Our one and only Nong Joseph

“I volunteer to be your talent manager,” often I would tell our brother, Nong Joseph.

The stage was his and he was meant for the public stage. Whether it was in an expensive hotel or in a barrio fiesta, whether he was before family or non-relatives, he owned the stage, any stage.

The audience stayed for hours listening to his jokes. Whether they were comfortably seated or standing, people waited until he had finished his spiel.

And he would end with this -- “sige lang mo katawa libre ha? Dapat bayran ko ninyo, ha, kay intaas inyong kinabuhi sa akong mga pakatawa!”

Then, in jest, he would turn to the richer members of the clan or the audience, leaving everyone laughing and applauding yet another sterling entertaining session with our Nong Joseph who flawlessly delivered his jokes in English, in Tagalog, in Bisaya or all of the above.

He was called many names. Patok, Tokitoki, 2k2k, Poypoy.

He always greeted me as “my sister, my sister,” and I called him back “my brother, my brother.”

Whenever he heard us mention our daughter, he would counter and say, “hello Aiko, musta si Ai-mo?”

Nong Joseph and his jokes. Classic Nong Joseph-Louy Amora, our extended family member wrote from America.

Last April 12, at 8:30 Monday morning, after a regular routine of breakfast, bath, and a paseo under the morning sun with caregiver Edward, Nong Joseph breathed his last and joined the Lord painlessly, quickly, quietly.

He did not allow anyone to cry upon the moment of his passing -- classic Nong Joseph who always reminded us all during wakes/funerals to send off our beloved departed joyfully, with jokes, laughter, not tears.

We will try to go beyond lingering tears or grief and instead smile/remember/honor Nong Joseph by recalling poignant yet joyful memories of his jokes, the laughter he shared with us all, across generations, across countries.

“We have lost our great Borja-Gallardo Clan Entertainer 2k2k.” “We have lost our best entertainer.”

“Such a sad time for the entire clan. We will miss you, dearly Tito Joseph! Praying for your eternal repose.”

“Rest in God's eternal love and peace, Poypoy! May the holy angels carry you to the new and eternal Jerusalem.”

“Our loss, heaven's gain. Bibo na ang mga angkan nga dead na and tua sa heaven.” “For sure, heaven is rocking now in laughter with his jokes!”

Two years back, he slipped and a clot developed in his brain and triggered a heart attack. Gratefully, God healed him and he was well enough to celebrate his 74th happy birthday with the clan March last year.

He appeared a bit sluggish though and not his usual joking self. Still, he was energetic enough to join all in a happy grand clan reunion back in Bohol for that year’s Holy Week.

Days after his birthday, the pandemic affected everyone’s routine, movement, and plans.

Used to a very active social life, the quarantine since March 2020 narrowed Nong Joseph’s social world and caused rapid deterioration of his health, weakened by the previous year’s serious heart and brain condition.

On oxygen support, unable to eat normally, unresponsive, bed-ridden for months, gratefully, he got better from December on, able to eat some, to breathe on his own, to sit up in a wheelchair with assistance, and best of all, responsive once again.

In last week’s video chat, he uttered a grunt, raised his hand in agreement when, together, we asked God to forgive/heal him completely so he could make everyone laugh again during our next reunion.

Nong Joseph, with our love/gratitude, rest in peace with God forever.  Enjoy rocking heaven with your jokes!