From Nong Gaving,
Here's our last picture with Nong Mansit on 1/13/2010. He recently celebrated his 85th B-day last Feb 5, 2010.
Announcement from the Family of Mansueto Icawalo Reloj.
During the wedding of Clarina R. dela Cruz Sy-July 2008 at Teranova, Kalibo, Aklan.
WHO WAS NONG MANCIT TO ME?
by Noemi Zabal Reloj
WHO WAS NONG MANCIT TO ME?
I HAVE TO START FROM MY FIRST MEMORY OF HIM….HOW OLD WAS I?
MAYBE I WAS ALREADY 9-10 YRS OLD TO REALLY COMPREHEND THE
EXISTENCE OF THIS MAN……HE WAS BIG OF A MAN YET HE CAME TO
MY LEVEL, HE HAD SUCH STRONG AND DOMINEERING VOICE YET HE WAS
A SOFTIE TO HIS WIFE & CHILDREN….HE HAD THIS FACE THAT YOU COULD
SEE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE CRUELTY OF THE SUN YET HIS BEDIMPLED
CHEEK DRAWS YOU TO HIS SWEET SMILE….HE CAN’T GET MAD AT YOU, OH NO
HE CAN’T BECAUSE HE IS A “RELOJ”…A RELOJ JUST MAKE A GESTURE OF
SOME JOKE….BUT THE WORDS MEANT A LOT .
WHO WAS NONG MANCIT TO ME GROWING UP? I REMEMBER HIM SLEEPING
OVER AT OUR HOUSE WITH COUPLE OF HIS HIRED GUYS. THIS IS TO PREPARE
FOR AN EARLY TRIP TO THEIR DESTINED MONTHS OF HARDWORK, HIM BEING
THE LEADER. I HAD ALWAYS WONDERED, AND WISHED MY DAD COULD
DO THE SAME, BECAUSE HIS MONTHS OF LONG GONE WAS ALWAYS REWARDED
WITH A NEW JEEPNEY NAMED AFTER HIS CHILDREN STARTING FROM NONOY.
AS A CHILD I WONDERED, HOW DID HE DO THAT?
WHO WAS NONG MANCIT TO ME GROWING UP? AS TEENAGERS JEZEBEL AND
I WOULD ALWAYS PLAY AFTER HER CHORES WERE DONE. THOUGH CHORES WERE
DONE, MANANG INDAY WOULD STILL DEMAND MORE THINGS TO BE DONE. BUT WE
ALWAYS FOUND TIME TO SNEAK OUT, BUT NONG MANCIT NEVER REPRIMANDED US.
HE UNDERSTOOD TEENAGERS, I THINK HE UNDERSTOOD THE VULNERABILITY
IN ALL OF US, THUS HE MIXED IN WELL WITH HIS BOYS IN HIS YOUNGER DAYS AND
OLDER DAYS.
WHO WAS NONG MANCIT TO ME? I APPRECIATED HIS LONG TIME COMMITMENT
TO PAPA. HE MADE SURE PAPA WAS ENTERTAINED AFTER MAMA WAS GONE.
HE INSTRUCTED LUZ & MIKE & KIDS TO DROP BY EVERYNIGHT AT THE HOUSE
ON THEIR WAY HOME TO POLO. AND TO THAT, MY THANKS TO MIKE & LUZ. HE
FOUND TIME TO SLEEP OVER & KEEP PAPA COMPANY IN HIS ROOM. ON ONE
OF MY VISITS FROM THE STATES, NONG MANCIT SLEPT OVER & I COULD HEAR THE
TWO OF THEM RECALLING EVENTS AND SCENARIOS WHICH SOME OF THEM
THEY DID NOT AGREE. THAT WAS N. MANCIT’S LAST SLEEPOVER BECAUSE PAPA
PASSED AWAY 5MOS LATER.
WHO WAS NONG MANCIT TO ME? I OWE HIM A LOT, NOW I RECALL. MOST RELATIVES
CAME OVER AT OUR HOUSE FOR DINNER DURING ONE OF N. JURY’S VISIT TO BANGA.
IT TURNED OUT THAT PAPA INVITED HIM TO BE THE SPOKESMAN. PAPA
MADE NONG MANCIT OPEN UP THE TOPIC OF SUGGESTING TO N.JURY ABOUT MY COLLEGE
TUITION, THOUGH I WAS ALREADY FIRST YR IN COLLEGE. BUT I LOVE THE WAY
HE SAID IT TO N.JURY, “ JURY IKAW RO GA PADAEA KAY INDAY SA COLLEGE !”
IT’S IRONIC, THAT AT THE CEMETERY DURING NONG JURY’S BURIAL, N. MANCIT
ALSO WAS THE ONE WHO DELIVERED TO ME NONG JURY SENTIMENTS ABOUT ME,
“ INDAY NAGA WORRY GID-A KIMO SI JURY. IKAW EANG RO ANA NGA GINA-ISIP
PERMI !” I JUST TURNED AWAY, BECAUSE THAT HURT ME BUT I HAVE TO JUST
IGNORE IT, LIKE A RELOJ WITH A BRAVE FACE YET HURTING INSIDE. AND I
WISHED I EXPANDED THE CONVERSATION MORE. DID I OFFEND HIM, I HOPED NOT.
I SAW NONG MANCIT CRIED AT THE AIRPORT WHEN WE BROUGHT NONG JURY’S
ASHES HOME. NONG REZA JOKINGLY GAVE HIM A SMALL LUGGAGE PRETENDING
IT WAS NONG JURY’S ASHES. NONG MANCIT TOOK THAT BAG & MADE A RAN FOR IT, LIKE
IT WAS A FOOTBALL PASSED TO HIM & HE HAS TO MAKE A HOMERUN. HE TOOK
THAT LUGGAGE AS IF TELLING NONG JURY “ IT’S OK I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, YOU’RE
HERE WITH ME NOW!” TO ME HE WAS DOING HIS LAST GESTURE TO NONG JURY. ALL THE
WHILE HE WAS IN TEARS. SOMEONE HAS TO RUN AFTER HIM TO TELL HIM IT
WAS’NT SO.
He worked hard all his life for his children not wanting anything back in return, but
an assurance of security that all of them are in good stable solid ground. Nong Mancit was
weak at heart when comes to witnessing someone in his flock has to go away on their
own….he would wake up at daybreak & walked by the Polo River with head down and
hands in his pocket , maybe bracing his emotion for what may become of this one member
that decided to be away from his nest. Thus, he goes away because it was too painful for
him to say goodbye. You see, as I am a parent now, I understood how he felt then because
he worked all his life and just for one purpose, THAT NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND!!!
WITH THAT SAID, NONG MANCIT WAS A BIG MAN, BUT PEOPLE SAW HIM
CRIED FOR PEOPLE HE LOVED DEARLY AND LEFT US. WE ARE NOW THE ONE
CRYING FOR HIM…WE WILL MISS ONE OF THE BIG ROCKS OF POLO….
WE LOVE YOU!!!
Noemi RELOJ
By: Dr. Felma Reloj Dela Cruz
This is my EULOGY delivered during the Necrological Service for Papa organized by the Banga Local Government Unit ( Papa was once a Municipal councilor of Banga) held at the big, spacious, well ventilated Teodosio's Park .
PA, you are an almost, almost perfect Father to us..
You are a fulfilled man.
Papa was a domineering & strict father. Just hearing his loud voice would make you cower in fear, especially if you have done wrong.
He had great ambitions for his 9 children. He dreamt of sending all of us to medical school, but situation changed after Nonoy & I were already in Medical school. Thus he ended up with only 2 Medical Doctors, 2 Dentists, 2 Pharmacist, 1 Med. tech. & 2 College graduates.
But in return, we produced 3 Doctors: 2 Medical Doctors & 1 Doctor of Philosophy, in Physics among our children, SO FAR.
Pa, I promise you that I will continue to coordinate with the immediate members of the family in helping any deserving family member who wants to be a DOCTOR.
Papa was a doting father to all his 9 children & was extended to his in-laws & mga "apos'. Bukon imaw it mapili sa mga asawa namon for he accepted them for who they are.
He was not demonstrative with his feelings, but taking his hand to our forehead is more than enough to show our love and respect for him.
MAMA left us at an early age of 69 due to Cancer and Papa was so depressed. So, we filled the gap by regularly visiting him in Polo to ease his pain of losing Mama.
Ma, you are now joined by Papa and we hope you will be guiding all your 9 children & respective families in our daily lives. We need you Papa & Mama even when you are gone.
Papa was a sentimental person, who got misty eyed about anything that makes him sad. One particular unfortunate incident that happened during his younger years would make him cry & I also cried while he was relating the story. I told him not to worry , because Nonoy & I had saved & preserved more than a thousands of lives already.( I asked the crowd if they do believed & the answer was a resounding yes) Yes, Papa they do believe too.
Pa, I wasn't able to say Thank You ! when you were still alive . But our acts of concern and care are our way of expressing our thanks for everything you gave us: our life, education & everything.
Our regular visits on Sundays are our way of expressing our love to you. So even I'm sick, just arrived from Manila or Iloilo, I force myself to drive home to Polo just to be with you & the whole family. Lately, our Sunday Family Days were celebrated as if it will be the last Sunday of your life.
On behalf of my other 8 siblings: Nonoy, Bel, Luz, Harvey, Boy, Baby, Nene Mafel, & Bingbing, I thank all of you who offered prayers, especially the several priests who officiated the daily masses at home, those who offered flowers, foodstuffs, gave financial help & gave their helping hand during the wake. To Tay Serging, one of Papas good friend, who went home from Manila in spite of his arthritis ,Atty Ibadlit, another good friend of his, Hon. Banny Abitang, & Mayor Mameng , thank you for your Eulogy to Papa.
To my relatives from other places, Auntie Perla, Papa's 87 yr old elder sister, represented by her son,Atty. Boy & family, Auntie Doning, based in Houston, Texas who was so hysteric because she can’t come home due her heart ailment. To all my Aunties , Uncles from Manila, Cebu, thank you. To Papa's cousins in America, who regularly update with us here via Internet & long distance calls, Thank You too.
I would like to mention the Political Allies & non-Political allies of Papa who made his life colorful( because he is a passionate politician). Thank you.
To those Papa might have offended because of his frankness, I hope you have pardoned him because that's his personality.
It is a known fact that Papa touched a lot of lives and most of you are here today. (I asked the crowd & they answered a resounding YES)
To all of you here present & to the Whole world ( because tonight maybe nasa Reloj-Zabal website na eto) I can afford to shout ( I really shouted ) and proclaim : PAPA YOU ARE A FULFILLED MAN !!!!!
Farewell ! Farewell!! ( I ' m crying at this last part)
Note: Sa video I am smiling during most of the Eulogy. Pero ang audience esp. ang family were crying. I didn’t look at them kasi mahawa ako & mawala ako sa concentration ko/.
Felma
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Dyip ni Nong Mansit
by Frank Zabal
Mga kaig kampuran may akong ipakilaea
Matangkad medio payat guapo ra istura
Si Manong Mansueto Reloj,taga Lapnag ra sanda
Sa anang hibayag pa eamang matsa may gayuma
Anang ha asawa taga Polo nga maestra
Si Nang Inday Felicitacion Zabal Yecla
Balik tayo sa dekada 50 o 60 mga dyes anyos ako baea,
Nag adto ako sa plaza mga alas dos hapon ngara
Aba akong nakita, sa atubang nanda
Mga tawo mga edad hay beinte singko o trenta ka abo abo sanda
Tapos naka parada , tatlong bus puno it karga
Siin baea sanda maadto ra akong pangutana?
Ay mana hay singhan ko isaea, pa Bacolod kami ra
May ano sa Bacolod ay akon pa ring pangutana.
Mga sakada gali sanda ag si Manong Mansit kada daea kanda
Taw-an nana it antisipo mga tawo ngara, kaibahan si Tay Untin, Kabo-Kabo nana.
Sangkiring kuarta kinita sa Sakada,
Kilaea mo naman Si Nong Mansit negosyante at smart pa.
Binakae it mga dyip, pang byahi pa Polo Banga,
Pa Kalibo, Iloilo hastat Libacao pa
Anang mga driver and kundoktor hay igkampod man nanda.
Isaeang adlaw ngara, naga isatambay ako sa atubang ni Nay Pecta,
May umaging Dyip si Nong Mangsit pala
Maliya abi Franklin sumakay ka mana,
Akong Driver ag konduktor hay sa Kalibo sanda
Ikaw anay mag konduktor, pag abot sa Kalibo ma mahaw kita.
Dahil ngani sa mga Dyip ngara,
Manga unga ni Manong Mansit ka escuela
Makaron hay may tinapos sanda
May Doctor, May Dentista, may pharmacist pa
Mga unga nga boutan,
Suerte ni Nang Inday ag si BAO nga hayo kana .
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These are pictures taken during Papa's burial and wake.
Dr. Felma Reloj Dela Cruz
Family and friends of the late Mrs Lolita Latoza Yecla
The late Atty Jury Z. Reloj- Photo taken near Pier 39.
Photo taken at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, CA-1990
