(March 26, 1898 – July 12, 1963)

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I only have a few recollections of my Lolo Barang (simply Lolo) because I was 9 years old (Grade 4) when I first came to Liliw in 1961 and stayed with him till he died in 1963 when I was 11 years old (Grade 6) – a period of three years.

 

My brother, Jun (aka Bernie), then only 6 years old in 1961 and I moved from Cebu City where our parents lived at that time and started our new lives in Liliw with our grandparents, Lolo Barang and Lola Cion.

I remember Lolo was a tall man at 5 feet, 11 inches, stocky-built, balding, and a bit dark because he loved walking around town and sweeping the street daily in front of our house with his bamboo-handled broomstick. I knew he played tennis but I did not see him in action. I would surmise these activities served as his exercise routine.

I recall Lolo, who was a doctor, was a great physician as many townspeople of all ages – from infants to seniors – came to see him for various illnesses and minor surgeries, not only during the day but also at night. He used the ground floor of our three-story house as his clinic and had a small bedroom beside it where he slept. I also remember that he himself sometimes had to improvise and concoct his own medication formula when medicines and medical supplies ran low and were inadequate.

He was kind-hearted, too. He would accept payment which the patient can only afford, even also payment in-kind (rice, coconuts, lanzones, etc.) and sometimes, even with no doctor’s fee. For this and his excellent manner of treatment, he was well-loved by his patients and, in fact, the whole town.

He was also a simple man. He had simple taste in food and clothing – for instance, pan de sal and coffee for breakfast, and camiso chino and maong (denim pants) for daily wear.

 

Lolo was also a strict disciplinarian. A man of few words, he had “rules” that you need not break or otherwise, you “get the belt.” While I knew he had fondness of me being a consistent first honour student in class, I get a “belt whip” once in a while when I “break the rules”, e.g., not eating or napping on time, playing around during study times, and other “naughty child stuff.”

 

Though I was with Lolo for a short time, I missed him when he passed. For me, he was the father I longed for and a great person to be with, not to mention a doctor par excellence. He has instilled in me the thoughtfulness and caring for people around you as well as the practicality and discipline to go through life. I miss you, Lolo Barang!

 

By:
Octavio “Bobby” Borlaza Peralta
“Lolo Barang as I Recall Him”
December 27, 2019