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Remembering Penoy on His Birthday

January 25, 2018

Highschool classmates of Penoy remember him in their prayers on this day, the 69th anniversary of his birth.  May his soul rest in eternal peace and God's perpetual light shine upon him.

PENOY'S Favorite Songs

September 30, 2016

In the Summer of 1968, just after our graduation from college, Penoy and I accepted a teaching stint in the College of Arts and Sciences of the Ateneo de Manila University, which was to last for a year for Penoy and three years for me.

Every day, after our classes, I was Penoy’s constant companion while he drove around the UP campus, Cubao commercial center and eventually home, in his Kuya Manny’s green Volkswagen Beetle car.  On weekends, we were joined by another teacher , from the Ateneo High School department, in various wholesome activities such as browsing bookstores, dining in affordable restaurants, campus touring, watching and cheering for the Ateneo team  in UAAP basketball games and hanging around with our girl friends (note the very significant space between the two words).

Music playing from the car radio kept us entertained as we drove from place to place. Our common favorite songs then were Bobby Goldsboro’s hits, “Little Green Apples” and “Honey”.  When I hear these songs now, my mind wanders back to those idyllic times and places and I remember all our dear friends who were part of our young-adult lives.

And the Volkswagen Beetle, which to this day, is my dream car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeTXZ5zPt7k

Ramon A. Panotes' remembrance of his Visit to Penoy

September 6, 2016

In 1981 I was travelling to the U.S. for the first time. After doing my stint in Wilmington, Delaware, I took the train to Union Station in Washington D.C. Penoy was there to meet me; we hugged and danced around. I was the first of our class that he'd seen since he left the Phils. in 1969. He hadn't been a balikbayan yet. He packed me off in his BMW, took me to his home in Falls Church, VA. There I met Lena, and Adelbert, who was just three years old or so.

After lunch, we drove around D.C., which impressed me as one huge park, parks here and parks there. We visited the Capitol, drove around the White House. He took me to Arlington National Cemetery, I said a prayer before the grave of JFK, with the perpetual flame. In the afternoon, we strolled around the banks of the Potomac. If you're not careful, you could actually roll over to the water. Jetliners were flying all over across the river most of the time. From the banks of the Potomac, you could actually see the Watergate Hotel, quite a famous or infamous landmark at the time.
 
He also took me shopping at Neiman Marcus (as if there's anything there I could afford!). After dinner at home, we went out again, ending up in an interesting place near Georgetown U. The place was full, and we were lucky to get a small round table. There was no stage, but a girl was always trying to dance on top of the bar, for reasons which soon became obvious. We stayed for an hour or so, just to see if the obvious would really become obvious.

The next day, Penoy showed me a small tree in his backyard, actually bearing oranges. And there was even a squirrel scampering about. After breakfast, it was out again, this time to the Smithsonian Institution. It was so huge, you couldn't possibly see all of it in a day. We  visited a few of the exhibits (dinosaurs, strange-looking fish, the first flying dinosaurs, etc.) But we spent the most time at the Air and Space Museum. Truly fascinating. the Wright Brothers first flying contraption, John Glenn's space capsule, various supersonic jet planes.

After that two-day holiday in D.C. it was time to go back to work. Penoy took me back to the train station to catch a train to New York. Leave-taking wasn't overly dramatic. It was just "thanks for everything" and "when are you coming back home to the Phils. For a visit? Soon!"

I don't know if Penoy liked Elvis, but this is song I dedicate to Penoy's memory:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5y6ONbf9pI

September 6, 2016

Excerpt from email:

I have known Joe for years because I used to be the director of ESOL.  He was always there for his students.  He went beyond teaching from his books to teaching by using the Internet and computer.  He taught things his students needed such as life skills.  He was a kind, friendly, happy man and conveyed that to all of us.  He brought food for snacks for the students.  He taught some students on his own after the session was over.  I am so glad to have known him as I know his students are too.  What an honorable man.  He will be missed

Maryann Fox 

ESOL volunteer work at Catholic Charities

September 6, 2016

Excerpt from email:

"...I started at Hogar in late 2010 and Joe was one of the first teachers I worked with.  He was always so dedicated to his classes, his students, and was always going above and beyond to plan his lessons and help his students. 

He not only would teach his class, but I remember multiple times he would volunteer to substitute other teachers' classes.  He also used to meet students at Panera outside of class with another teacher to work one on one with students during the summer months, when our classes were not in session..."

Sincerely,   Brooke

 

 

Brooke Hammond Pérez

Program Director, Hogar Immigrant Services
Catholic Charities - Diocese of Arlington
www.ccda.net
www.hogarimmigrantservices.org
www.facebook.com/CatholicCharitiesArlington

 

August 23, 2016

I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Ligaya a couple years after Caroline graduated from college.  I had known Caroline since freshman year of high school, but we didn’t reconnect until post-college, around 2003.  I met him during a time when I was a little lost, and had a strained relationship with my parents, so Mr. Ligaya felt like a father figure to me.  Over the next few years, Caroline and I would go to many Wizards’ games with her dad, and he introduced me to Cirque du Soleil, which I continue to see when they travel to the DC area.  I was very fond of him.  I wish I would have seen him more over the years.  I’m sorry that his family lost such a kind man.  I will miss him dearly.

MY DEAR FRIEND PENOY HAS GONE

August 22, 2016

Penoy was among my closest friends in high school.  Our friendship became stronger when we spent four years in college together.  He was a great influence in my studies, without him knowing it, as I was secretly comparing my academic performance to his.  It was my good fortune to win the excellence in math award in high school but I knew deep in my heart that he was my superior in that subject.  True enough he pursued BS Math whereas I went into Engineering.  We spent an extra year together when we both taught math at the undergraduate level immediately after graduation. During that last year, we had a romantic foursome with two high school teachers.

Then we parted ways.  He decided to take further studies in Wharton School of Business while I stayed behind for two more years of teaching duties. But we remained connected thru the years by correspondence.  During his homecomings, I would facilitate the mini-reunions with our high schoolmates. They were always fondly-awaited and happy occasions since Penoy was a gregarious person.

Chess was our common pastime while in high school and in college. Perhaps, living abroad and being involved in a lot more significant and time-consuming activities than I was, he found less room for, and eventually lost interest in, chess.  But he did not just support my passion for it, he even encouraged it. He helped me acquire every book I wanted (not only those I needed) that was beyond my reach.  Those books that would cost me a fortune to ship, he would request his friends’ favor to hand-carry when they travel home to the Philippines.

Among my friends, Penoy’s was a household name.  He was very kind to my kids, sending them pasalubong whenever he made a homecoming.  Children’s books arrived with my chess books.  And on those occasions he would be sending Manny, his brother, a “balikbayan box”,  there would be room for toys for Tanya.  My youngest daughter still keeps the autumn leaves Tito Penoy handpicked for her.

I have so many wonderful memories of Penoy that it’s hard to choose my favorite.  However, the last one to go, if and when senility or brain senescence takes them away, is my quarrel with him. Penoy was the youngest student in class. When we were in second year high, he was still very playful and hyperactive.  He was fond of teasing me, repeatedly, to the point of annoyance.  One day I did not have the patience to indulge him.  I thought warning him that I would turn violent would stop him as I was physically much bigger than him. He did not relent so I kept my word.  I punched him and I gained my peace. Momentarily that was, for he punched me back and ran. I gave chase but got exhausted and cooled down when I failed to catch him. I discovered he was the faster runner.  With our boxing score at one-all, there was no reason to protract the antagonism.  From that time on we got close – trusting and respecting each other.  That was how our deep friendship began.

I was blest to have Penoy as a friend.  I am proud to have been associated with such a caring and thoughtful person.  My family and I will greatly miss his friendship but fond memories of him will last our lifetime.  We send his entire family – siblings, children and grandchildren - our love and gratitude for sharing Penoy with us.

From Lauren via FB :

August 22, 2016

I will forever think of your Dad as my second Dad. I can't remember a time when he did not have a bright smile across his face. He was filled with kindness and love. 
He swelled with pride when he talked about each of his kids and grandson. 
My heart and my love are with you, dear friend.

From Craig via FB :

August 21, 2016

I know how close you were to your dad. I remember meeting him on our unexpected flight through Chicago. Anyone could see the pride, confidence, and love he had for you and the respect and love you had for him. I am very sorry for the your loss. I am sure his love will live on in you and the people you affect throughout your life.

From Luisa via FB :

August 21, 2016

A wonderfully fantastic man! I chatted with him on your wedding day, before you walked down the isle... He had the biggest smile I'd ever seen when I asked how he was feeling, he said "Happy!". 

You brought so much joy to your Father's world. I have no doubt that he is still, and will forever be looking at you with that same joyous smile. The love he had for you and all his children was obvious, that love and warmth towards you will never fade. You are temporarily distanced by your Father's latest travel adventure. He will forever remain right at your side for the rest of your life. I love you, my sister, I love you.

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