JOSEPH M. GUTIERREZ

Condolences & Memories (1 entries)

• I was told of Popoy's passing a few days ago but saw these postings just today and could not help but feel very sad. I would never forget the times we spent with the family in Banca Banca Victoria, Laguna during our summer vacation. The memories are still kept so close to my heart as they remain, as I call it, one of the best times in my childhood life. Popoy (or Joseph) and I shared many similar things other than having the same age. He and I were circumcised (the removal of the prepuce of ... you know what I mean) at the same day by the same man almost at the same hour. Needless to say, we underwent the daily-nightly "cleaning" rituals to heal the wound. I could still vividly remember Tatay Dandoy constantly checking on us to make sure that we were doing fine. Popoy was a quiet boy, always seemed to be listening and interested. He probably liked smiling a lot as I could not recall any time seeing him sad. He was such a good audience to have as he showed interest in my stories about living in Manila and the difference from what it was like living in Victoria. I remember him showing me how to stay in the middle of "palayan" by just ourselves as we kept our vigil at the riverbanks where the “itiks” (black/brown ducks) spent their night. He was able to get up the coconut tree with nary a problem and chop open a buko with his ever-present bolo that he brought with him wherever he went. Getting hungry in Banca Banca was non-existent as Popoy could go pick the ripest star apples (cayumito) either with the use of a monopod-like picker or by simply going up the tree and pick it out, himself. We had numerous “nilupak” sessions where he had to always get the repinada (brown sugar) from a nearby store. And of course, the unripe saba bananas were just from one of the thousand trees in the backyard. Popoy, though still young, was able to man the giikan (rice miller) business the family had. One thing no one was able to stop Popoy from doing was to play basketball at the courts of Banca Banca School, right just in front of the house. He would play shooting and dribbling with a group or just by himself. At nights, Popoy would join her Ate Monina at the batalan where the poso (manual water pump) was situated - listening to “Gabi ng Lagim” on the transistor radio, then the only source of any broadcasting system since they did not have electricity available in that side of Laguna. Popoy just loved the said horror radio program (or was it because it was the only program available then). After many years, Popoy and I met once again here in the US, when he had a short vacation in the late 80's. During that time, we spent hours recalling all the fond moments we had when we were little kids and the laughter was endless. To my second family, the Gutierrezes, to my Ate Heide Gutierrez Domingo, Gado, Ate Monina, Olan, Lalaine, Arlene, Boyet and Janet, and all who love Popoy, please accept my sincere condolences….. and THANK YOU for the love and friendship and all the memories that come with it. They will forever be treasured. Like · - Posted by: SANDI DOMINGO (FRIEND) on: Mar 05, 2015