BCBP Consolacion Chapter can testify his all-out commitment to support the vision and mission of the BCBP through his unconditional services being the Breakfast Head.  The regular Saturday breakfast fellowship is our venue to introduce and acquaint new comers and prospective members of the Community.  Being able and capable to respond to multi-tasking, he also acted as our deeply-spirited Intercessory Head.  Kuya Benson Tompong finally accepted the task of being the Chapter Head with the personal commitment and assurance of Kuya Paskie’s moral, physical and spiritual support.

Along with his zeal to serve, Kuya Paskie was our model who taught us the virtues of humility and simplicity being down-to-earth.  He was very diligent, prompt and orderly in managing or administering his duties and responsibilities being a reliable and dependable brother in the service of the Lord.

Personally, our partnership, brotherhood and friendship went beyond BCBP.  We shared the same passion.  He and I love farming.  Through him, I met and increased my circle of friends with whom I share the common advocacy on the virtue of honesty and the spread of our desire for natural, organic farming.  In a seminar/workshop with PhilNet way back in 2008, he introduced me to Tatay Lolong Alfar and Sir Bob Bajenting (who are retired employees with the Department of Agrarian Reform Reg. 7, the latter being the President of the Cebu Coalition for Food Security); Mr. Claro Deguit of PhilNet; Rev. Fr. Domingo Saladaga, AOR (Parish Priest of La Consolacion Parish, Laray, Cebu City); Sir Bimbo Fernandez of Panagtimbayayong (an NGO for the urban poor in Cebu City) Dr. Margallon, MD who spearheads natural, organic farming activities in Alegria, Cebu and many more.

 “Kuya Paskie, thank you very much for connecting me to these valuable people who are my allies to care for the earth, care for the people and care for the future. You have gone ahead of us and we will definitely follow but as to when and how, only God knows.   Your family, relatives and friends; brothers and sisters in the Community and all co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord keep you alive in our hearts and minds.  We ask you to prepare a place for us being our intercessor at the highest heavenly level in the bosom of our Almighty Father.  In faith, we believe to see you again and be reunited with you in Heaven.  Amen.” nmg