Monday, July 31, 2006
'Don't grieve for me', says Poy in poem
By Danny B. Dangcalan
"Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free If my parting had left a void, then fill it My life had been full God wanted me now, He set me free."
THESE are the lines in a poem composed by Augusto de Leon some years ago and may very well be his message to hundreds of mourners who attended his necrological service and burial Sunday.
De Leon, 40, was buried 5 p.m. yesterday at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park after three hours of necrological service at the Triumph of the Holy Cross church in Barangay Estefania.
De Leon, a teacher of St. Scholastica's Academy, died ten days ago following the road accident where the motorcycle he was riding was hit by one of the cars of the two teen-agers who were allegedly drag racing along Lacson Street in Bacolod City.
Faithful till the end, was how Rev. Fr. Jaime Carmona, the officiating priest in the service described De leon, who up to the last moment of his life remained faithful to his family, his work and his friends.
This is a celebration of life, more than the mourning over the senseless death Carmona assuaged the swelling crowd who seemed to join the pouring rains by their silent weeping.
But Carmona was quick to correct himself, saying De Leon's death was not senseless, in fact, it was a meaningful death for the event was able to gather the crowd whom he had inspired by the kind of life he led.
De Leon had lived a full life, Carmona said and underscored that we die only once, but if we lived wisely, we live many times over.
Phoy, De Leon's name to family and close friends, was known to be a friendly, caring, faithful and happy person, making ordinary things seem extraordinary, his bestfriend Genevieve Heriane said in her eulogy for him.
"He was a very gifted person - a good singer, dancer, and writer of winning declamation and oratorical pieces," said Sister Lucy Togle, directress and principal of St. Scholastica's Academy, who also read De Leon's poem he had given her some years ago, some lines are quoted above.
He is a big loss to our school, considering his many talents and dedication to the teaching profession, Rowena Mayder, De leon's co-teacher said, saying they admire his diligence and discipline in accomplishing promptly all the paperworks in school in spite of a busy schedule.
"Sir De Leon's presence will always be with us, he is well-loved by all of us," student Racel Panisa said. She recounted how De Leon trained them hard in literary contests and made them win. De leon taught Filipino and HEKASI (social studies) in Grades five and six at SSA.
De Leon is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, and children Kheemphee, Brianne, and Keith Albert.
"I love you Pa", were his eldest son Kheemphee's words in his eulogy saying he never said this often to his father although they were very close.
Kheempee recalled in details his father's last moments with them that fateful day of July 21 when De Leon hugged them all tight, especially their mother whom he instructed to take care of the kids for he will be "going away".
Ayen Tolentino, De Leon's coworker in Mentoring the Mentors, a group conducting seminars to teachers, said they will always remember him as the only speaker who can make the participants laugh and cry at the same time.
Forgive us for being sentimental, Tolentino said, but God is just, justice will soon be served.
(July 31, 2006 issue)
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