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REQUIEM FOR A COLLEAGUE …….AND A FRIEND

 

 

Faustino M. Buenaventura

 

 

As we prepare to meet the New Year and psyche ourselves for the gaiety which it normally brings, its momentum was temporarily halted due to sad news that one of our colleagues, Lewi Dimapilis passed away after a lingering and debilitating illness. It came to us as a jolt even if we knew in our hearts that death is the most benevolent way of giving him rest. But for those who are dear to him and for those who knew him and had worked with him for nearly three decades, to let go is such a difficult thing to do. Even if Saint Francis of Assisi ended his prayer with, “It is in death that we are born to eternal life,” parting is really a difficult thing to do.

 

Logic and sentiment seldom see eye-to-eye. But however difficult it is especially for the loved ones and friends he left behind, we must be able to extricate ourselves from the bondage of the physical existence of someone dear to us even if at the onset, it leaves an aching void in the very core of our lives. Physical existence is temporarily and benevolently given to us to afford us of almost anything in life – a tool for pleasure, for acquiring knowledge, experiences and also to be a part of humanity. But if this shell of life becomes unfit and can no longer serve the purpose for which it was created, when it becomes a heavy burden rather than a tool, then, it is equally forbearing and kind that a way is provided to release oneself from the extreme difficulty and futility of living. Death is the compassionate answer.

 

Lewi, as we fondly called him, had been with us more than twenty-seven years. A down-to-earth and very witty fellow, we both belong to Batch-75; probably the largest batch of examiners hired by the BSP in the year l975 which also include Caloy Landagan, Larry Manio, Zeny Laureta, Danny Castillo, Henry Urgel and even Director Wilfredo B. Domo-ong, to name some who were also included in this batch.

 

A true blooded DRB Examiner, Lewi was in the thick of the struggle during the examiners 1986 sit-down strike; the time when we were clamoring for a more reasonable amount of per diems during field assignment. Although not a frontliner and worked low profile, he was also an important figure in the organization of the Association of Rural Bank Examiners (ARBEX) and its official organ, the ARBEX EXPRESS. He had a regular column in our official organ, which dealt with puzzles and games.

 

Small in stature, many examiners looked up upon him. A regular guy and well liked by his colleagues, he did his act well.  At times, he could be hard headed to a point of being unreasonable and will end a hopeless discussion with an earthy conclusion of- “Di mamatay sa gusto.”  He could be brutally frank but is capable of being kind and understanding. A man with faults, of course, his merits far outweigh his demerits. WE WILL MISS YOU, LEWI! You took a part of us when you left.

 

Helen Keller, in her moment of sorrow over a death of a friend once said, “With every friend I love who has been taken into the brown bosom of the earth, a part of me has been buried there; but their contributions to my happiness, strength and understanding remain to sustain me in an altered world.”

 

For our dear friend and colleague who went before us – May you sail along with the Great Spirit! Vaya con Dios!

 

News

      SED IV people…

      ARBEX hold general…

Editorials

       KUDOS

       UPGRADES

Editorial Board

 

HOME

Views

       Breezin’ Through

       Side Notes

       Bottoms Up!

       Samu’t Sari

Legal Nook

 

Director’s Corner

Chairman’s Desk

       Vic Berrey

       Cholay Ocampo

The Cooperative Corner

 

RBAP Zone

 

Features

       Requiem…

       In His Time

        Tribute to Boswald

In Focus

       Doris Cardenas

       Nevillie Vinoya

 

Updates

       Circulars

       Across the Board

References

Previous Issues

 

Feedback