Ruben Maycacayan Patag also known as Bento or Tuting by relatives and friends. He was the youngest child of Casiano (Anong) Patag and Eugenia Maycacayan. He was born on November 20, 1944 and I am so blessed to be one of his children.

We call him "Tatay". My Tatay got fatherless when he was 2 yrs, 6 mos, and 22 days old. My grandfather died on June 11, 1947. Lola Eugenia was left with 6 children. The oldest Conrado was 22 yrs old at that time and was already married to Caridad Paralejas and with one child named as Conrado Patag Jr. (Boyie)  He's one year older than Tatay. The rest of the siblings in order of birth were Pablo ( Tio Pabling) I believe he was 20 then, Zenaida (Ate Zening) 18 years old then, Aurora (Ate Aurit) 16 years old then and Normita ( Ate Mita) who was almost six years old at that time.

There was a huge age gap between Ate Aurit and Ate Mita, according to Lola Genia she lossed 4 sons before Ate Mita.

When we were growing up, Lola Genia always tells us story about Tatay. She said one time she was looking for Tatay (he was 3 yrs old at that time) she can't find him and when she finally saw him Tatay said that he was just under the table talking to a man. Lola believed that Tatay was talking to Lola Anong. Tatay had no idea or memories of his father. (I believe so as my memory as a child is just very clear when I was 5 to 6 yrs old).

Tatay grew up always with Lola and of course he is the youngest and he is growing up without a father.  Lola's attention and the older sisters were at Tatay. Because Kuya Ading got married early and had a child before my father he didn't have a bonding with him at all and I could imagine it's a strange relationship but Tatay always have that respect for him. I never hear Tatay answer back at him even when he was put down or got reprimanded. Tatay is always a quiet person. Tio Pabling tells us a story that in order for Lola to allow him to play basketball he would offer to take care of Tatay carrying him on his shoulder. I remember Ate Aurit being a spinster always have that love and care for Tatay.

When the wife of Kuya Ading died and left with one year old twins (Ate Taba and Ate Puti) , Lola had to move to Kuya Ading's house to take care of his 6 children. Tatay was only 9 then. Lola took Tatay with her and left the ancestral house to Ate Aurit and Ate Mita and asked Ate Zening who's already married at that time (living in Libid) to Pedro ( Idging) Antazo to go back and live with Ate Aurit, Ate Mita, and Kuya Pabling and family (living at the first floor of the house) while she was in "kanto" (this is what we call Kuya Ading's house). Kuya Boyie the oldest son of Kuya Ading was already dead at that time. He died on January 29, 1956, 3 mos before his mother died on April 27, 1956.

Tatay grew up in kanto with Lola. Can you imagine people will think that he's one of the children of Kuya Ading? The children of Kuya Ading, Ate Dora, Kuya Anong, Ate Myrna, Ate Taba, and Ate Puti respect and treated my Tatay as their big brother. Ate Cely the oldest always thinks that my Tatay is just her playmate or neighbor and never call him as Kuya. That's how Ate Cely is but we love and respect her as the oldest grandchild.

My Tatay got married when he was 19 yrs old to Rita Apostadero (my Nanay). Because he was still very young, Lola Genia didn't let go of Tatay and we ended up staying in "kanto".

TO BE CONTINUED....