Thank you, Lim Eng Beng

Today is the last day of viewing the remains of PBA legend Lim Eng Beng who lies in state at the Sanctuarium on Araneta Avenue and it’s fitting that Christmas Day will mark the end of his wake. Christmas is a day of thanksgiving and celebration. We thank God for Beng’s life and celebrate his return to the Lord after a wonderful 64 years of bringing joy to basketball fans, sharing love with his family and friends and inspiring everyone with his simple and humble ways.

Tomorrow early morning, Beng will be cremated in a private, family-only sendoff. 

Beng passed away last Monday morning. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma in January 2013 and fought a good fight for three years until the angels finally took him to heaven. Beng underwent four cycles of chemotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization in his battle against cancer. With help from family and friends, he took at least 10 trips to Singapore for periodic examinations with liver specialists Dr. Tan Kai Chah and Dr. Lee Kang Hoe of the Asian Centre for Liver Diseases and Transplantation. In Manila, he was cared for by Dr. Regina Dy, Dr. Ramon Santos and Dr. Catherine Teh.

For a while, it seemed like Beng had licked cancer. But last June, a new nodule was discovered to be blocking the flow of blood to his liver in the pulmonary artery. The condition was inoperable. Not even a liver transplant could relieve the situation because the main vein into the organ was compromised. A radical surgery was an option but it would be extremely expensive. Family, friends and La Salle alumni had raised over P4 million to cover Beng’s expenses for his treatment when his cancer was diagnosed. The radical surgery required another fund-raising and once more, friends, led by Hero Yu, came through with a kitty of P2.1 Million. Two weeks ago, Yu said doctors dissuaded the family from considering surgery and gave Beng three to six months to live.

Beng’s wife of 36 years, Eleanor, said he never wanted to be a burden to anyone. He was content to know how much he was loved by so many. That made him happy and fulfilled … to know his life touched the lives of others. Mutual friends brought Beng and Eleanor, an Immaculate Concepcion Academy graduate, together. They raised three children – all La Salle graduates now gainfully employed. Brian, 34, works at RCBC, Erin, 28, at BDO and Ervin, 26 at Nokia. None of the children is married. The family lives in a modest, rented apartment on Quezon Avenue. 

Last month, Beng went back to where his basketball career began – at the Chiang Kai Shek gym. He led Chiang Kai Shek to three high school championships before moving to La Salle. “He was lifting weights and working out in the gym but not too strenuous,” said his son Brian. “Then, we went to the Chiang Kai Shek gym. He tried shooting from the foul line and missed badly. The ball didn’t even touch the rim. I told him don’t be frustrated, his strength will come back and what do you expect after not playing for years.”

Then, things took a turn for the worse. Early this month, Beng was confined at St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City for a week. Doctors drained close to three liters of fluid from his body and his arms were black and blue from needle pricks. A few days later, he was back in the hospital, this time as an outpatient, and 4.7 liters of fluid were extracted from his body. The prognosis was dim as Beng’s body functions were breaking down. 

“He told me he wanted to go, that he was tired,” said his wife Eleanor. “He was ready, God is waiting for him. We didn’t want him to go. We were still hoping.” Last Saturday, friends visited Beng at home and he appreciated their concern. More friends dropped by the next day but Beng couldn’t leave his room anymore. His condition had deteriorated so that he was too weak to even get up from bed, his weight plummeting from a high of 225 pounds to 174. For two nights, he tossed and turned in bed, restless. He was sleepless and had hiccups. 

“Brian had a work-related trip to Baguio over the weekend and at first, didn’t want to go because he wanted to be by his father’s side,” said Beng’s close friend Tony Atayde. “But Beng told him to go because it was expected of him in his job, that he would wait for him to come back. When Beng passed away, Brian was still not in town. They couldn’t close his eyes when he died. But when Brian returned, his eyes closed. It was like he waited for him to come back home.”

Last Tuesday, La Salle Taft president Ray Suplido went to Beng’s wake to pay his respects. Also at the wake were La Salle basketball team managers Terry Capistrano, Raffy Villavicencio and Justice Andy Reyes along with Jeron Teng who said Beng is his idol. Sanctuarium had a green casket for Beng. At the wake, the family put up two exhibits as a tribute – one on his career at La Salle, displaying his Archers No. 14 jersey and several newspaper clippings, and the other, his 12-year career in the PBA, displaying his U-Tex No. 14 jersey, his Wranglers Grosby shoes and a photo of his induction into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2013.

Beng led La Salle to NCAA senior men’s basketball titles in 1971 and 1974. His 1971 teammates included Miguel Bilbao, Julee Lim and Doy Escober while his 1974 teammates included Virgil Villavicencio. He won two PBA championships and this year, was named as one of the league’s 40 greatest players. On and off the court, Beng was a gentleman. One of eight children, he was born to Chinese migrants in Moriones, Tondo, and basketball was his ticket out of poverty. More than a great athlete, he was a greater person. Beng’s memory will live forever in the hearts of millions whose lives were touched by his humility, athletic ability and sincerity.