Valle: Gentle giant

Sunday, February 12, 2012

WHAT can be more profound an expression of love than a quite demonstration of affection that does not need words? Words can sometimes interfere in the way express themselves to each other, and ironically, silence sometimes can articulate true feelings or the dictates of the heart.

The gentle passing of Tatay Taling Morales, 86, was so like him. He was our most esteemed Ninong when my husband and I decided to tie the knot, and through the years his quiet but jolly presence seemed to have guided us through life.

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Our rare visits to their family's farm were filled with happy memories, especially when the kids were all very young, and once, Tatay and his beloved wife Nanay (who went ahead of him) invited the kids to fish at the pond for tilapya. To the delight of the three "mischiefs", Tatay gave them each a "bingwit" (fishing line) to put out into the water and told them that they could take home all of the Tilapya that they would catch.

Tatay laughed so hard, the mirth lines at the corners of his eyes deepened as he witnessed the innocent shrieks of enjoyment from the boys and I could see that he and Nanay also immensely enjoyed that moment.

The children had so much fun such that the memory never left them up to this day, and they still reminisce those times. It made such a lasting impression on them such that when they grew up and studied at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usap) in Mintal, they would at times pay them a visit together with Tatay's grandchildren.

Tatay was a simple man. He and Nanay brought up a large family of nine children in such a way that each of them has acquired their firmness of character and gentle traits that are grounded on simplicity and humility. Francis, the eldest son who is now past 60 and still actively involved with an environmentalist group, recalls that Tatay was such a loving father that he never scolded them even when they misbehaved as a young child.

Neneng, a daughter who took after Nanay as a teacher related that Tatay was the ultimate father anyone could ask for. She recalled that he was an all-around person at home who did the early morning chores of cooking in the morning, doing the dishes and washing their clothes since Nanay was always busy with school work as a teacher in Mintal. And when the children have grown and had families of their own, Tatay would at times baby-sit for his countless grandchildren, some of whom he had taken to school on a bike when they were still in grade school.

No wonder Tatay and Nanay are greatly missed by their numerous “apo” and “apo-sa-tuhod” (great grandchildren that are growing in numbers. Nowadays, when very young kids are so obsessed with gadgets that fill up most of their times as technology becomes the “Pied Piper” in story books, taking away children’s attention from the real world, Tatay still basked under the special attention from the young as his children taught them the values they learned from him.

In that old house where the children’s laughter never fails to brighten up each day for the old folks, life will always be at its best. My own family has been blessed to be a part of it, because even if we are only "extended family" of sorts, through the years we have considered ourselves distinctly connected and our children have also become part of Tatay's and Nanay's brood. In today's time and cyber age, such connections have become rare and hard to come by.

May Tatay's tribe continue to grow and infect more people, and may the legacy of the Morales’ family of caring and loving not only for their nuclear family but also for the greater community and of God's creation reach more and more people...

We will be missing the laughter we shared with Tatay but we know, as his junior "Onyot" says, he is happy now as he will be celebrating his 87th birthday today, February 13, and Valentine’s Day with the one and only love of his life, Nanay.

Happy birthday Tatay! God bless you. God speed...