Briccio Bautista Sulapat

Lorenzo and Flora were blessed with their youngest son on July 9, 1926 whom they named Briccio. Lorenzo and Flora taught Briccio and his siblings: Vicente, Luis, Mikacia, Francisco, Norma, and Ignacia how to farm. Briccio is also known as Bering and to many he is Lolo Bering. Briccio was known to be quiet but " makamandag" as a young man. As a teenager, Bering worked in the rice field and was a very hard working man. He did not rest, not even a single day. Even when the moon was out and high, we would still be working in the fields. Bering would be in the field early mornings as well. In 1947, he was blessed with a son named Mario. In 1948, he married Maxima and had nine children: Luzviminda, Josefino, Angelina, Loreto, Mario, Flora, Feliciana, Ernesto, and Teresita. In 1980, Maxima and Bering migrated to the United States to continue to provide for his children. He worked as a cook at Yakitori for about 12 years. When his children arrived in the U.S. in 1987, he worked alongside his daughters Feliciana and Flora. Even though he left his left life in the Philippines as a farmer, Bering continued his passion for farming. He planted in his home in Grissom and then Strudel. When he visited his children's homes, he would plant in their yards. Some of his favorite things to plant are kalamansi, lemon, persimmon, and roses. In 1991, his wife Maxima passed away. When he stopped working, Bering spent his time taking care of his grandchildren and their yards. On the weekdays he went from house to house taking care of his grandchildren. And on weekends he went home to Struedle where he worked on the backyard and watched his shows. Early Saturday mornings he would trim his rose bushed or his kalians tree or during harvest season he would fill up baskets and baskets of his kalamansi or lemon. Aside from gardening he enjoyed watching boxing. Even if the boxing match was a rerun, he would enjoy it as if it was his first time watching. Another favorite show he watched was Hawaii Five-O. One of his grandchildren recalled not being able to watch cartoons until Lolo Bering finished watching Hawaii Five-O. Lolo Bering always made his famous and delicious breaded shrimp. A fun fact about Lolo Bering is that he would always have his right thumb nail really long. He continued to go from house to house babysitting and gardening until his late 70s and early 80s due to a decline in his health. On October 18, 2017 he had surgery on his femur, due to a fall. On the day of the surgery, he was doing well and it was not until the next day that complications started to occur. Bering was surrounded by his family member near and far (through video calls). He showed his love for his children until his last moments by continuing to fight to hear all of his children's voices. Bering was predeceased by his wife Maxima and two daughters Luzviminda and Flora. He is survived by his 8 children, 30 grandchildren, 37 great- grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He will always be remembered as the loving Tatay, Lolo, PaPu, and Tiyo Bering who loved eating, gardening, boxing, and a man with a great smile!