Every night, through the four-day wake of Tony at the funeral parlor, we had a memorial service where we were fed with God’s Word and prayed over. In each of those services, at least two people delivered a eulogy (which my brothers preferred to call “fond remembrances” because “a eulogy is a formal oration").
These remembrances showed me facets of Tony's heart that I never knew or glossed over, but were held dear by those who spoke.
They said it in beautiful words I can never echo, but this is how they touched me.
My brother Matt spoke about Tony taking him under our roof (we had just gotten married) as part of the household when Matt’s job brought him to Manila. "No questions asked." Matt lived with us till he got married.
My brother Dave said the same thing about Tony who wanted ("no questions asked") him to stay with us when he came to Manila for college. Dave added that Tony brought them to international shows like the “Lettermen” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and often treated them out. Dave lived with us till he graduated and found a job.
My brother Earl (who flew in from Australia one week sfter the wake) reminisced about the same thing—invitation to be a part of our home. He recalled that his first job was to go to many places in a private jet to assist Tony with his duties for an advertising campaign. Earl lived with us till he found a job that took him out of Manila.
There were many more. But as I rued, much as I try, I can’t write them better than how they felt and narrated it.
Now traveling to many years back through blog posts . . . I realize, there were many poignant scenes I missed, or took for granted. But by the grace of hindsight, I was given a chance to see them, high res in slomo, at the wake.
Tony treated my brothers like they were his own—bound and closely related in everything but blood.
Let me quote the last two lines of Garth Brook’s song:
"And they say blood is thicker than water,
But love is thicker than blood."
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