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REQUIEM FOR A COLLEAGUE …….AND A FRIEND
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
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!
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