My Father's Legacy

In his retirement years, my father worked to broaden and strengthen the ties between the Filipino and the Chinese communities: not only here in the Philippines, but in China as well. He was able to have the cities of Harbin (China) and Cagayan de Oro (Philippines) become sister cities.

He joined and led many a socio-civic groups. It was his way of repaying and giving thanks to the communities that embraced him when he migrated from China some sixty or so years ago. He was a leader who was well loved and respected. He had vast knowledge of the city’s (Cagayan de Oro) history and politics and knew almost everyone. If you want to know a person’s family history and background, chances are he can tell you; for he grew with the city and loved it so.

I never realized the extent of Papa’s “network” until his wake. The four days and nights that we have kept vigil were not enough to have his friends pay their final respects. Day and night, as early as eight in the morning and as late as twelve midnight, people (we know and do not know) would come in to give their final respects to my father. People from other parts of the country – Manila, Cebu, Davao (there may be other places that I missed) – flew in to attend his funeral. To say that we were dumbfounded by the outpouring of love and respect shown in these few days would be an understatement.

As I got to know and spoke with some of the key people from different socio-civic groups, I got a glimpse of the legacy my father was leaving behind. Already, people are missing him. Some even asked me which one of us three siblings would like to continue the most important work he started – fostering the ties between the Filipino and Chinese communities. We, the children, may attempt to do this in our own way but we will surely fall short by the stick which we will be measured against; for my father’s shoes are too big to fill.

His funeral was quite something else. We did not expect so many people to attend since it was a weekday. Someone commented that his funeral was comparable and even outshone that of a rich man’s. Well, my father may not be rich with worldly possessions, but he was far richer because he was a helpful, fair, just, honest, insightful, and wise man. Being such a man earned him the love and respect of everyone. To all he came in contact with, he touched their lives. To those who became his friends, he enriched them. And to us his family, we are truly blessed beyond words.

A great man has moved on and we, the family, along with a lot of people, will all miss him terribly.

ENG C. KHU
Born: October 17, 1936 (3^rd day of the 9^th month in the lunar calendar)
Died: May 24, 2008 (20^th day of the 4^th month in the lunar calendar)