Julius Cesar Navarro Flores

Julius Cesar Flores was born on Wednesday, December 7th, 1955 in Bataan, Philippines. He was the first born of six children, all of whom saw him as a role model and one to emulate. As a young man, Julius thirsted for knowledge, always studying, reading, and self-teaching. He taught himself to speak French (which came in handy for multiple visits to France in later years) as well as mastered the piano on his own. A huge accomplishment of his was to save up and finally buy a piano for the home, which is still in use to this day.

He loved music. Not only did he learn to play it, he sang it well. You would always find Julius near the karaoke machine at family gatherings where friends and family constantly requested his renditions of Sinatra, Manilow, Mathis and Joel (and you better believe it was hard to tell his voice apart from the artist). He taught his four kids to enjoy music as well and passed down the piano torch to his eldest son and youngest daughter (whereas his first daughter inherited his signature trait: smooth and melodic vocals).

Julius was also a man of few words. The quiet one of the bunch, if you will. But he spoke loudly through photography - a hobby that he was so gifted in that it earned him the unofficial title of “Wedding Photographer of Choice” by newly engaged and married couples. You would seldom find him camera-less (…well, except in the last decade, when the iPhone transformed into a mini DSLR). One can even argue that he also invented “le selfie” with his trusty Minolta (there are photos to prove it).

Julius leaves behind a trail of wonderful and fond memories. If there is anything to truly remember him by, it’s his deep value to keep an open mind and uphold integrity, discerning right from wrong and speaking the truth in the face of adversity. Never a follower or conformist, he thought and acted of his own accord, even if it meant gracefully welcoming harsh criticism and silent judgment from his peers. He serves as an inspiration to all and will forever be loved by those who were honored to be a part of his life, even if it was for a fleeting moment.

On Monday, December 13th, 2021, the world lost a loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle and friend… but he is not lost in our hearts.