Dear departed

As we remember our dear departed, let us not also forget the living.

While there would not be as many people in the cemeteries today as it is not anymore a holiday, let us remember to respect the others who are there and avoid doing things that would enrage others.

When I was much younger, this used to be a time when our family, especially us kids from my generation, would spend many hours on our father’s grave in the town of Minglanilla.

So much has changed through the years and even our small mausoleum has become a different structure ready to accommodate us when our time comes.

* * *

My father, Nonilon Frasco Quiñones, passed away when I was only 7 years old, but despite the brief time he spent with us, I got much interested in sports because of him.

Due to the limited choices for leisure, families from the former Atlas Mines compound called Sangi Beach Duplex would head to the recreation center almost every night especially during school break.

There, our parents played tennis, basketball or bowling while we kids would hang out on the sides of the courts to watch or to frolic.

Little did we know that such nightly activities would make sports activities so much part of our lives.

That is why when you meet somebody who once lived in one of the many housing compounds of the Atlas Mines it would not be surprising if he or she also enjoys sports.

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My grandfather, Cipriano Rosal Quiñones, Sr. looked after me when I lost my father. He was not just my lolo, but also another major sporting influence.

He was a table tennis player, but also an avid biker. In fact, I once received email from a man, who said he knew my grandfather when they were much younger in the northern towns of Medellin and Bogo.

He said that aside from knowing about my lolo’s war exploits, which he said I should write about, he best remembers him for being an avid cyclist.

I never heard again from the man, whose email address is [email protected].

No wonder, my lolo often gave me money to buy bicycle parts when my bike needed repair often telling me not to tell my lola or she would get mad.

She did when one early evening I got home with five stitches under my right eye after my bike crashed.

When I was competing in the national judo tournaments, it was my lolo who gave me money to travel to Manila.

All these now are just memories of dear departed and I will forever cherish them.

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to two very good friends and ‘big brothers’ who turned a year older last Monday – Leonardo ‘Jojo’ Roa, Jr. and Joselito ‘Jiji’ Gullas. The same goes to my mistah Sherwin Gabrinez, Sandino Cinco, and coach Robert Nicart.

Belated greetings also to those who turned a year older yesterday like Marianne Yu-Tanco, Camilo ‘Dodong’ Grafe, Julie Itaas, Haidee Ingking, Joseph Marlon Auza, and Reve Liza Abelarde.

Today’s greetings go to Atty. Dexter Harold Emeperador.

More power to all of you!