Shared at the Feb. 11, memorial service, Church Among the Palms

It is never easy saying goodbye and the COVID-19 situation makes it even more difficult.

I knew about Dad’s underlying health conditions, but he always managed to bounce back whenever he had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. I never really thought about things going south very quickly.

I spoke to Dad three times in his final days. On my second call he was in good spirits---more like himself ---joking about the bags under his eyes and complaining about why he couldn’t have some juice. It seemed like a bounce back again to me.

The morning after he was discharged from the hospital…that phone call with Dad felt different. Thanks to technology, families like ours are able to bridge the geographic gap and can still come together in crucial times.

Mark and I were fortunate to talk with Dad in his last remaining hour. We were reassuring him that it was ok if he wanted to let go and rest and that we loved him very much. In his weak response, he was able to mumble back “I love you.” As I think about that moment, we were blessed to be all together, and I am glad he understood that we were there with him despite the physical distance.

Dad was also in the loving care of Angie during those last moments – someone who has been by his side in the later part of his life. We will always be grateful to Angie who loved and cared for Dad and brought back a spring in his step.

Dad last visited me in Virginia in 2018. He traveled with Angie and was with us in time for the annual Cherry Blossom festival. It was cold and he would tire easily. Little did we know that his COPD condition was starting to manifest at that time. Despite his condition, visiting many places and connecting with several friends and family in the US, must have been hugely satisfying for him – their many pictures certainly show it.

My husband, Ron, and I then came home the following year and had the opportunity to get re-acquainted with the Los Banos community. I will always have roots in Los Banos. I have many happy childhood memories in LB and I thanks my parents for that.  I think Mark feels the same way since he and Mayan have started visiting Los Banos more frequently now, staying in our old home.

I guess what I am trying to say is, Dad, in many ways, taught us about the value offamily and remembering where we came from.  If I feel a bond to this community-- to Dad, that bond would most certainly be 100x stronger.

I am truly grateful to all of you for being a friend, co-worker, colleague, student, tennis buddy to Daddy and for being here tonight to celebrate his life. Thank you for sharing his love of song, jokes, travel, food and many simple joys of life.

For Dad, a simple and happy life is a full life lived.

Thank you for your continued prayers and many words of comfort. One communication I received yesterday is “God gained an all-star singer for his choir!” I actually agree with that!

I am pretty sure he is now joyously singing his favorite hymns and giving us his usual thumbs up seeing you all here. I can almost hear him saying to you all “Salamat Partner!”

At some point in time, we may have been considered a tennis family. Debs, my son Rally, daughter Denise and I have taken to the sport in many ways. We all know how to play, we watched our kids compete in HS Varsity matches and club tournaments, and briefly played doubles against one another until it was no longer fun when the siblings continually dominated their parents.

But there is one single influence for all of us; a person whom we trace this tennis lineage to—LOLO FLOR!

There is no winning against Lolo Flor in tennis and here’s why:

Dad is your die-hard tennis afficionado. In his heyday, he was known to play almost everyday in Los Banos. Whenever he were in Manila or somewhere else, he was sure to pester you in finding a court to play in. Game 1 – Flor.

When we would visit Los Banos for the weekend, you cannot escape playing a doubles match with him. The worst part comes when he wakes Debs, Mark and I up at 4:30 a.m. way before the dawn breaks and the rooster crows, even with the knowledge that you arrived late the night before. He justifies that there are many others who want to play but obviously, nobody else is at the courts and you are the first people to arrive! Chalk up another game for Flor.

So it’s still dark, you're very sleepy and in whatever sportswear you can muster. Dad, on the other hand, is dressed to the hilt with the new tennis outfit that Debs and I or Mark and Mayan bought for him. Score an ace for Flor!

Half awake, you try hard to warm up and hit a few strokes in a shell court which you just drew crooked lines around with white powder in a used tennis can with a lot of small holes at the bottom. The sun slowly creeps up and you suddenly have to get the game going because by now, there are already people waiting in line to play next and you realize that Dad was right. Flor wins again!

Dad is a veteran player and a master of strokes and strategy. In his prime, he would return any shot you give him with the least effort and number of steps. His anticipation is impeccable and he would use this to his advantage to “place” the ball around the court and tire you out. You should also be wary of the dreaded drop shot which if you didn't return, would come with an added dose of taunting. But here’s the rub--If he won, he'd say you lost to an old man; If he lost, he'd say its because he’s getting old. Tiebreak dominated by Flor!

The game ends and you’d think he’d host breakfast. Win, lose or draw it’s still your treat, mostly likely at Jollibee. He relishes in not only having played the game with family but also on sharing a free meal. You somehow break out a smile then realize that tomorrow, a Sunday, the same routine repeats! Game, Set and Match—Flor!

So how do you get even with him? You raise a son who would someday beat him in his own game. He is gracious in surrender, reiterate the familiar line that  age is fast catching up, but deep inside, you know he took pride with the pedigree he handed down.

When we moved to the US and our kids made it to their HS varsity teams, he made sure he was always updated with stories about their matches. And oh! how he cherished hearing about how his “apos” were doing well in a game he so loved.

On his last visit to us in Virginia in 2018, he made sure to watch a game of the high school team that our son Rally was now coaching even if it was cold outdoors which made his breathing more difficult. A few days after he returned to the Philippines, he beamed with joy upon learning that Rally’s team won the State Championships in its class.

Definitely, his tennis legacy lives on with us. You might say, it's a circle of life thing—thankfully minus the waking up early.

So Play On Dad, keep hitting those strokes, winning those matches and enjoying the game    . . . in the biggest Grand Slam court above!

Brod Mark, I am sad to hear your Dad, Flor, passed on yesterday. Condolence to you, Debbie & family. I’m blessed knowing your Dad & Mom, Nora, as friends & UPLB colleagues.

Flor always enlivened our international training on seed technology w/enthusiastic teaching on seed pathology & lively handling of trainee’s study tours on & off-campus. On occasions he would render a song or two w/his distinctive voice to the delight of our international trainees. During meals he would always announce-the fish head is reserved for Dr. Mamicpic!

Flor was my tennis partner in our foursome w/Jun Vega & Art Gomez in many matches ending in sumptuous dinners (losers pay) in Manila w/our wives.

Many other good memories stay w/me as Flor moves to his eternal rest with the Lord. Brod, courage, stay the course & farewell to your Dad my dear friend.

Noel G. Mamicpic & Family

My siblings and I have known Tito Flor, Tita Nora, Mark and Debs practically all our lives since our close ties our families share date back to Illinois days in the early 1960’s when Dad, Tito Flor and Tita Nora were PhD students at the University of Illinois at Champaign (Urbana). Dad and Tito Flor knew each other during college days at UPLB as they were in the same batch/class. As our neighbors at UPCO Housing, our homes were right across the street from each other and the Quebral household seemed like an extension of our household and vice versa. There are simply so many nice memories I have about the Quebrals including my interactions with Tito Flor; I really don’t know where to begin. Among others, he and Dad used to play tennis a lot at the College Country Club until such time when Dad became very busy at work. For many years, my siblings, Mark, Debs and I were playmates. We attended each other’s birthday parties or met up at friends’ parties; we were schoolmates at Maquiling School, UPRHS and UPLB (except for Mark who went to UP Diliman). We did trick-or-treating together, spent New Year’s Eve here at our home and most of the time, Tito Flor was there. I always admired Tito Flor for his being a fitness buff as he continued playing tennis until his 70’s if I’m not mistaken. Whenever, he saw me passing by the tennis court near Baker Hall, he’d call out or wave. 

During our Maquiling School days, my siblings and I used to hitch a ride to and from school with Tito Flor, Mark and Debs during the time we didn’t have a car yet. Also, it was Tito Flor who picked up my doctor-aunt to treat my sister, Annavi, who was very sick during a time when both my parents weren’t home. We will always be grateful for the steady presence of Tito Flor in our lives.

A number of times, whenever I’d see Tito Flor at McDonald’s (Vega Center) where he apparently loved to have breakfast at times, he would ask me to pay for his coffee and I would gladly do so. I’d usually ask what else I could get for him and he would decline and insist that just the coffee would be fine. It seemed he was happy with his coffee and newspaper! We would do our usual “kamustahan” and then I would leave him to read his newspaper. In retrospect, I should have offered to treat him to a meal somewhere else but as they say, regrets always come in the end. 

Our profound condolences to Mark, Debs, their families and also to Angie. Our prayers are for the eternal repose of Tito Flor’s soul. Tito Flor, rest in peace. Say hello to Tita Nora and Dad for us. We will miss you.Thank you for being a vital part of our lives.