Celebrating Tio Loloy Gallardo's generosity

The Gallardo children were waiting for a sign whether to proceed with their mother's tradition of opening their building at Mango Avenue for this year's Sinulog celebration. Tia Feling, their mom, passed on to the Lord August last year and last week, Tio Loloy, their father, was at the Intensive Care Unit.

In prayer, they asked for signs from their mom and dad about what to do. And to prove that parents will always be with their children, despite death or serious ailment, they got their signs. Their mom appeared in several dreams reminding everyone about preparing for the Sinulog at their home, as was her tradition to honor and thank the Sto. Niño. By Wednesday last week, in agreement with their mom's response to them, Tio Loloy himself showed the children his consent to go on with the Sinulog celebration when his blood pressure and other vital signs stabilized so that he was moved out of the ICU.

And so, the Gallardo family members, relatives, friends, and workers came in full force to celebrate Sinulog as they always did when the generous Gallardo matriarch and patriarch were still alive. Special prayers for the eternal rest of Tia Feling as well as for the healing of Tio Loloy were offered by all.

The rest of the children stayed on at the hospital for in the morning of Sinulog Sunday, Tio Loloy's blood pressure became precariously unstable. It became clear to them that their father may have been holding on only until all their family and guests can worship and celebrate the feast of the Sto.Niño that fateful Sinulog Sunday.

Again, as if on cue, by around 2:45 in the afternoon, when most of their guests in the past would have already enjoyed watching the street dancing and the endless flow of food as well as the warm welcome of the Gallardo family and were ready to go or already have gone home, the very sad news reached everyone that Tio Loloy had joined Tia Feling and had gone back to the Lord.

It was a beautiful, touching exit though from this earth as together with Tia Feling,Tio Loloy, in his characteristic style, generously gave everyone this year's Sinulog treat. It was also a memorable passing on to the Lord on the feast of the Sto. Niño and at the time of the Divine Mercy.

When Tio Loloy was brought back to their Mandaue home, it was uncanny that the first picture of him that they placed on his casket was that showing him in a Santa Claus costume, with his favorite dog on his lap. For Modesto "Loloy" Gallardo was Santa Claus personified to all those who had the blessing to meet him. Countless are those he has touched with his generosity throughout his lifetime. Generously blessed by the Lord, he and his wife, in turn, generously shared their blessings with those who came their way. Despite their passing on to the Lord, people who visit their homes always feel welcomed, always feel it is always fiesta with the Gallardos.

Fr. Joel Baguna who said Mass last Tuesday evening reminded everyone that death serves as the door that allowed one like Tio Loloy to pass on from his blessed life here on earth to the most blessed company of the Lord up in Heaven. Death, therefore, should be celebrated because Tio Loloy is now in the best home and in the best care of the Lord, with Tia Feling and all their loved ones in Heaven.

The Lord must be very pleased in having the Gallardos up in His heavenly home where each moment is a fiesta, the same experience shared by Tia Feling and Tio Loloy with all in their homes here on earth.

For those who wish to celebrate and lift the passing on to the Lord of Tio Loloy Gallardo and his joining Tia Feling at CEMPARK, mass will be at 3pm at the St. Joseph Church in Mandaue on Saturday, January 21. Everyone is welcome every evening before then for mass and novenas to thank the Lord for having been touched by generous and kind Tio Loloy Gallardo.