Dearest Gen,
I might be intruding in your ‘nosebleed Sunday afternoon’, but it seems fitting to write something about the death of someone that influenced much of my life.
Reason could be a tribute, but this is rather un-true. Nor mourning, I felt any tinge of remorse.
It is not that I’m indifferent. It is just a usual case about sudden-death. My Tito Monsi, as we dearly called him, died of a heart attack last 22 March, last Friday.
Curious about sudden-death, specially of someone so close, is the time-delay to affected parties.
I do not know why. Maybe we are so used to his omni-presence, that death is impossible. It is just that his death had not sunk into me, yet.
But Tito Monsi and I were never close. As if we had a great-divide. It is not a personal animosity, it was just that he radiated this aura of authority. Not really of disgusting-dominion, but of silent-fascism.
Our generation, meaning his nieces and nephews, were afraid of his dis-approval. Although, we were free to live our own lives, he had this small-room in our heads, like a toll-gate, clearing our actions before we took one. More or less, he was a personification of conscience, in each one of us.
Summing up his contribution to our lives was generally positive; most of my cousins had distinguished themselves in their chosen career.
As for myself, it was a blessing: the great-divide was a marching order to do good and excel. But at the same time, it curtailed freedom that led to fear, and at times, mistrust. For years, I avoided him. Not that I was angry. It was just a token, declaring that I am free.
But, still the great-divide existed, until his death last Friday. As if a veil was lifted...and surprisingly, the divide between us, is the bridge that connected both of us.
Tito Monsi was instrumental in maintaining the monetary health of Archdiocese of Manila. But his greatest work, was the most hidden. He helped fellow priests that lost their way from holy vocation, and silently supported them...without judging them.
He was interned at Our Lady of Loreto, Sampaloc, Manila. Please pray for his soul.
Thank you and take care.
Dennis
