Samuel Nambatac Galope

I never realized until I was in my early teens how extraordinary my dad was. You see he was brought up Old School where children quietly obeyed and spoke only when spoken to. Aunts and uncles would tell stories of his early academic achievements, colleagues would speak of his unshakeable integrity and strangers would come thankful for random favors. Their stories in part helped us crack the enigma that was Dad. We learned that behind the gruff exterior lived a softie who was easy prey to our tears and sob stories. His job provided many opportunities for easy pickings but he was ferociously determined to raise his family on his government salary. He was a self-effacing man who was never comfortable in the limelight.

To us he was the embodiment of a superhero- strong, wise, handsome, humble and gentle: ready to spring to our rescue.

Sadly our superhero was not indestructible. He was eventually struck down by a lingering illness.

How do you say goodbye to someone you don't want to go? How do you express your love to someone who loves you much more?

Welcome to our tribute to our Dad. In life he would say all this ado is too much. Sorry Dad, but this time you will just have to hear what we have to say.

The last two months had been tough for our family. Our Dad did not bounce back to health after two hospital stays. In the early hours of Monday, April 18, 2016, he passed away peacefully at home, with Mama and all of his children laying hands on him. He was 87.

My Dad grew up in the province of Bohol in the Philippines. Oh how he loved that place. If you wanted to see this taciturn man turn chatty, give him a beer and ask him about Bohol. He would smile, his eyes would light up, and he would start to relate stories of his boyhood.

When he was a young man, he went to Manila and worked as a horse groom. Later we would learn that sleeping quarters was the roof of a horse stable. He moved on to other odd jobs like billboard artist, janitor, construction, etc in order to support himself. Did I tell you he was putting himself through Engineering school while he was doing these? Wait, there's more. Without taking a break, he took his licensure exams and came out as one of the topnotchers. He also sent my Mom to school. She is a now retired school teacher.

At the height of his career, my Dad was a Civil Engineer consultant in Saudi Arabia. He helped build many of the major highways that now crisscross the vast expanse of that desert kingdom. He was previously Assistant City Engineer for the city of Manila in the Philippines. Life was hard and money was tight because he and my Mom put all seven kids through college. He used to introduce each and everyone of us by our college degrees. He was so proud of his two nurses, two doctors and particularly of his three engineers.

My Dad is the kindest person I know. As a little girl, our sister would often ask him to buy one of those birds that vendors sell outside the church. Not wanting to say no to his little girl, he used to make a deal with her. He would buy it for her, but when they got home, they would set it free....and he always did. Once he was a passenger on a bus that was involved in a hit-and-run. As the bus was speeding away, he jumped out and rushed to the victim. He brought her to the hospital and made sure she was taken care of. He also paid for everything, even as he was struggling to make ends meet. Dad never told us about this, we just heard the stories from people who were just as amazed.

You can take the man out of engineering but you can't take engineering out of the man. In his retirement he kept busy by drawing up elaborate engineering projects. None of them would ever see fruition but that didnt matter to him. Doing complex calculations and designs just brought him pure joy. He had a design for a causeway connecting Manila to Cavite, also a plan to dam up Manila Bay to catch fresh water. He said it would eventually be a most sought-after commodity for the city.

On the night he died, we- Mom, all of his kids, a son-in-law and grandkids were with him. When it was time we laid hands on him and said our final goodbyes. It was sad and at the same time beautiful. He was finally at peace.

By now Daddy is probably blushing, as he does not handle attention very well. You know what Dad, you will be blushing for all eternity, because we are all so proud of you, and we can never stop talking about you to our kids, and their kids. Wherever kindness and love is present we will know that you are there. Rest now in peace.

Goodbye Superman.