I am blogging this farewell letter of Chaddy, my wife's youngest sister, which speaks of the same sentiment and emotion that we all have in the family when we lost a dear brother-in-law Romeo "Boy" Noveda. Tatay Boy as we all endear him in the family, succumbed to a fatal cardiac arrest on that Saturday morning of 27th December 2008. His health, outlook in life and disposition never showed any earlier indications that he was bidding farewell to this earthly life. In a very strange twist of fate, that day was their wedding anniversary. We were all shocked in disbelief, wanting to wake up from a nightmare. At that time, we were also preparing for the Muga Family Reunion scheduled on the 29th and 30th. 
What was intended to be a time of merry making and celebration turned out to be a time of mourning and sorrow. 2008 was a blessed year for the clan and Tatay Boy's untimely loss was a tragic way to end 2008. Nevertheless, as Kara Mae aptly mentioned in her eulogy to her Tatay last December 31, in everything...a reason. 2009 would then be a reason for new beginnings.
Our condolences to Cathy, Kara Mae and Nicole (Nina Dominique). Headstrong still for 2009 because He who began a good work in our lives will be faithful to complete it. He will turn our mourning into dancing!
Please see this link to Kara Mae's blog on her Tatay in http://dwata.multiply.com/journal/item/37/About_To_Bury_My_Father. Kara is ABS-CBN Cebu's showbiz television reporter and a lifestyle editor at Sun Star Cebu. She's a cum laude MassCom graduate from UP and a protege of her Tatay's writing prowess. As Atty. Edgar Labella (Boy was his Executive Assistant at his Cebu City Council Office) puts in his eulogy, Boy's life evolved in the three women of his life - his most dearly possession and inheritance that he was very proud of - Cathy, Kara and Nicole! Cheers to life Tatay Boy!
Here's Chaddy's goodbye piece to Boy:
Indescribable sorrow fills our hearts…. a sorrow that is deep and personal. Boy has silently and swiftly closed the door of life, but he will always be remembered lovingly……
Albert Einstein said, "The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive." In one word, Boy was a man who gave. He gave so much to his family, relatives, friends, and his work. He was a selfless man……ready to serve everybody first, before himself.
Boy was living proof of how fine a person can be. He was a loving husband to Babes, and a devoted father to Kara Mae and Nicole. He was also a good friend to many of us and a great colleague. The character of the life he lived might be summed up in a few words: he was sincere, he was earnest, he was loyal.
I remember all the times when I used to visit his family. He would always be accommodating, ready to cook my favorite garlic rice and all my favorite dishes. Never complained about the time he spent preparing, nor complained about my voracious appetite and the expense of it. He knew I loved coffee, so he would always have it ready, even without asking. He always listens to my life dramas but never judge me.
He taught me facts of life….how to be open to people and their needs…..how to be a good influence in the circle you are in. How to survive in the midst of crisis and how to take things in stride. He was very practical. A man of few words but heavy with wisdom. You would know that he is deep in thought, when he looks at you sideways, with his neck tilted and his eyes looking at you at a certain angle --- his signature pose.
He was such a loving and supportive husband and father. I remember a friend of mine told me once, that they would be happy to end up with somebody like Boy - doing chores that some men would consider less manly, took active part in the rearing and discipline of the kids, and always ready to be there for my sister. He was also very diplomatic in handling issues with in-laws. He was cool….and always positive. Never lacked in giving comments …… with dry humor.
In his career, he worked with passion, integrity and energy. By his death all the people who knew him will miss a highly intelligent, vibrant yet silent individual with a rare friendliness and charm of personality. Boy was a genuinely warm and wonderful —one we will miss greatly. Our sorrow is lessened only slightly with the comforting thought that we had the privilege to know him.
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
To sweet eternity
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
But never mean to stay…
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll make a great step forward,
And find an everlasting peace,
As our special reward.
Good bye Boy! We will always miss you! And may you rest in peace in God's embrace!
Charisse
Albert Einstein said, "The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive." In one word, Boy was a man who gave. He gave so much to his family, relatives, friends, and his work. He was a selfless man……ready to serve everybody first, before himself.
Boy was living proof of how fine a person can be. He was a loving husband to Babes, and a devoted father to Kara Mae and Nicole. He was also a good friend to many of us and a great colleague. The character of the life he lived might be summed up in a few words: he was sincere, he was earnest, he was loyal.
I remember all the times when I used to visit his family. He would always be accommodating, ready to cook my favorite garlic rice and all my favorite dishes. Never complained about the time he spent preparing, nor complained about my voracious appetite and the expense of it. He knew I loved coffee, so he would always have it ready, even without asking. He always listens to my life dramas but never judge me.
He taught me facts of life….how to be open to people and their needs…..how to be a good influence in the circle you are in. How to survive in the midst of crisis and how to take things in stride. He was very practical. A man of few words but heavy with wisdom. You would know that he is deep in thought, when he looks at you sideways, with his neck tilted and his eyes looking at you at a certain angle --- his signature pose.
He was such a loving and supportive husband and father. I remember a friend of mine told me once, that they would be happy to end up with somebody like Boy - doing chores that some men would consider less manly, took active part in the rearing and discipline of the kids, and always ready to be there for my sister. He was also very diplomatic in handling issues with in-laws. He was cool….and always positive. Never lacked in giving comments …… with dry humor.
In his career, he worked with passion, integrity and energy. By his death all the people who knew him will miss a highly intelligent, vibrant yet silent individual with a rare friendliness and charm of personality. Boy was a genuinely warm and wonderful —one we will miss greatly. Our sorrow is lessened only slightly with the comforting thought that we had the privilege to know him.
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
To sweet eternity
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
But never mean to stay…
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll make a great step forward,
And find an everlasting peace,
As our special reward.
Good bye Boy! We will always miss you! And may you rest in peace in God's embrace!
Charisse
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