Just found out today from the DLSU Brother’s Facebook page that Bro. Ceci passed away. Messages of condolences are streaming into the site.

I came into contact with Bro. Ceci during my Senior year of highschool, when he got assigned to our La Salle school. I don’t remember what position he was given then but what is important is that in his capacity as a La Salle brother in our school he touched a lot of lives and made a difference.

Of the 5 La Salle brothers that I came into contact with Bro. Ceci belonged to the group of 3 that were well loved by the student body (Bro. Felix and Bro. Rafe were the other two) Not that I’m saying that the other two weren’t, its just that this group of 3 had that “charisma” that endeared them to the students.

I’ve realized now that that special “charisma” they had was composed of two things. One, they were all great story tellers. Pick a topic or situation and they could always come up with a story or anecdote to attach to it so that you could learn a life lesson. Not to mention that the way they told it made you never want to ask for five minutes of your life back, because you would be deeply entertained and amused.

The second, and probably the most important, is a genuine and honest capacity when relating to people. When you talked to him, you talked to “him”. There wasn’t any hidden agenda or false facade that said that the kindness they were showing you was fake. They were really honest and true people.

I remember having a heart to heart talk with him during my senior year, despite his busy schedule at that time he did not turn me away. A few years later as I was walking through the corridors of DLSU and was looking gloomy (yeah college load can do that to you) he stopped me in my path and asked me if I was doing OK. I was deeply touched that he still remembered me despite it having been such a long time already.

I also remember that he was one proud Ilonggo. And how his Dad always told him that if he wasn’t happy anymore being a brother, then he could always go back to them. Guess, we know now that he really enjoyed his vocation as a De La Salle Brother because he never went back to his family.

Sayonara Bro. Ceci., see you in Heaven and please don’t forget to PRAY FOR US!

Update:One Brother Ceci anecdote I have happened when he gave a talk to our senior class. Am not sure if he was subbing for our Christian Living teacher, because it is uncommon nowadays to have a brother teaching class. Or maybe this happened during our retreat? Anyway, with that soothing Ilonggo voice of his he had us enthralled with a lecture on the immorality of p*rnography. He started by asking us ” what do you think of p*ornography?”. When we gave our answers he related how one class of our sister school, La Salle Greenhills (LSGH), answered differently at first. Compared to ours, LSGH was an all-boys school. So when he asked them what they thought about it they all howled with glee and delightfully banged their fists on the table. Then he followed it up with a second question: “what do you think of p*rnography…..with your mother or sister?”, to which the LSGH class shouted and banged their fists with glee even louder. The LSGH class of course quieted down, got serious and gave very insightful answers to Bro. Ceci This story may not sound funny on text but if you could just imagine Bro. Ceci re-enacting this scene with the howling and the banging you would laugh yourself to the floor. You’d assume that the LSGH class was a bad bunch of students, but the reality is that that was just how comfortable people were with Bro. Ceci that they lose their inhibitions and open themselves up to him. Talking openly and kidding around with him was the norm, without losing their respect for Bro. Ceci of course.

Tags: Brother Ceci Hojilla, De La Salle Brother

After watching this, I see no difference between magicians and some of the powers-that-be. With regards to the methods they use to fool us in order to turn their vested interests into reality. You just have to look back at the history of the great wars of this century and how they started to see my point. Just goes to show that if you don’t have reason to do something, then you can always make one up.

originally from here

Its old, it creaks, its been painted over a couple of times… but its still sturdy as ever… Thick metal frame, when steel was still cheap and hard wooden base, when wood of that type could still be harvested from the country’s forests.

I remember the family sleeping in one room at times and this bed would serve as the centerpiece of all activities. From wholesome card playing, to tv watching and then some family conversations.

Boy, if this bed could talk… we’d probably have to burn it… *snicker*

I ask this because on my own it would be difficult to accomplish, given that pride is something that people have a lot of and can’t easily let go of. Yet if you acquire it, you will live the unburdened life of being devoid of materialism and beholden only to God.

Tall order. But thankfully, with God, all things are possible.

Tags: Humility, Faith

To which she put her hand to my cheek and answered: “Nothing, I just love having you as my husband” I also got a kiss to go along with that.

And that is one of the reasons why I never end the day without thanking God for giving me a loving wife, a beautiful son and this life I have.

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

Get Well soon Steve Jobs …

Comic from XKCD

Tags: Steve Jobs, XKCD

After a little more experimentation we finally confirmed that it was indeed the sound of my voice that was putting him to sleep.

I hope it was because of the soothing sound of my baritone voice and not really because I was boring him to sleep. *snicker*

Tags: Sleep