Bienvenido M. Rabara

My beloved dad, Bienvenido M. Rabara, entered into the glory of the Lord’s presence on March 10, 2021, at the blessed age of 90 years old, in San Jose, California. He was born on April 8, 1930, in Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines, was third of nine children born to Juan & Agrifina Rabara. He immigrated to America, in 1991.

Ben or Edong, as he was fondly called, worked at Clark Air Base, Angeles City, Philippines, where he met the love of his life, Juliana, my mom and they were inseparable for fifty-seven long happy years. His family and close friends know his extraordinary fondness for music and he could play by ear. His enamored instruments are the guitar and harmonica; he also plays the bandurria, and other wind or string instruments. His love for music had greatly inspired me and my siblings to also sing or compose songs. Hence, all of us could also play several instruments like him. He composed several short funny jingles that he happily sang daily with made up comic words to pets and family. He often spoke in musical tune or rhythm; his voice could brightly light a home or a room like a beacon on top of a hill. He was light-hearted, and had a very exceptional sense of humor. He was also gifted artistically and could sketch faces, animals, objects, or scenery into a portrait with breath and soul; even his penmanship was unique. He wrote several beautiful letters, filled with flowery, poetic, and rhythmic words. He was gifted in writing, especially love letters, which could draw any reader to what he called “lilies of his memory” or core of his heart. In his hay days, the river that ran along .... embraced a special part of his memory, where he swam, played, and crossed it daily to & fro.... He really loved the waters, he frequently made weekend trips to the beach with us. He would reminisce challenges of his young life and how he lived in the beautiful coastlines of Pangasinan. He loved the waves, the shore, and river beds which all cradled his exciting stories about the Japanese occupation, whose barracks was near their home; his cherished childhood and grown up escapades; and unforgettable memories. He enjoyed seeing the beauty of nature; scenery of the fields, meadows, canyons, and mountains. He loved the farm which tendered his early years; he delighted to work in the garden; unmindful of the scorching heat of the sun and the soil was his daily canvas. He was a friend to the flowers, plants, vegetables, grass, and trees which adored his generous care as they shoot their fruits of season and blooms. He was a darling to animals; daily he would remind us to care for them. Few of his remarkable pets were a monkey which he lost during the war, the carabao he had in the 40’s, a pig named Ruben, whom he refused to leave behind during the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption, and our bereaved pets whom he left behind.

Unknown to many, in his early years he assisted in the spread of the gospel in Pangasinan, Philippines, as an aid to a pastor where they knocked on doors, rendered free counsel, prayed for needy souls, fed those who are hungry in spirit. He was kind, diligent, patient, faithful, enduring, and selfless. He was a precious rare irreplaceable gift to us. He was a good loving husband and responsible father to whom we owe what we are now today. He had a very humble spirit who valued simplicity, benevolence, and family. He generally lived a very long healthy life; he even surpassed a doctor’s prognosis of 10 years to live due to a pancreatic illness in 1972, and survived to almost 91 years of age. Dad, ended each night in worship and prayer, endured each day with divine hope, faith, and love to God Almighty, the Author & Finisher of his faith. He eternally joined his siblings Emilio, Basilia, Marcelo, and Crescencia, in peace.

We will always dearly remember him…. With love, from his beloved wife Juliana; children Belinda, Elinel, Arnel & Rosana, Leilani, Thibaut & Rosalyn; his grandchildren Caroline, Pierre, and Joseph Daniel; and his sisters Placida, Crestita, Fe Perlita, and Estrella; and his grandpets Potpot, Perky, and Juju.

Celebration of Life is on April 4, 2021, at 1:30 pm, at the Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, California, 95125.

“Psalm for My Father”

(Bienvenido M. Rabara, April 8,1930- March 10, 2021)

By: Elinel C. Rabara

Blessed be God the Father of my father

For he took my father to the glory of His presence!

And sheltered my dad under the wings of His might ...

Where the fiercest waves sleep and the mighty storm rests.

The lion and the bear, the birds and the beast all dwell together as friends.

The Lord plucked away his miry cloak of pain and sin.

He lifted his feet from the pit of despond and set him upon the streams of Tigris and Euphrates.

He clothed him with garment of grace and salvation

And cleansed him with hyssop, now he is whiter than snow

Behold he was as crimson, now he is brighter than pearls!

He plays with golden strings and bejewelled harps

And the wind is his flute, that sounds like crystal and gems.

He dances with the saints leaping to the stars

His eyes gleam with joy,

Unspeakable joy!

His lips sing praises, his voice fills the skies

His heart is at peace, it wells with mighty spring of heavenly peace.

His stature is an army of strong kinsman and nobles

He rides on the wind and sits on the clouds,

He is divinely appointed, he is chosen, and redeemed!

He is in the house of many rooms and many, many mansions!

O, father, my father, how I miss you so!

When I behold your face someday I’ll know....

Somewhere hither beyond where and when we’ll meet again

We’ll kneel before the throne in praise to our Lord and Father.

Hold my hand again my sweet dearest father

Before I see you go in summer,

Before we part this springtime

And you go hereafter far yonder

I’ll yearn to see you again....

Beyond the Rockies, beyond the horizon,

Beyond the deep blue seas,

In my dreams, perhaps somewhere,

But then someday again…. in Heaven!