Tim M Degaños Sr.

Tim Martin Degaños, Sr.

Ninety-one years and 7 months ago, on February 14, 1931, Timoteo becomes the second of 10 children of Democrito and Marcelina Degaños. He grows up until his earliteen with his cousins, the Martin boys--Nemy, Jun and Ben-- in San Roque, Polo, Bulacan. He is eleven years old when the Japanese occupied the Philippines. After the Philippines was liberated from the Japanese occupation and after completion of his elementary education, he rejoins his family in Meycauayan, Bulacan. At that early age, he starts learning to be a goldsmith to earn money to help his father in supporting their family. He develops to be one of the best goldsmiths among his peers. At age seventeen, he meets, falls in love real hard, and marries his beloved Ceferina. Together, they start a family that grows as big as his father's-- 10 children, 6 sons and 4 daughters. (From this point on, in this life story, we will refer to him as Tatay) The needs of his big family make Tatay to work hard and diligently on his job day and night. Saturday Sabbaths and some Sundays are spent bonding with his children. The demands of his growing family are great. The Filipino tradition is that he has all the authority to require his older children to go to work to help support the whole family. Instead, Tatay allows them to continue their education beyond elementary school, to high school and to college if they so desire, working for themselves with some support Tatay could afford to spare. When his older children finish college, have professional jobs and start building their own families, an oportunity to join his oldest son Jerry and family in Loma Linda, California opens up in 1986, which he and Nanay happily accept. A chance visit by his doctor cousin Temiong and his wife Auring from Florida who have a well-established Senior Nursing Home business there becomes an unexpected blessing for Tatay and Nanay. They generously offer Tatay and Nanay to work there which they gladly accepted. After some time, Tatay and Nanay decide to return to Loma Linda. In a short while, Tatay learns how to drive only with coaching by his son; secures a job in a vegetarian restaurant which is just a walking distance from home. When that restaurant, unfortunately has to close down for business, the owner who was so impressed by Tatay's devoted service, makes sure that he would not be unemployed. That kind businessman helps him get a job at the Loma Linda Market Bakery. There, Tatay has a stable, steady job for many years until his retirement. During those years, he buys his own brand new car, lives with Nanay in their own rented apartment, supports in school his children and later granchildren in the Philippines and gives assistance to extended family there whenever he could. In the standard of the world, Tatay's material possesion does not measure much. But for the little he has been blessed, he has done so much good. Also, during those years, he actively participates in the Filipino Tagalog SDA Church where he serves as an elder during its pioneering period; makes lasting friendship with many of the members. Tatay is good-natured, sociable, kind and generous.

Tatay is thoughtful. He has the amazing skill of remembering birthdays. Not easy to do with the size family he has. He hands the celebrant with a gift in kind, but usually money, not much but enough to make you feel that you are special, and you are remembered by him.

Traits that his descendants-- children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the better to emulate.

Post-retirement, Tatay and Nanay live with their youngest daughter Ellen and her growing family. While Nanay helps at home, Tatay takes up the duty of transporting his three grandchildren to and from the Loma Linda Academy/ Elementary School. He makes friends there by engaging some new-found friends in interesting conversations. Tatay Tim who has only an elementary education has broken the language barrier. What he lacks in English language proficiency, he makes up with his universal language of kindness, caring and generosity.

Tatay's limited formal education did not stop him to encourage and inspire his grandchildren to pursue higher education. His grandchildren, 31 of them are college educated or the younger ones are aiming to go to college. Undoubtedly, the same desire for higher education will be inculcated in his great-granchildren-- 35 of them. It is a great delight this year for Tatay to see a granddaughter and two great-granddaughters graduate from college.

Family is Tatay's most valuable treasure, the core of his joy while still living.

Tatay breathed his last peacefully on August 29, 2022. He was preceded in death by Nanay and his daughter Jocelyn.

What a great event it will be, to see everybody on that Resurrection Day when Jesus comes again!