On the 3rd of May 2012 at past 9 pm, Papa was reading his Bible and reviewing the lesson quarterly as those were his nightly routine.  After reading the Bible, he knelt down beside his bed to pray before resting for the night.  Just before he could utter a prayer, his breathing became difficult.  

     He called Mama and said, "Ma, I think I'm having an asthma attack. Please take me to the hospital".  
      
     Mama answered, "But you have no history of asthma, Pa!" 

     All of a sudden Mama heard a sore wheezing sound from his labored breathing, so immediately she called Ruel, husband of Ingrid Diola Peralta, Mama's niece who (lives) in the adjacent house, while Ernie changed Papa's clothes.  Ruel looked for a taxi cab, and while waiting, Papa clung to his life and held onto the door to keep his balance as he was panting out of breath.  

     As soon as the taxi cab arrived outside the gate, Papa carried himself in staggered steps to the cab for a ride to a medical facility. The cab driver stepped on the gas steadily to quickly get to the hospital.  As the hazard lights blinked in a regular rhythm, contradicting Papa's erratic heartbeats, the cab's wheels rolled swiftly in a desperate effort to chase Papa's life that was ebbing away.  Papa was seated at the front seat. Silent. Mama and her companions sat behind him.  Only the drone of the engine could be heard.  

    On the way to the hospital, his head slumped.  Fluid leaked from his mouth.  When he arrived at Miller Sanitarium and Hospital, the nurses were shocked as the door of the cab revealed his face.

     They murmured, "Oh! This is Mr. Colegado, our divine service speaker last Sabbath!"

     Jemwin, the eldest son, arrived at the hospital.  He texted his friends.  One by one, those who were able to come came to give comfort.  Mama had been taken to another room where she dealt with her own pain.

     The doctor tried to revive Papa for thirty minutes and for another half an hour upon my brother's special request, but his lifeless body refused to respond.  He was pronounced DoA by the attending physician.  

     His breath had returned to his Maker before he could even reach the hospital.  He succumbed to acute myocardial infarction.

      August 25, 1941 bore the remembrance of Papa's birthday in Lodiong, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental and his birth memories cherished by Artemio Cabardo Colegado and Catalina Mantos Noval, whose gentle arms were the first cradle of his life.

     Of the nine siblings, only eight grew up to become adults.  His deceased sisters were Triposa Colegado, Diosdada Colegado Agdon, Guardalina Colegado Sombilon who was the mother of Pastor Arnold Sombilon, Zenaida Colegado Arante, and Merita Colegado Orbita.   

     The two living siblings are his brother Enrico Colegado, Sr. and his sister Florida Poding Colegado Patalinghug, the mother of Pastor Jerry Patalinghug.   

     Papa was married to Fe Dagle Diola of Poblacion Tayasan, Negros Oriental.

     He is survived by his beloved wife Fe Diola Colegado and three children.  The eldest, Pastor Jemwin D. Colegado is married to Adie Alvarez, and they have three children; namely, Jemwin  Jemcole A. Colegado II, Aia Jede A. Colegado, and Aia Jeia A. Colegado.  The second children are twin sisters.  Angie Colegado-Cordero, married to Ian Cordero, lives in Bangkok with their first child, Ayzs Iaine C. Cordero.  Angie's twin sister Haidee Colegado-Graves, married to Timothy Brian Graves, resides with her husband in Kalispell, Montana, USA.  

     Papa's life was not in vain.  He spent his life as a missionary serving in Mindanao and in the  Visayas.  He was the first auditor of the Southern Asia Pacific Division to lead a crusade.  Then, the other conference/mission auditors just followed in his footsteps.  Without a doubt, Papa's real passion was soul winning.  Thus, he is still my role model  in the pastoral ministry even for a long time to come.  

Hunob is a living example of his dedication and hard work as a layman before he joined the Central Visayan Mission, now the Central Visayan Conference.  The brethren of Hunob SDA Church shed tears upon hearing the tragic news about his untimely demise because they cannot find another Henry whose life was dedicated to winning souls for Christ.

In the 20th of May 2012, Papa and I were supposed to conduct a crusade together in Kutod, a place where he would plant the seeds of the gospel.  There he left many bible interests, so he was very excited about the crusade.  However, God's plan for Papa was something else - an early rest for his weakening heart.

His comforting voice, his funny antics, his unique way of teaching us to sing would be poignantly missed.  Public crusades and singing were both his passion.  He sang well in his own right; his songs were sang in different occasions.  He would be  well remembered for his special talents.  

We will surely miss him, but it is not "good-bye" for Papa.  It is only "good night" until the resurrection morning.  His death is just like the passing of the night.

This obituary was written in the words of Pastor Jemwin Colegado and revised by Ian Cordero.

Papa's wake and burial photos can be accessed in this link

http://www.wikialbums.com/member.aspx?uid=2254979192382189621655536132174250240841298172385797&publicpass=1298172385797


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