Tito Otie

Piet, salamat. 

That was Tito Otie's response when I sent him a photo of the Blessed Sacrament and Belen (Nativity Scene) taken in our parish church in December 2023. 

When he was still with us, he was a devotee of both. He was a member of the Adoracion Nocturna Filipina, a religious group back home who spend night adorations in church before the Blessed Sacrament.  He was also a lover of the Belen. Every Christmas, his house would not be complete without this. He would make every effort to decorate it as though it was a miniature of the massive Belen in the parish church of Kawit, Cavite.

Tito Otie was such a generous uncle who, every Christmas, would give us gifts. He would give his aguinaldo after the Midnight Mass, just as we have had our Noche Buena. In our late teens, we - my brother Gio and cousins Erwin and Eldin - would feel embarrassed and hide ourselves. Sensing this, he gave us his gift unnoticed.

Part of any graduating student's life is to have their graduation photo taken. As we were on a tight budget then, Tito Otie kindly paid for it. He was so happy when I completed my studies.

He was a cool and patient guy whom I never seen to be angry or uttered curses. He always showed a confident and strong persona which puts us at ease especially during times of trial. When Tita Erling (RIP), his wife, was ill, he was her source of strength. I witnessed how he consoled and affirmed her. Never have I seen him cry during funerals, except when his aunt, Lola Chitang passed away.

Going back to the Belen. He used to tell a story that he went to the church in Kawit to pray. He was under the weather then. This happened during Christmastime. As he was praying, he noticed that the hay on top of the Nativity Scene was smoking. There was short circuit in the wire that ignited the hay. He rushed to the sanctuary to help in putting the fire off. He said that in that incident, God used him as an instrument of preventing what would have been a disaster.  In any act of kindness he did, Tito Otie would not take the credit. He would just admit that God used him as an instrument of His graciousness.

Salamat po, Tito Otie.

I guess that these words would be on my lips, heart, and mind every time I think of my beloved uncle. His generosity and words of wisdom; his faith, hope, and love; his devotion to marriage and family; his love of learning, history, and culture; his very self is a gift that will forever be cherished.

Tito Otie, many thanks for the gift of you. I missed you last Christmas as I was decorating my Belen at home and in church. As we commemorate your first death anniversary tomorrow (2 February) may the Lord Jesus - the light sent to enlighten the pagans and the glory of Israel, the Sacred Host adored in every tabernacles across the world - welcome you into His loving presence. As you bore the light of Christ when you were still with us, rest assured that we will continue your legacy. We love you!

Tito Otie

"Maaalalahanin ang kapatid kong yan" (My sibling is really thoughtful.), Mommy Rosie told a colleague. She was referring to her older brother, Rustico "Tito Otie" Samaniego.  She further explained that Tito Otie would often travel from Caloocan (and later from Las Pinas when his brood moved there) to Kawit just to check how his folks (i.e. father, siblings, etc.) were doing.

When we were kids, we feared Tito Otie because he comes across as a strict and serious uncle.  I remember one time we went to Bataan for the town fiesta. He was my room mate.  At the middle of the night, I suddenly woke up because he sneezed.  I laughed until he told me to pack it in.

We used to visit their place in Morning Breeze Subdivision in Caloocan since it's quite near to Tondo.  I think I would spend the weekend with him, Tita Erling, and their kids - Manong Don, Manang Mae, and Manang Ping.  Mommy Rosie and Manong Bob also lived with them.  Christmas is a perfect time to be there, for me, because he loves to display the Belen (Nativity Scene) in their living room.  One could see how creative he is as to how this traditional religious Christmas décor comes alive. I saw Tito Otie's human side when he got sick and told me that he might not be able to put up the Belen.  As a kid, I kept wondering and asked if others could do it.  He did get well and was able to continue the tradition.  In our latest visit at home in 2010, I was happy to see his Belen  when we paid him and Tita Erling a visit.

Tito Otie is not an extravagant type of person.  He once told me that it's not how much you earn that is important; it's how much you save. And that saving will see us through when the going gets tough.

As I see it, he is a faithful lover and disciple of history.  He can trace how we are related to this or that person.  He is affiliated too with the Kawit Historical Society.  He values culture which is why during big events in Kawit such as Maytinis or Holy Week, you'd expect him to be there. During Maytinis, particularly when the Coros Villancicos is sung, he would play his batingting (triangle). 

One can also engage with him in discussions on culture, current events and other issues besetting society. There was a time I heard him sharing his thoughts with the late Fr Luciano Paguiligan (former parish priest of Kawit) on how we could prevent any mishaps in church while the Belen is displayed there - he once had a first hand experience of how the Belen in church would have been razed to the ground had he not seen smoke coming from the stable due to an electrical fault!    

I have developed an interest in a few of his areas of interest (e.g. history, culture, social issues, theology, etc.), except for dancing of which he is the master!

Tito Otie is a conscientious family man.  Together with Tita Erling, they nurtured their children to the best of their abilities.  He also is a doting grandfather and I loved to watch him as he cradled in his arms Abby and Elaine years ago. 

It was his initiative that, every time we gather for the Noche Buena after the Midnight Mass, he would give distribute his pamasko to everyone.  When Lolo Gusing (his dad) was still alive, Tito Otie would ask him to distribute the gifts. When we were in our late teens, I felt a bit ashamed to receive my gift, but Tito Otie made me, my brother Gio, and cousins Erwin and Eldin at ease. 

When I was about to graduate in UST, he paid for my graduation portrait as his gift for me.  I could see the happiness and pride in his face as he shook my hands to congratulate me.  

I later found out how complimentary Tito Otie is.  When he hears how anyone of nephews and nieces were good in school, he would say "(A)ba!" (Wow).  He shows the same attitude to other people.  This affirmation I witnessed again when he made a sign of the cross on Nidz and I a few weeks after our wedding. He did it again when he proudly showed our aguinaldo to others in one our Christmas visits in the Philippines. I felt humbled by his gesture. 

Tito Otie is truly a father who journeyed with me and with the rest of the clan through thick and thin.  I learned a lot from that journey. Disciplining us when we were kids, Tito Otie pruned us. As we grew up, he is still there not as much as a disciplinarian, but as an advocate, an inspiration, a source of strength and wisdom saying: "Be fruitful!".

Happy 82nd birthday, Tito Otie! Thank you for being such a thoughtful uncle to me.  Your words of wisdom and care are much appreciated.  May God bless you always! We love you!