Meeting Tito Garcia was not an encounter by chance. He was my father’s cousin and good friend. His son Leo and I practically grew up together. I spent countless days with both of them during my formative years. I will never forget how Tito Tito treated me like I was one of his own.
Love begets love. I felt that strongly in our relationship — he was fond of me just as I was of him.
Even with the wide gap between our ages (I’m 48; Tito was 85), he had the capacity to understand me as a child, as an adolescent and as an adult.
When there was something he was displeased about, he would tell me without hesitation, and I would listen to his wise words without contempt. He was constantly there for me through the years.
While I was in high school, I particularly remember swimming with him at Silliman Beach to catch fishes for our aquarium.
At that time, I, too, was an eager driver without a license, and much to my joy, he would let me take the wheel of his Volkswagen.
We had one more thing in common — our fondness for pancit. We enjoyed each other’s company over a plate of local pancit at the Cebu Kitchenette or at OrPan (Oriental Panciteria).
Just like any relationship, Tito Tito and I had our share of disagreements. There were matters that we didn’t quite agree on, and some issues we thought of differently.
But we settled in the knowledge of our own personal characters, and whatever pessimism hung in the air was cleared out soon enough. We understood each other perfectly.
His affection towards me was sincere. I am glad and honored to have met and known such a good man. I don’t want to say goodbye.
So long, Tito Tito, you can be sure that you will live on in my heart.
