Papa's Hero

(I am taking a respite after being bombastic in my 3 previous articles.  Kidding aside, May 24, 2013 marks the 37th Death Anniversary of the Rt Rev Msgr Fidel E Albano, my grand uncle [in white cassock; sat at the middle of the picture above] .  In honor of Lolo Padi, as we would call him, my father Mario [sat at Lolo Padi's left] has kindly written this piece.)

For a young boy, summertime in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte was no vacation. The place where we regularly stayed did not have electricity, water is to be carried in pails from the ground floor up to living quarters, forget about the toilet for it was a bottomless pit with a wooden seat designed like a commode and oh, the doors were tremendous in size - they creaked when you opened them, the windows were so wide you might just suffer an unfortunate accident if you were not careful. The church ceilings housed thousands of fruit bats; hanging on the rafters and along the high walls, they attracted very large monitor lizards. We slept on floor mats made of thatch grass or dried palm fronds.

To live with my uncle, the Right Reverend Monsignor Fidel E. Albano, you worked. The day started at 4:30 AM. We’d get ready ASAP for his 5:00 AM Mass. You see, my uncle was the parish priest of St. Andrew Catholic Church for the longest time I can remember. The boys took turns as sacristans, altar servers, ushers, or candle sellers. Everyone’s favorite assignment was to sell candles and it doesn’t take much imagination why. Mass was in Latin, so you had to memorize the appropriate responses. After Mass and breakfast, my uncle apportioned a good part of the morning for us to read Latin and English books and to write in English.

Church bells were rung during Angelus and after most church events. The belfry has three bells: large, medium and small size. With cables, you need to have a strong leg to kick-pull the cable attached to the dong in order to bang the large bell. Your arms must also be strong enough to pull the cables for dongs to bang the other 2 bells. I enjoyed swinging on the cables to ring the large bell. Over time, one learned the sequence and space in the sounds of the dongs as well as the frequency of the sounds created as it relates to the activity in the church.

After lunch, my aunt, his younger sister, Candida E. Albano made sure we had an afternoon nap while the older boys get to gather Dangla branches and leaves, a local brush that grows on arid and gravelly soil that surrounded the church. We’d use the leaves from these branches to sweep the floor tiles of the church and it would produce a fresh woodsy scent that to this day I can only remember Bacarra as the origin of that scent. A few hundred yards from the church, there is a river where we’d skinny dip later in the afternoon. The surrounding area of the church was covered with large trees: Acacia, Anunang, Kamatsile, Kaymito, Sinigwelas, Duhat, and Malungay species.

My uncle had a block of wood he would shave into powder as a remedy for minor cuts and bruises we’d suffer from horseplay during our stay. The incense he used in church came from the Itneg people in the Kalinga-Apayao mountains. It was delivered in large chunks of hardened, glassy tree resin. He used a mortar and pestle to ground the resin into fine granulated aromatic incense powder. The heavenly scent is so unforgettable that you’d have to be in Bacarra to experience it.

At the front of the church stood a gnarly, old, and very large Acacia tree. From one of its branches, the Judas Iscariot dummy was hanged and burned every Easter Sunday. Among kids, this was one of the most awaited spectacles to witness during Holy Week. We’d have a procession of carts with the Blessed Virgin Mary and a host of saints and kids in angelic costume throwing to us bougainvillea flowers in multiple colors from a good enough elevation. The carts with the holy figures had illuminating gas lamps created from the mixture of water and kalburo, a fruit ripening chemical. At that time, I did not realize the explosive element in some things we found and took for granted in church.

He had one story how one very early morning, as he went to open the church doors for the daily Mass he felt some presence near him. Challenged, he asked in the darkness: “Ah sinno kayyu?” (Who are you?). “Daccami Apo!” (Just us, Lord!) came a reply from unknown sources and just as soon the presence was gone. For my uncle, it was the Angels who visited the Church of St Andrew that time.

He always wore a linen cassock, its edges frayed and a pair of white patent leather sungkit (slippers). During harvest season, he’d go to his favorite tobacco farmers and select his own cured tobacco leaves. He rolled his own cigars and the stubs he’d stick in his Briarwood pipe. Experimentation with his implements was not good at all, the cigars tasted horrible, the tar that accumulated on the bore and lip of his pipe was so bad it seemed forever to get rid of taste and if you get caught, you’d get an ear pulled, a whack of the slippers on your rump or a Batarrag (thin bamboo stick) beating. He owned a pink-colored 1947 4 - door Dodge Plymouth. He was always chauffeured in it; it was a very useful vehicle in the sense that my brothers, cousins, and friends learned to drive courtesy of my uncle’s car. On those many learning occasions, we pushed the vehicle out of the garage, down the road farthest away from his earshot before we started the car engine.

My uncle made sure we ate vegetables with every meal and no one got up from the dining table unless his plate was clean as a whistle. There was no cooler or refrigerator and no electricity, remember? You stayed there until you finished your food!

He was not a confrontational individual and was not a great story-teller, per se. He was a man of few words, except when he was at the pulpit to give homily. Outside of Mass, he was more instructional and directional than as an engaging communicator. I thought his devotion towards his role in the parish was exceptionally focused. His life was geared to the fulfillment of evangelizing the faithful who listened and to teach the Catholic way of life. I learned from my parents that he was a school teacher and shortly thereafter changed his vocation to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. I never asked and so did not find out his reason for the career change-up (a love story gone bad, perhaps?); whatever it was, his decision was the better one for himself and us (the convent in Bacarra was very large enough that we used to have a busload of people from Manila vacationing with us!).

My uncle strongly believed the town of Bacarra is where one can fine the root of the Albano family, not from the town of Sarrat, from where his parents, my grandparents came from. To support this contention, he would mention a true to life event that he himself experienced. Msgr. Fidel E. Albano gave the Blessed Sacrament (last rites) to a dying criminal with a surname like his. He found out the lady physician who tried to save the dying man has the same surname. The criminal was shot and killed by the town sheriff with the same surname. Of course, the town judge in the case has the same surname!

I never witnessed or heard of my uncle to suffer any illness throughout his life. Msgr. Fidel E. Albano did not get sick and as a far as I know, this was a man of steely constitution. He had a full set of teeth, blackened from tobacco use, did not brush his teeth and just gargled with salt and water regularly. He did not have a sweet tooth either. The only time he saw physicians was during summer when my parents, both practitioners of medicine in Manila, visited him in Bacarra, not for any treatment but for the annual family reunion at Easter time. I’ve never seen him overweight. Yet, he enjoyed his basi, the homegrown liquor made from sugar cane juice aged in burnay (earthen jars).

He retired from duties at the Parish of St. Andrew and settled in Tondo, Manila. He exchanged a huge and tremendous responsibility for a small bedroom in his brother’s household. In his new environment, he adjusted easily with his nephews, nieces, and their children. Noise level in a bustling household was high and probably one major item he had to overcome. He loved to sit by the front porch of the house where he read the daily missal, in between watching passers-by along busy Cavite St. During regular days, he was chauffeured to St. Joseph Church in Gagalangin to say morning Mass. On most days, he preferred to walk that distance. He wore his signature white cassock and buckled black shoes every day to church. One day, he had a heatstroke while walking on his way home from Gagalangin. He recovered from that and his brother made sure he was to be brought to and picked up from St. Joseph Church.

As unobtrusive and as quiet an individual that he was, Msgr. Fidel E. Albano left to meet his Creator at the age of 79, at peace with himself and all.

Save San Nicolas!

Early last month, my godparents Cielito and Leonardo Lejano sent me and other relatives an e-mail containing a manifesto addressed to the Most Rev Sergio Utleg, Bishop of Laoag. This declaration expresses their concern in the Diocese's plan of selling part of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church's lot to a commercial firm. They have now submitted this manifesto to Bishop Utleg, but are asking for prayers that the Church authorities would reconsider their plan. If you would like to support this move, please send an e-mail to the Diocese of Laoag: dioceseoflaoag@yahoo.com

We, the undersigned Catholics of the Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino respectfully bring to Your Excellency our serious concern about the seemingly imminent lease or probably sale of a southern portion of the lot on which the Catholic Church stands. We only came to know this from some concerned Catholics of the town. Although we do not have a direct knowledge about this rumor, we are convinced it is true.

Visualizing what may happen next, this is the scenario we believe will transpire: that the southeastern portion of the Catholic lot immediately adjacent to the Catholic Church will be leased or maybe sold to SM, a giant commercial corporation that operates malls in different parts of the Philippines. How big the land to be leased is only a matter of our imagination but it could be the site of the convent and probably to include the eastern side of the original building of Santa Rosa Academy.

The size of the land rented or leased whether small or big is not important to us. What concerns us is the desecration of a sacred ground and the invasion of the privacy of our Catholic Church and Sta. Rosa Academy considering the fact that the commercial building will be built just beside the Catholic Church on its southern side and adjacent to the old building of Sta. Rosa Academy on its eastern side.

Please note Your Excellency, that the said place to be leased constitutes the most prominent portion of the lot of the Catholic Church. It is, to us, of sacred significance. The prominent location of the place is the reason why Father Fidel Albano, a parish priest of San Nicolas, selected the place as the site of the present convent. That was in the twilight of the 19th century. The construction of the present convento was necessary after Father Fidel Albano handed the old convento (now the main building of Sta. Rosa Academy) to the religious sisters who were asked to administer the school.

The present convento was constructed by the Catholics of San Nicolas under the leadership of the parish priest, Father Fidel Albano. We object to its being torn down and relocated.

True, renting the site of the convento and some buildings of sta. Rosa Academy on its eastern side will generate millions of pesos in revenue. But for what purpose? And at what expense? Will the end justify the means? Does the Catholic Church of San Nicolas, which comprise the Catholics of the town, need that money badly? Is the revenue of the church as of now failing so badly? On the contrary, the revenue of the church is sound. It is good!

It is worthy to note that while a house of worship and a school should be insulated from the material world, at San Nicolas a design is in the making to define the sacredness of the church by building, a mall just beside it and pollute its spiritual atmosphere with materialism. The presence of the mall just beside Sta. Rosa Academy will destroy its academic dignity. This will scandalize us, the Catholic faithful.

Relative to the operation of a mall, just beside the church, we are reminded of the scene when Jesus witnessed repulsive materialism that corrupted a church of god (temple). He saw people making money right in the temple of God, and in anger, He protested and cried aloud, “Take those things (referring to the objects sold in the temple) and do not make the house of my Father a house of business.” (John 2:16). Is not placing a mall for the sake of money, just beside the church a desecration of the church of God?

At Laoag City business establishments are indeed located around the Cathedral and this situation maybe used as justification for the building and operation of the mall beside the church of San Nicolas. However, the situation at the Cathedral of Laoag and the Church of San Nicolas are two very different things. The business establishments such as Chowking, Jollibee, McDonald’s etc operating on land owned by the Cathedral are at a decent distance from the church. At San Nicolas, SM will be sitting just beside the Catholic Church. The very thought of it is not only shocking but obnoxious and repulsive to the decency of the concerned Catholics of San Nicolas.

The undersigned would have no opposition to a mall built on the church property on the vacant lot north of the church as long as it is built at least at a decent distance of about 30 meters away from the northern wall of the Catholic Church. The Catholics of San Nicolas however desire transparency and involvement in the project itself.

In case the needs of the church for repairs is made as an excuse for the lease. Throughout the centuries when the church was destroyed by typhoon, fires and earthquakes, the Catholics of the town were forthcoming in producing the funds for such repairs.

In the construction of the floor of the church and other projects, did not the Catholics of San Nicolas (with help from other people) make the projects a reality? No less than Father Danny Laeda said so during the closing ceremony at the Plaza during the feast of Christ the King on November 2010. Therefore, there is no need to lease the site of the present convent and its surroundings to SM just to produce money.

Premises considered the undersigned and all other Catholics who may not have signed this Manifesto but support its cause voice their strong objection to the lease of the lot where the present convent stands and adjoining lots. They strongly oppose the transfer of the convent to the lot north of the Church.


Truly yours in Christ:

1. Maria Cielito Valdes - Lejano
2. Leonardo B. Lejano

Love, Vision, and Aspiration

(2nd Dr. Paulino E. Albano Sr. Memorial Lecture and Graduation Address delivered by Mr. Laurentino V. Albano; St. Rita Hospital & College; PICC; 17 March 2011)

Good afternoon. Leia, thank you very much. I am humbled by your generous introduction. Before I start my speech, may I ask the class of 2011 to please stand up and face the audience. Please acknowledge your parents, loved ones, relatives, members of the faculty and friends for their sacrifices and support. Without their guidance and assistance you would not be here for this milestone in your life. Class of 2011, let us give them a round of applause. Thank you and you may now be seated.

I have been given the honor to be the Guest Speaker of the Graduating Class of 2011. First, I will talk about the Founder of our institution and then, second, will be my Graduation Message.

In honor of our man of the year, Dr. Paulino E. Albano Sr. (as we are celebrating the centennial year of his birth) my topic will be his different roles: a brother, a husband and a father. I will be giving you some insights of the person he was.

Dr. Paulino Sr. came from humble beginnings. He was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte on June 18, 1911. He was the youngest of seven siblings. His father was a street lighter in the “poblacion” or town proper of Sarrat. He went around lighting the “kingky” or kerosene lamp at dusk and putting the lights out at dawn everyday. His mother was a housewife tending to the growing household.

His oldest brother, Fidel or Apo Fidel was a priest. When Apo Fidel was assigned as the Parish Priest of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, the young Paul or “Paool” as the Ilocanos pronounced his name, went with his brother Apo Fidel. He was the “sacristan mayor’ of the church while in high school. On or about that time, one summer vacation, he saw a young “colegiala” from St. Scholastica’s College (Manila), home for vacation. Pilar Bonoan Valdes was also a daily churchgoer and like the young Paool, a daily communicant. It was during Mass and at the communion rail that the young Paool first laid eyes on Pilar. Pilar or Piling was a daughter of one of the prominent families of San Nicolas. Piling was the sixth of seven siblings and her father served as the Mayor of San Nicolas. Paool did not make his move to court Piling at that time. He waited until he was in college when both of them were already in Manila. Paool attended the University of Santo Tomas for his Medicine proper course while Piling was at the University of the Philippines. They got married on April 2, 1938 and lived in an apartment at Intramuros. They bought and moved to a house in Gagalangin in 1940. As the Valdes-Albano household grew, so did their extended family. Orphaned nephews and nieces were our older brothers and sisters. Child victims of the war, who were abandoned and left for dead at the St. Rita Dispensary and Clinic then, were restored to health and became part of the ever growing Valdes-Albano household. “What is another mouth to feed?” was his favorite saying.

In 1951, Pope Pius XII awarded Dr. Paulino Sr. the Papal Knight of St. Sylvester and Dr. Pilar, the Papal awardee Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. These were awards given by the Holy Father to Catholic laymen and women for exemplary support to the Catholic Church.

In the twilight of their years, Dr. Paulino Sr. took care of his four older siblings until their deaths. Caring for these extended families too, must have inspired them (Paulino and Pilar) to put up the hospital and the different schools. Charity truly begins at home. He took care of his kin first, before he undertook his other charitable works. And yes he was his brother’s keeper.

As a husband, he was a loving and loyal one. It is said that “Lucky is the girl to be the last love of the man she married and luckier is the man to be the first love of the girl he married.” It was said that their marriage was made in heaven. There was never a question of infidelity regarding Dr. Paulino Sr. His priority was always the unity of the family. He was a great provider making sure that we had what we needed.

As a father, the first character trait that comes to mind to describe him is discipline. He believed in the saying “Spare the rod and spoil the child”. His discipline had the greatest influence on me. All of us were required to work especially during summer; from driver, messenger, timekeeper during the construction expansion, paymaster and office clerk. At an early age, we knew how to say the Rosary and we memorized the different mysteries. Any infraction of the house rules would find us at the hospital chapel praying the Rosary. With his busy schedule, he had the time to check on our activities. Our dining table was round that seated 14. During mealtime, he would ask us one by one for our progress report. He made it a point to know how we were doing in school and our other extra curricular activities. Sunday family Mass at the chapel was at 5:00AM. It did not make any difference if we were at a party the night before. We had to be there for the 5:00 AM mass. He was all about discipline.

And now, moving on, I would like to thank you parents, for choosing St. Rita Hospital and College of Nursing as the nursing school for your child. You had entrusted your child to St. Rita. I am sure when they started, you had a lot of apprehension about your child graduating. I can relate to you. Like you I am a parent and like you, my daughter is a member of class 2011. When she decided to go back to school to take up nursing, relatives and friends thought it was impossible. Well, we decided to go to St. Rita, Patroness of the Impossible.

My dear class of 2011, graduation is the beginning of another chapter in your book of life. You have chosen a service profession. You have chosen to serve the sick, the poor and the less fortunate than you. You have chosen to serve because you are people of love and loyalty. You are products of the love of your parents, just as I and my family is the product of the love of Drs. Paulino, Sr. and Pilar.

Whether you are a doctor, lawyer, nurse, messenger boy, construction worker, mother, wife, father, husband, brother or sister keep your dreams alive. Understand, to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. I believe that my daughter and her classmates are men and women of tremendous vision. Remember, in the words of Joel Barker that “Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with vision is making a positive difference”. Vision looks outward and becomes aspiration.

You, as individuals and collectively, can change the world. Accept that challenge. What you truly and earnestly aspire to be is what you will become. Aspire to be the best of what you can be. Aspire to inspire before you expire.

Keep in mind the three simple words: LOVE, VISION AND ASPIRATION. May St. Rita, Patroness of our institution, guide you and protect you today, tomorrow and always. St. Rita, Patroness of the Impossible, pray for us. Pagpalain tayong lahat ng Panginon Diyos.

Paul in the Eyes of Piling

Way back in 1996, I conducted an interview with my Lola Piling on Lolo Paul’s life and times. The interview was intended for a project which unfortunately didn’t materialize. As we continue to celebrate this year Lolo Paul’s Birth Centennial, I thought of publishing this interview with the woman who has provided me with first hand accounts of my grandfather, the driving force behind Lolo Paul. In a way this is a tribute to her – 8th March 2011 is her 96th birth anniversary.

Pietro S Albano (PSA): Where and when were you married?

Pilar Valdes-Albano (PVA): At St Rita Chapel, Taft Avenue, Manila (under Ermita Catholic Church); April 2, 1938.

St Rita Chapel was a part of St Rita Hall, a dormitory for men under the Maryknoll Fathers (at that time by Rev Frs Robert Sheridan and Austin Hannon) where Paul stayed and spent his bachelorhood. The Chapel and Hall are located across the Philippine Normal School (now University). You can find out who is in this building now.

PSA: Where did you first live?

PVA: After our wedding we stayed in an apartment along Rosa Maria, a callejon (alley) of Cabildo Street in Intramuros, Manila. We were still students then: Paul was an Intern at the San Juan de Dios Hospital (this used to be located where Lyceum now stands) and I came from UP and transferred for my senior year in Medicine in UST graduating in 1940.

During my internship, I was pregnant with my first child and son (Paulino Jr; a.k.a. Sonny) so we transferred to a bigger apartment in San Jose Street also in Intramuros, Manila.

PSA: When did you transfer to Gagalangin?

PVA: In 1940. After our son was baptized on December 13, 1939, we invested our money in buying a lot and building a house in Gagalangin subdivision through Mr Augusto Pasemano, the agent. After my graduation, we transferred and had the house blessed, which was still under construction. Fr Fidel Albano, my brother-in-law, introduced us to the Parish Priest of St Joseph Parish, Fr Pedro Pajarillo, endorsing us to him for his guidance in our lives especially spiritual, moral, and material needs. This started our lives and pledge of service, love, and loyalty and developed a deeper relationship not only with our parish priest, but to our neighborhood and community as well.

PSA: When was St Rita Hospital established?

PVA: Our life started also with the practice of our professions. Being both doctors, although my husband was reluctant for me to practice, we immediately started our practice, put up a small drug store and named it St Rita Dispensary in honor of our patron saint, St Rita of Cascia, the patron of impossible cases. We could not compete with the then existing medical practitioners who were very much our senior in age.

We gave free consultations. News spread far and near and the patients coming were more than enough to keep us busy during the day and even in the night. My husband restricted me to answer house calls so as to do both my duties as mother and physician at the same time. For this reason, we bought delivery room sets and instruments and completed our needs as necessity arises and as much as our finances could afford.

Then 1941 came. The World War II broke out which was both a big drawback in the progress of our lives and at the same time a blessing because it gave us opportunity to serve our neighbors as well as people who evacuated in Gagalangin which is located on the northern suburbs of Manila and in fact a part of Tondo where we find the ‘poorest of the poor’ in our midst.

The nucleus of St Rita Hospital truly started at the time we started our medical practice. Slowly, but surely with the blessing of God through the intercession of St Rita, [we] expanded and thanks to all the patients who patronized us. Even before the war we had 2 to 12 hospital beds for emergency both for children and adults especially deliveries so that we added Maternity with the Clinic and Dispensary. So finally in 1950 we got our license as hospital. The growth, expansion, and improvements continued.

PSA: How about the School of Midwifery?

PVA: After the war, statistics on census registered heavy Infant Mortality due to unsanitary instruments used during deliveries by unlicensed midwives or ‘hilots’. This inspired us to put up the School of Midwifery in 1957 and sensing the necessity of our country for better health care. We employed qualified professors and clinical instructors and activated all departments to operate both the Hospital and Schools (The School-now College – of Nursing as well as the Primary and Secondary Schools were opened a few years later. This conglomeration was named Scout Ramon V Albano Memorial Colleges in remembrance of their fifth son who died with his fellow scouts in an airplane crash on their way to a World Jamboree in 1963. This was renamed St Rita Hospital College of Nursing and School of Midwifery in 1990. ) according to standards as required both by the Departments of Health and Education.

Midwifery and Nursing students needed certain number of deliveries as requirement for them to graduate and for this reason we offered free delivery with donation and to pay for the delivery room and medicines used. Most of the patients claimed to be indigent and would donate as low as PHP 5.00 for a 2-3 days stay. Some just deliver and leave their babies in the Hospital. Soon the number of children left at ages ranging from new born to 6 years old totalled 30. I saw the necessity for them to learn more by employing a teacher teaching them praying, singing, writing, reading, and even dancing. By this time my children were growing and did not like the idea of so many children if we brought them in our house. My husband and I decided to give them back to their parents. They were happy to have them back now grown-up and healthy. [They also] signed promissory notes to pay or donate to the Hospital, but not even one came back even just to say ‘Thank you’. Some were given for adoption especially those who were childless and who ended successful too.

PSA: [And the] Sarrat Rural Bank?

PVA: [It] was formed and managed to help the people in the rural areas in our towns and province [in Ilocos Norte] in line with the government’s projects.

PSA: What were some of the activities in the [St Joseph de Gagalangin] Parish which you spearheaded or sponsored?

PVA: In the 1950s the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus (KC) was automatically the Parish Council President. When the KC Council 3913 of St Joseph Parish separated from the Manila Council 1000, Fr Pajarillo appointed me as President of the Parish Council. The Parish of St Joseph by that time had already organized most of the Catholic organizations except the Legion of Mary. I proposed a fund raising for all the organizations to have funds of their own as we were already planning for the construction of the new church. We mobilized the parish through these organizations to tap all private individuals and all businesses inside Gagalangin. The construction was given to Engr Eduardo A Santiago who also constructed the Immaculate Conception Academy (of Manila) and trailing them our St Rita Hospital for our expansions.

PSA: What were Lolo Paul’s hobbies?

PVA: Regularly he played tennis and swimming. Almost every other day he goes to Villa Pilarita (in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan) about 1 ½ drive from our home. [It’s] where almost every Sunday we stay for the day – our family and often with friends.

PSA: Did he die peacefully?

PVA: Since we got married we made a devotion to hear Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion everyday with special devotions on our First Fridays and First Saturdays – going to Confession at least once or twice a month. We were in New York staying at the house of Alex (fourth son) and Peachie – about 5 small blocks to the church. It was Monday morning (19th November 1984) and we walked as usual to St Rita Church, our parish [church]. We prayed the Rosary in going and again on coming home. This time he delayed our prayer and he wanted to talk so our topic was death. I mentioned the death of the father of St John Bosco who died in church on First Friday and others. Then we prayed the Rosary to finish before we reached home.

I cooked our lunch while he took a bath. We had lunch and while I was cleaning the dishes he went to watch the TV. It was about 1:00pm. Later I joined him. Soon he complained of itchy sensation at his back and requested me to scratch his back. Then he complained of dizziness as if the house was whirling. I helped him to stand and told him to lie on the floor. I called for Alex to get his blood pressure. He came and requested me to call 911 and his brothers. I know he was having an attack so I called everybody running to and fro from the telephone and his sides. Alex could not get his blood pressure so I shouted prayers towards his ears (“The Act of Contrition” and “Jesus, Mary, Joseph”). The 911 team arrived and when I saw his ECG straight I called Msgr Andrews, our pastor. They came one by one in succession – Meddy (first daughter), Heidi (daughter-in-law), Msgr Andrews, another truck of 911, then Sonny (first son) and other doctors.

It was after 3:00pm when they pronounced him gone(The death certificate actually records 1:30pm as Lolo Paul’s time of death.). I went up to get a candle and on the floor I picked up a picture of Christ; at the back [of which it says] ‘Safely Home’. I could not cry, but shouted, “Thy will be done, O Lord.”

The funeral parlor arrived and took him. Then so many people arrived so we have to start our prayers. With the approaching thanksgiving [Day], no viewing was scheduled until Friday – Saturday – Sunday and on Monday November 26 he was buried after the Mass of Resurrection where Fr Robert Sheridan officiated and gave the Homily.

‘Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.’