Pete, my best friend! Can't even imagine you are gone. Just want to cherish the times we were always together including working and living in Cranford, NJ. I have become a great part of my life and will pray that the Lord will give you a great welcome when you enter the pearly gates of heaven. May the Lord bless you and welcome you with all the angels and saints in heaven where you will await all of us, as you continue to pray for that you have left behind. I know you were prepared to go to your final destination - heaven. May your soul rest in peace with the Lord!

When I think of Lolo he meant a lot of things to me. But most importantly, he was a great role model. I remember him telling me, “there’s nothing I fear.” To make me feel better when I was worried.

Lolo taught me to be strong, courageous, and to keep on fighting. I remember Lolo helping me with my homework when I was struggling. He stayed up with me when I couldn’t fall asleep.

Lolo was also great at golfing. He was always practicing his form while watching the masters. Whenever, I think of Lolo I think of the great things he taught me, wether if it was math, being brave or to care for people. I will always remember those lessons.

Goodbye, I love you.

Late at night, toting family members, Pete Baraoidan, my uncle's cousin, met us in Manila in 2003, to help us, as wide-eyed newcomers,visit the Philippines. During our three week-stay we spent many hours with him and his wife and family, and they were all so generous, so helpful, and enjoyable. I will never forget our dinners, our conversations, their stories and gifts. He had many talents, as well as lossses, and he leaves behind a wonderful legacy of service, devotion, grace, dignity, and pride in his two countries. Pat Pasick. Ann Arbor

Since I was a child, I didn’t remember that much about Lolo because I didn’t get to live with him in the starting days of my life since we lived in cubao. And then time passed we decided to live again at fairview and that's where I began to know more about lolo and build memories together. He would always get mad at being rowdy and makulit when he's working from home. He would always avoid going to Toy kingdom when I was with him so he doesn’t have to buy me because of peer pressure. But even though he was always mad at me I still loved him because he would always help me with my homework before. I remember him teaching me how to multiply and divide at the time.

But the time we really bonded together was when he used to bring me to the golf course so we could play golf together. Even though I sucked he would always watch and help me with my form and such. And that’s where I really saw that my lolo was always willing to help me even though he was busy with his own stuff. And then I didn’t get to connect more because he went to the US but I still tried to maintain contact even though we were in different timezones. He would always ask me about my studies and how I was doing and that was really sweet.


After a few years Lolo came back with tita penny and my mom. I was grade 12 at the time and I was taking my college entrance exams and on the day before my UST exam I had a talk with lolo. He asked me about what I was going to do for my college course, and he even forced me to become a pilot hahaha. And then he also treated me to taco bell even though I wanted to payi for myself he insisted. And then we had a good talk about college life and such and the time when he met lola. I always hold that memory dear to me because that was one of the conversations that I had with lolo that really meant something to me and made me think

Lolo was grumpy
Lolo was arrogant
Lolo was makulit

But deep down
Lolo was caring
Lolo was selfless
Lolo was loving
Lolo was my lolo.

I love you lolo, thank you for everything that you’ve done for me. I will always cherish you in my heart everyday. May you rest in piece.
-Joshua

It's hard to put into words..the kind of lolo, Lolo was. Simply because words aren't enough to describe how truly amazing he was, and also partly because it's hard to believe he’s gone.

One thing I enjoyed the most was when he shared his life stories. As he aged, he may have lost a little strength, but his mind was absolutely brilliant. From the memories of the EDSA revolution to the Japanese occupation, and even some of his childhood memories. One of my favorite stories was about a math class. You see, Lolo has a Ph.D. in Mathematics. I never really understood what you do with a Ph.D. in Math. It was really handy though because throughout my whole life, whenever I had a math assignment I couldn't understand, I could go to him, and he would always know the answer. I found out, through his storytelling, this wasn't always the case. We live in a world today that has a relaxed, very laid-back school setting. It's ok to admit you don't know and ask for help. Back in his days, it wasn't quite the same. Sometime during his elementary days, his math teacher asked the class to solve this problem. He was the go-to math guy, so naturally, the whole class looked to him, to give the correct answer. He didn't have it. He did not know. With rage, the teacher threw a chair. Yes, a chair. It shocked him and shook him to the core. From that day on, never had he not had the answer to any math question.

I learned what love was from my lolo. Lolo always said, from the moment he saw Lola, he knew she was the one he would marry. I never thought such a thing could be possible. I always thought that's just his way of being sweet to her. I grew up with my grandparents. Every day, I witnessed their love for each other. I learned from them that love is great. Infinite. Loyal. Patient. Kind. Understanding. Love is forever.

Love is when Lolo would massage Lolas legs in the middle of the night when she got gout attacks. When he buys her beautiful flowers after coming back from trips. When he brought her to UPLB every time they had an orchid show. Love is after having a disagreement, they're still cuddling together at night. love is him chasing after her when they had a fight even if it meant driving all the way to Ilocos. That's the kind of love I wish to have one day. The love, affection, and understanding they had in their marriage is something that I will never ever forget. And it's comforting to know, they are together again in heaven.

You taught us so much about strength and resilience, kindness, generosity, and love.

Thank you, lolo.

I miss you every day. I love you. Sending kebkebs.

- jayme

Growing up in the Philippines I remember Lolo being around a lot throughout my childhood. He and Lola were the best couple I knew. I remember me and Mike sleeping beside him and Lola. We’d help each other put the mosquito net when we’re getting ready to sleep. I’d sometimes look at them cuddling in the middle of the night or making sure Lola was tucked in bed and not getting cold. We would eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time. He would tell stories and sometimes a really corny joke from time to time and I remember Lola not laughing at his jokes. I probably got my sense of humor from him as I’d laugh at ALL his corny jokes.

One of the memorable moments I had with Lolo was when we were eating lunch with Lola at the dining table. Lola rarely laughs at Lolo's jokes and there was one time Lolo had malunggay stuck in his teeth making him look like he lost a tooth. Lola kept laughing and she put some in her teeth. They were both laughing at each other and It was a rare moment that time to hear Lolo and Lola's laugh.

But of all the jokes and stories he would tell, my most favorite will always be the one how Lolo and Lola met in Laoag, Ilocos. (They were seatmates on a bus hehe) He would tell that story and smile at Lola all the time. The love they had for each other made a real impact on my life. That kind of love makes me hopeful.

He was a great example to look up to when it comes to having relationships. He made sure that you're okay and you've been taken care of, he’ll make you feel you’re included on any occasion, you can have a great sit down conversation with him, he gave the best life advice, he was the GOAT when it came to Math, He never gives up on you (especially when teaching math), He was the sweetest person to Lola and everyone in the family, and he made everyone happy.

He was the best grandfather you could ask for and I'll miss him every day.

Love you, Lolo. Say Hi to Lola for me.

-Jesse

I’ve been trying to put off writing this tribute. 40 days after and the thought still breaks my heart. I try to think of it just like our normal setup. He’s there, in another country, but always just a message away. Always just a video call away.

But the truth now is that, he’s not. And the reality is, the world has lost a great man, and I, my hero.

Lolo was my hero.

I drew inspiration and motivation from him and his amazing life story.
He was the person I wanted most to be like, the person I wanted to emulate.
I watched as he created successful businesses, led government agencies, advised leaders, touched so many lives, and built a beautiful family and home.
To achieve even the smallest amount of what he did would’ve already been enough for most.

But beyond all this, I simply knew him as my Lolo.
The man who taught me how to ride a bike.
The man who brought me to baseball games.
Who would let me tag along on work events and meet his peers and colleagues.
Who would get up at 4am everyday to make sure I had a good breakfast before my 5am bus to school.
Who would crack the corniest jokes that we all loved.
He showed me, through example, what being kind, humble, and silently strong meant.
He showed me how to dream and how hard work pays off when you pursue those dreams.
He taught me about life and showed me what a great one looks like.

Thank you Lolo. I love you. I miss you.
- jj

Dear Dad

To wherever you are.

Today we come together to say bon voyage. We never goodbye because everyday, we feel you in our hearts. In everything we see and do, we feel you. When we are trying to do math, we hear your voice, when we prepare a meal or eat at a restaurant, we remember the times you have shared them with us. In our problems, we remember the comfort and guidance that you gave.

They all seemed like small moments
But now we hold on them in our hearts forever until we meet again.

As i child i remembered you as the person who worked to provide for our family. But in the last few years, you have come to be so much more than that. We now know you as our friend, the one that endlessly tried to find solutions to whatever problems we had, the one who loved us unconditionally.

We will miss you dad. So much more than we ever could realize when you were here. But we are happy you are now free, free from the pain that your body endured, free to let your mind soar to the dreams that you wanted for yourself.

So now be happy, be with mom again as i know youve missed her and the boys so much. Put in a good word for us up there in heaven.

We love you so much, Dad. Fare thee well on your new journey. We will see you again soon.

Dr Baraoidan holds a special place in our family's heart. He was a kind and generous mentor to me and Yael during our formative years early in our careers. He was specially generous to me with his time. He cared and guided me during my stay at the National Computer Centre. Because of him, I was able to explore, develop and grow as a professional in my chosen field. I was able to do this because of the encouragement, training and grounding he provided. He and Ninang Lydia were equally generous at our wedding. He and his whole family was also there as Yael and I boarded our flight to migrate to Australia - one couldn't wish for a more touching send-off from families and dear friends.  In our last conversation a few months back, he was completing a book on how to manage stat probabilities in a casino setting. I was hoping to get an early version to test his hypothesis - ever the math guy! I will miss Sir Baraoidan.

Rest in peace Sir. Please send our regards to Ninang and we know you will have a beautiful and peaceful reunion in heaven. You will always be remembered with love. 

Rene and Yael Manongdo

​"Mangahas mabigo," my grandfather, Lolo, embodied this Filipino saying meaning "dare to fail."

​Lolo hailed from Laoag City in the Philippines and worked as a bootblack, servant, and farmer, striving to overcome extreme poverty amid World War II. My grandfather took these hardships and used them as motivation to excel. Lolo graduated top of his high school class, aced the U.S. Embassy entrance exam to earn a scholarship to West Point, and later obtained his Ph. D. in Mathematics. Lolo instilled in me this truth: adversity develops character, but our actions onto others reveal it.

As I began college in 2014, I was not prepared for the full weight of my academic responsibilities. Rather than focus on my studies as an Accounting major, I was forced to devote most of my time to working at a local restaurant to afford tuition. After nearly three years of Accounting courses and a cumulative GPA of 2.8, I had lost all motivation, became depressed, and dreaded seeing my family and hiding the fact that I may need to drop out of college. Then, two years into my Accounting degree, Lolo was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Watching Lolo battle such a barbaric illness took an emotional toll on my family and me. As the cancer metastasized to his bones, we would often help Lolo with doctor's appointments and simple tasks like assisting him out of bed or walking downstairs as his bones became brittle, and his strength deteriorated. The days Lolo spent tutoring me in calculus or pretending to be Tiger Woods on the golf course turned into days of experimental chemotherapy drug trials, radiation treatment, and heavy conversations about how long he would be able to continue.

Throughout this time, Lolo never sought any sympathy and continued to show the same strength he cultivated for years in the Philippines, raising a family at a young age, serving in the military, and when the Denver Broncos (his favorite NFL team) went on a losing streak.

Lolo taught us the importance of discipline and patience. Patience in life when things may not happen as you hoped they would, and the discipline to always strive to do your best, so that when the time comes, you are prepared to seize it.

With my grandfather's advice echoing in my mind, I decided I would "dare to fail" and changed my major to Biology. With the goal of becoming a physician one day inspired by Lolo’s strength in hardship, this new ambition has lit a fire in me, propelling graduate as an Honor student, volunteer as an EMT, and work in cancer research.

Thank you Lolo for the many life lessons you have taught our family, we know you are still watching over us.

Love you,

Trent

Pedro, Pete, Col. Pete, Sir, Dr. B, Doc B, Dad, and Lolo to family, this is how he is called by friends and family. To my children, he is always LOLO.
Thanks for always taking care of them from when they were kids until graduating from college.
You will always be in our hearts.
Farewell and on to your next journey.

One of the last times that I saw Lolo was also one of the most memorable moments that I had with him. He was having a difficult day, his body aches and tiredness seemed to frustrate him. I knew I could not take that pain away. All I could do was to be with him as he experienced it.

That night, I sat by his bedside praying some rosaries. His eyes were closed, listening to the instrumental music he always listened to around bedtime. I was praying that the Blessed Mother would give him joy and strength during this final test of his life. After a while, he opened his eyes. Then, he stared at me for a while. It wasn't a look of confusion, gratefulness, or admiration, nor was it devoid of any feeling. It was a simple look of a grandfather on his grandson. I stared back at him for a few seconds.

He then told me to look for a book he was reading through (no small task if you know how many books the man owns and reads). After searching for a while, I found it. It was a collection of meditations written about the end of one's life, and how Jesus accompanies us during those most distressing days.

He began to read the meditations to me. He started with the mediation for that day and continued on. Days and weeks passed. I asked if I could read him some too, so I did. We passed the book back and forth a couple of times reading these reflections.

What I now realize about that evening is that it showcased the man I knew as my grandfather. First, he gave. I think he wanted to read those reflections more to comfort me than as comfort for him! He wanted to show that his passing on would not be something to be feared because he trusted in Jesus. Second, he was attentive. In that silent look, in that sacred time, I was his focus. How many hours, days, years were joyfully given by him to spend time with his family members. I remember him at my baseball games. I could always spot his kind and serene look behind those chainlink backstops. Third, he was humble. As I knew Lolo, he was a man of few words. Although his actions were his declarations. He was like St Joseph in that way. He stuck with his family, helped us when we needed him, provided for us when we needed it.

It is a popular belief that once people reach Heaven, those who helped them get there will be revealed to them. It may be shocking to someone who has prayed for them; it may have been obvious on earth. If by the Grace of God, I do receive eternal blessedness, and I rejoice with Lolo there, it will be no surprise that he helped me on my journey.

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"What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

“For thy sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-35)

Pete was the truest gentleman in every sense of the word. Pete or Pedro was a genuine friend and kindest human being. The world has lost one of the best and he will be sorely missed. Even in Beast Barracks he never complained and did his duty as he would later in the Army.

I know I will miss Pedro but will always be richer for having known him.

When I was just starting high school and thinking about what I wanted to do in life, I had goals but no idea how to get there. Lolo with his stories about West Point, the military, and government service opened my eyes to not only achieving my dreams but giving me purpose. It is through those long days of doing math problems with him that I learned the tools and dedication to pursue a degree in engineering. Furthermore, his advice and motivation are what led me to pursue a career in the military. Lolo was not only my grandfather, but a friend, life coach, and teacher.

I remember when he would take each other out to eat and how much he loved seafood and beer. We had more in common than I thought! I remember spending the mornings cooking breakfast and making coffee for us and talking at the table. I would make the coffee and eggs, lolo would make the rice and heat up his Filipino dish that was in the fridge from last night. I learned a lot about the Filipino culture and food from him and really broadened my horizons by trying his chicharron, soursop soup, and other dishes. I'm so happy that I had the opportunity to visit the Philippines with him and have him and the family be my tour guides. I unfortunately never got the chance to golf with him but he would still passionately talk about it with me and watch it on the television.

Lolo, I will never forget the impact you had on my life, you are the grandfather that is talked about in books and movies. The one others will look up to. I will always remember you lolo and keep you in my prayers.

I love you Lolo

I’m crying behind my smile, but knowing this poem by Anne Davison helps me get through my heartache.
      
          I will miss you Dad!
   
            
                I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me for now I’m free, I’m following the path God laid for me

I took His hand when I heard him call, I turned my back and left it all

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play

Tasks left undone must stay that way, I’ve found that peace at the close of day

If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah yes, these things I too will miss

Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow

My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much, Good friends, good times, my loved one’s touch

If my time seemed all too brief,
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief

Lift up your heart and rejoice with me, God wanted me now,
            He set me free.

Lolo was one of the best people I knew. He always encouraged us to do better and to learn more. He was always willing to help me and the sibling with our homework or any question we had.

He would always make sure we ate some type of food even if it was ice cream. On cold winter days he would make sure we were wearing socks and pants.

Whenever I had ice cream during the winter he would always give me the weird look but he just let it slide.

A few weeks ago we were eating pho and I was talking to Lolo and he commented on how I always ate pho and I said pho-ever and that became our saying. I’ll definitely miss hearing that around the house.

Lolo definitely brought a joy to the house and he always made our family trips a blast. It’s gonna be weird without him but he’ll always be in our hearts.

I love you so much Lolo and I’m gonna miss you a ton <3

I really didn’t know what to expect when Lolo moved into our home 10 years ago. Admittedly, my first thoughts were I’d have to clean up my act, and selfishly, I thought he would always be there...I might lose my times I wanted solitude. Well, he was always there...every time the kids needed help in math, every time we needed someone to transport the kids, and every time I wanted to talk about politics, Broncos and Packers, and every time that i wanted to see a smiling face when I came home from work. 

Lolo was amazing...not only because he would never lose his hair, or even have it turn gray, but he remembered his mathematics like no one else. He was a savior to all the kids in their studies. We could always count on him to know the answers.  Lolo had an amazing energy. He helped construct our back patio and rose garden...rock by rock. He took care of the kids and our dogs while Mylene and I traveled and worked. He drove the kids to school and tutored them for years. 

Lolo you knew your numbers better than anyone. You lived your life trying to beat the odds. We knew of your disappointment in not finishing your book. But the real untold how to story was not on a card game...its the book of life. Its how to take the hand you are dealt, work hard to understand the big picture, make the right moves, take the right risks. You lived this game of life and won. Thank you for the moves and risks that you took. You overcame the great odds and touched the lives of countless people, especially your family and friends. Thank you for taking those risks.

With all my love and respect, love, Mark

Lolo was a lot to me. He was my grandfather, my tutor, and sometimes my chaperone. I will always carry many fond memories of him by my side. From memories of him driving me to and from school, where I would sing to him, to us at the dining when I was in elementary school asking him to come with me to college so he could help me with my math.

But some of the fondest memories I have of him are when we shared a room and the nights I would sneak into his bed when I was little.

I would be playing video games, keeping him up until the clock struck twelve. Waking him up again at 12:30, because I hadn't slept due to fear of what might lie in the dark night. I did this every night for probably a year. He was always there for me, my hero in the dark.

Lolo was my mathematician master, my protector from the scary monsters that I believed lurked once the sun blinked its last wink of light, and my number one go-to when I need to be somewhere. He will always have a place in my heart.

I am sad that he is no longer with us. But I can't help but hope that he is reunited with Lola and all of our late family; watching over me, every time that clock strikes midnight, protecting me when I drift off into a peaceful night sleep.

I will miss you, I love you.