Why I adore my Lolo Pepe

My hero is none other than my Lolo Pepe or Jose S. Laurel III to the rest of the world who knew him as our country’s ambassador to Japan from 1966 to 1971. He was among nine children (six boys and three girls) of my great grandfather, Jose P. Laurel, who was the President of the Philippines during the Japanese Time.

One of Lolo Pepe’s brothers is Lolo Doy who looked up to Lolo Pepe as a father not only because their age gap was big but also because their father was too busy minding the country during that turbulent time in our history. My father, Francis, was among his children.

Lolo Pepe was the quiet Laurel; he was not so much into politics although he was always consulted in the clan’s decision-making, be it about politics or other matters. Rightly so. In my eyes, Lolo Pepe’s achievements are hard to equal, much more surpass. He studied at the Imperial Military Academy (equivalent to the West Point in the US) where Emperor Hirohito and his brother were his classmates.

He became so close to Japan’s Royal Family that when the Emperor died in the early ’90s, Lolo Pepe was the only commoner and non-head-of-state invited to the funeral.

Lolo Pepe was a lawyer, too, active in the Laurel Law Office up to his later years, and a member of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Society, the only society recognized by the Japanese Government.

More than his credentials, I simply adore Lolo Pepe because of his qualities as a person. I’ve idolized him since I was a kid. I’m the second among his 23 grandchildren. He was fond of me. I would sleep in his house where he and Lola Betty (Beatriz Castillo) really pampered me. I was very close to him. He was the only person who truly, unselfishly and sincerely gave me unconditional love.

I admire Lolo Pepe for being an ideal family man. He was a faithful husband, an ideal father, very loving, very giving. He disciplined his children and his grandchildren in his own quiet way. I never saw him get mad at any of us.

When I was born (on Dec. 28, l972), Lolo Pepe was no longer ambassador to Japan. But still, he would tell me stories about Japan, instilling in me Japanese culture in so profound a manner that, when I grew up, I decided to study in Tokyo.

I won’t elaborate but suffice it to say that some family problems cropped up that created a gap between me and the other Laurels, though my Lolo Pepe was not included. As a gesture of respect, Ayen and I invited the Laurels to our wedding but only Lolo Pepe showed up. I understood and I hold no grudge against them. When Lolo Pepe got sick, I wasn’t given a chance to visit him. When I finally did, it was too late. His remains were already cremated when I reached the hospital. All I could do was cry and whisper, "I’ll see you again, Lolo. I love you, I love you!"

He died at age 88 last Jan. 6.

Luckily, I got some of his shirts as mementoes and I even wear them. Lolo Pepe was my size when he was younger.

I also treasure the words of wisdom he had passed on to me, such as "You don’t decide when to be born or when to die, but you can decide when to get married. When you do, follow your heart."

I still shed quiet tears when I remember Lolo Pepe. My only regret is that he didn’t live long enough to see Angia, my and Ayen’s first child. Knowing him to have been fond of me, I’m sure Lolo Pepe would have treated Angia the same way. He would have loved Angia in the same unconditional way he loved me. – As told to RICKY LO