The Virtues of Stephen Gaisano Sr.

To reach the age of 90, and remain healthy is no mean feat. How much more when the person we are talking about celebrated his natal day for the first time since birth? Indeed it was a historical affair! It was the most memorable occasion ever done within the confines of the Gaisano Empire. As expected, relatives from all over the country came and partied to pay tribute to Stephen Gaisano Sr. - a selfless, determined, peaceful, compassionate and loving Kongkong to his grandchildren.

And so the family owned A taste of Mandarin Restaurant in Country Mall was filled to capacity with some of the biggest names in the local business circuit - all dressed in red. The date was June 26 - and a cold Sunday night at that, what with the heavy rains in the afternoon. Yet it did not stop well wishers from coming, to be with this humble man who rarely parties around.

For the record, it was not just a birthday bash but a triumph in the celebrator's colorful life. That night, Fr. Teodoro Gapuz -VP for Academic Affairs of the University of San Carlos announced their unanimous choice of Don Stephen Sr. as the university's 2005 recipient of a Doctorate Degree, honores causa. It is the highest honors given to an individual who excelled in leadership and who made an impact in society. It is the highest honors given to an individual who has excelled in his field and made an impact in society.

On November 04, 2005, Don Stephen Gaisano Sr. will be formally conferred the USC Honorary Doctorate in Humanities award. He will be the second individual to be accorded such a title since the school was founded in 1595. The first recipient was bestowed on business tycoon John L. Gokongwei last year. To his family and friends, the announcement was the best birthday gift given to the man they dearly love.

"When you say honorary doctorate it is practically the community that confers. Since the entire Cebuano community acknowledges that Don Stephen Gaisano Sr. is a real leader in the economic and business field, the university merely confirms what is already existing and makes it a formality through an academic honorary degree," Gapuz later explained.

To the people who love him, Don Stephen is a visionary, a pillar of strength whose strictness was always compensated with warmth and love. To his grandchildren, Kongkong is a role model who taught them a lot about life and about how to be a better person. Alexis, one of his granddaughters, described him as somebody whose " heart is soft but firm." For her, she is the luckiest girl in the universe because Kongkong was there to shower her with his words of wisdom, who taught her the values of respect for elders and the importance of family solidarity.

Joseph Gaisano, his nephew, declared that the party was the most historical of all because it was the first time that Don Stephen agreed to celebrate his birthday. As explained by his son Stephen Jr., it was all because his father was a very humble man who does not want to bother them. So, in all these years, Don Stephen would always escape two days before his birthday and would surface two days later. " He is the happiest man of the hour because he has a son like me," Stephen Jr. joked inviting laughter and cheers from the audience. On a serious note, in behalf of his father, Stephen Jr., assured the USC administration by saying, " he won't let you down. He will triple his effort to be of help to the community."

As Don Stephen's other son, Alex pointed out: their father taught them " to be humble and to be generous to people." And even if the man of the hour did not say a word, I recognized a different glow on his face that projected fulfillment, having raised his children well. His children continue to uphold the Gaisano virtues of determination, hospitality and humility unto the generations to come.