My beloved grandfather passed away unexpectedly last January. I miss him terribly. Once I dreamed about him and I actually heard him speak. I regret that I did not get to visit him more often in his twilight years. But I have very fond memories of my childhood because of him.
He was the typical grandfather, doting and loving towards his grandchildren. He was an intelligent man too. Caring and family-oriented. He speaks fluent Spanish, English and Ilokano. And best of all, he was a man of God.
My grandfather was a pastor in the church I grew up in. Sundays would be spent worshipping our Creator while summer vacations were filled with visits to PhilSite and Luneta Park.
He died at the ripe age of 76. The upcoming Christmas will be the first Christmas without him. It will be sad but all I can do is reminisce our great times together.
Last November 21, I got acquainted with someone whom I can see my grandfather in. He won the best blog in the Nature & Environment category in the recently concluded Bloggys 2015 event.
I got curious since he was an elderly who knew how to blog. And won an award at that! It was encouraging and inspiring for younger people like me. But truth to be told, he greatly reminded me of my dear grandfather who I will never get to see anymore in a long, long time.
When me and my friends saw him taking pictures by the giant Christmas tree, I knew I would like to have my photo taken with him too. I found the courage and walked up to him and said, ‘Can I have a picture with you sir?’ I put my arm around his waist and whispered to him that he reminded me of my grandfather. It was enough to fight back the tears.
I did my research and found out his name is Dr. Aberico V. Rotor or Abe for short. Well the good man is not just a blogger but behind him is a colorful history of personal achievements one could only be proud of.
His blog description states:
Award-winning author of “The Living with Nature Handbook” (Gintong Aklat Award 2003) and “Living with Nature in Our Times” (National Book Award 2008); professor, University of Santo Tomas; School-on-Air instructor, (Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid, winner of Gawad Oscar Florendo for Development Communication) DZRB 738 KHzAM Band, 8 to 9 o’clock evening, Monday to Friday.); Outstanding Teacher in the Philippines (Commission on Higher Education – CHED 2002); Filipino Scientist (DOST-Batong Balani); former Director, National Food Authority; and Consultant on food and agriculture, Senate of the Philippines.
It was a starstruck moment for me I guess. And I hope I will meet Dr. Rotor again and ask him tales of the past that only people his age can tell with a touch of regality and authority.
Congratulations sir!
