Even when I finally grew up and could have eye-to-eye lolo/apo dialogues, my Lolo Alfred always impressed me with his sense of life. His friends admired him, enjoying never-dull moments with one who could make a room light up in a stormy night. His reputation for la dolce vita always preceded him. He always had time to tell his stories, make his audiences laugh; remind them of the beauty of life. Since I was a child, I must have known that my lolo would never die.
His passing jolted me, as a death always does even when you are prepared for it. Beneath the persona everyone was exposed to, I was privileged to have big servings of his grandfatherly affection which usually came after a dose of stern disciplinary actions. I must admit I inherited his appetite for the sublime.
For those who did not have the pleasure of knowing my lolo, let me share his life with you.
Alfred Xerez-Burgos was Col. Xerez-Burgos, who served as chairman of leading property developer Landco Pacific Corporation from 1989-2001, and was named chairman emeritus in 2002. He was a visionary industrialist holding key positions in such companies as the Bank of the Philippine Islands, Benguet Corp., Banco de Oro, Purefoods Corp., Makati Machinery, Agusan Wood Industries, Calatagan Resorts, Darong Agricultural Development Corporation, Lapanday Agricultural Development Corporation, San Antonio Meat Products, AXB Enterprises, Lagos Corporation and Shulman Airfreight. From 1980 to the present, he held the position of vice chairman of Connell Pilipinas and was a trustee of the Insular Life Company.
Unknown to many, Col. Xerez-Burgos was also a much-decorated war hero who fought alongside Filipino guerrillas and American soldiers during World War II. In 1941, he was in active duty with the USAFFE as Master Sargeant of Bren Company and suffered through the infamous "Death March" to Capaz, Tarlac. Upon his release, he joined the guerrilla movement under the Allied Intelligence Bureau serving as a guide to the US Forces in the historic Liberation of Manila. He was later on commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel of the Philippine Constabulary before finally achieving the status Full Colonel.
Aside from his 40 plus-year stint with the Philippine National Red Cross, he also served as Supreme Commander of the Defenders of Bataan and Corrregidor from 1961-1963, and again from 1979-1980 – this while serving as a member of the advisory board. In 1988, he was appointed by then President Corazon Aquino as vice chairman, executive director and trustee of the Corregidor Foundation, Inc. As executive director, he was responsible for the development of the Corregidor Island into a world-class memorial and tourist attraction until his retirement in April 2002.
Dear Lolo, I remember the song you frequently sang, especially when a friend of ours passed away. "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." One thing for sure, you will neither die nor will you ever fade away.
Hasta la vista, Lolo Alfred.