FELICIANO FIEL

Half of my name “Felmar” comes from him. My name stands for the combination of my paternal grandparents Lolo Feliciano and Lola Marcelina. Lola died on June 1989. I was in second grade.

Lolo “Pesing” died on September 3, 2008, Wednesday, 1:30 pm. I was in Tagaytay and when the news was relayed to me, I immediately remembered the many memorable moments I spent with him.

During my childhood, I felt that I was my grandparents’ favorite because when they harvest coconuts (N.B. they owned hectares after hectares of land), they would not allow me to help while my other cousins who were older than me were all required to assist. I felt like a señorito because I only watched them with delight while holding my bottle of milk.

When Lola died, Lolo Pesing was alone in my grandparent’s home. That is why, for sometime, I would accompany him during the night. He would tell me stories while in his rocking chair under the moonlight. He would prepare the mosquito net for us and made sure that no mosquitoes ever touched my skin during my sleep. Lolo was indeed great!

Lolo was a very hardworking person. He would wake up at around four in the morning and would immediately go to the farm. He had no time for another love and devoted his life between farm and his many grandchildren. He was fortunate to even see some of his great-granddaughters and great-grandsons.

Soon after, he gave his post-World War II two-storey Spanish house to my parents, and we lived there. Lolo moved to my father’s sister Mommy Cita. He was asked not to work in the farm anymore but he became sick for doing nothing. So, Mommy Cita gave him the freedom to do some of the chores in the back yard, and he grew many, many fruits.

Whenever I am in Kiblawan, I always visit him. He has a sharp memory. He always remembers me.

But on September 3, he died of old age. God bless you, Lolo.


MY LOLO TOGETHER WITH FRANCIS FIEL, LOTTY FIEL-ANTIOLA AND GEE-ANN FIEL-ANTIOLA