Lamberto B. Labitan

Lamberto, Bert, Kuya, Boy, Mahal, Pa, and Lolo. Those were all the names he was known by. He was a resourceful person, kind, and generous. He loved to cook, to share his martial arts with whom ever wanted to learn, he loved God and was not afraid to show it. He was a man that sacrificed for his family. He didn't need to be asked, he just did it. Many times he would work long days and nights, overtime, and holidays to provide for his family.

As a young man in the Philippines if there was no food on the table he would go out and catch it, without being asked. He would walk through the town with a net thrown over his shoulder that reeked of rotten chicken headed for the nearest body of water to catch some crabs. His joy was in seeing his family cared for and provided for, his joy was in teaching, his joy was in giving to others.

A lover of fishing, diving, Siete Pares Escrima, and animals-he had a tender heart. He was a man of little complaints. If there was something troubling him or others he would say, “Just Pray.”

If there was a moment of joy and celebration the first thing he would say was, “Praise the Lord.” He was a man of simple pleasures and joys. If you were happy then so was he.