By  LPJ

Yesterday was my husband Stanley’s birthday. He passed in December 2015, but the memories never fade. Strange that they stay as vivid and lively, like they just happened yesterday, or weeks ago. Best of all, remembering brings back the joys of life that are far beyond figments of the imagination, but realities that linger in the mind and in the heart. I simply call them love.

As I favored myself with vibrant recollections, a lengthy greeting came from my niece Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo, a journalist/columnist of the Business Mirror in Manila. Eloquent in her tribute and heartwarming in her sentiments, Ritzi packed snippets of rememberings – her Uncle Stanley’s generous hospitality that included taking her and members of the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus UPCC) on tours of the Bay Area, managing their accommodation with volunteer families, providing transportation, and not the least of all, sponsoring and organizing UPCC’s concerts at Stanford University and the Palo Alto Methodist Church. He was a kind host who made sure that everyone in the choir, conductor included, was comfortable and had fun. Generous of his time and resources, he was everybody’s Uncle Stanley, and to this day, still has so many “nieces” and “nephews” who often speak praises of their Uncle Stanley. Best remembered were his cheerful disposition and wit, his jokes, most of them witty, and some, corny but wholesomely hilarious.

Bryant’s memory spot underneath the maple tree in front of Jabil in San Jose (photo by Nikki J. Bulao)

How he was liked and how much he was appreciated have stood the test of time. For those boys and girls who came for the concert tours were in their late teens and early twenties then, and now are in their 50’s and 60’s.

Last Saturday, Stanley’s sister Letty, her daughter Nikki and I visited the tomb of Letty’s son Bryant, on his first year anniversary. The bright sunny afternoon at Oakhill, San Jose was rendered more pleasant with a soft breeze that lightly fanned the three palm trees behind Bryant’s tomb. The slab had just arrived a month ago, according to Nikki. A shiny black marble with white  letterings, and a Batman logo with the words “Batman Forever” underneath his name. The abundant mix of flowers that Nikki and Bryant’s friend Karen brought colored that patch where Bryant’s ashes lay. But for the gentle breeze, the quiet was soothing. We spent about an hour of somber reflection that ended in prayer.

“Bryant’s day” didn’t end there. We drove to Jabil, the tech company in San Jose where Bryant worked for decades until he died. The company president and officials were generous in allowing Bryant’s colleagues and friends to bury a part of Bryant’s ashes under a maple tree right in front of the company’s main building by the walkway. The location is perfect for gatherings to regale in memories. I can imagine the funny stories and boisterous wisecracks that bounce back and forth when they gather, for Bryant was a fun guy. It will be that way, even as the maple tree grows towering and shady in that choice spot in front of Jabil. A kind, appreciative gesture of the company indeed.

As customary with any celebration, Nikki, Letty and I went to Asia Live, a new Asian fusion restaurant at Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose, for a delicious dinner of chili beef filets, crispy vegetables, garlic noodles, roasted chicken, spicy eggplant and seafood fried rice. The meal was topped with rich desserts from Eataly bakery.

Mixing good food with celebration of memories is okay – right?

Linda P. Jacob