I still can't believe it. Though he's had ailments and even a heart problem, I still don't know how to accept this news.
Bro. Angelo Naguit, or "Ka Naguit", as we all fondly call him, is our Tagapagturo ng awit here in the District of Pampanga. For more than 50 years, he has been a pillar of strength for so many brethren, choir members or not. On the major eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, June 15, 1991, it is in their home where my family found solace, and not surprisingly, another 25 families or more.
He is also one very humble man of God. Though he is a very big and influential figure in the Church, he never forgot to show respect and humility. My mom even told me a story about how respecful he was when she went to their home to deliver the messages coming from the locale and district offiices, even saying "opo" and "po" to her.
Just last week, he even visited our locale to head the choir practice for our upcoming Pasalamat in July. How sad he won't be able to join us anymore on that day. How sad we won't be able to hear his pieces of advice and help strengthen our faith anymore. How sad we cannot shake his hand any longer, the hand that helped so many brethren stand up for the Church.
It was his birthday last June 12. Unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to just even greet him or shake his hand when he headed our practice (June 13, 4:45 a.m.). If we only knew that will be the last time we'll be seeing him alive, we could have cared less if we're already late for our offices or schools. But he insisted we don't shake hands anymore because we're already getting late and he just said "Kaway na lang." Those were the last words we heard him say...
Ka Naguit has also been, for three times, the answer to my prayers. Or should I say the medium that God used to answer them. And just imagine how immediate the answers came. The three times I asked, Ka Naguit will be there the next morning to deliver the answers! Walang mintis talaga!
But Ka Naguit is strict. But no matter, we know it's for our own good. And we know that's how it must really be. We've just been slow in following.
He is also a very good family man. Having raised two very beautiful children, Kuya Angel and Ate Ailah, with his wife, Ka Glo, always by his side, you couldn't ask for more from him. When he's not in his office at Church, you'd see him home, reading the newspaper, washing the car, catering to their garden needs, and can you imagine this powerful man kneeling and polishing the floor??? OMG, yes, he does that! Nagbubunot pa! Oh, how I adore you! And how I'll miss you, too. :(
He's also a very good friend. He's been with our family (mother and father side) since they were little children. He grew up with them in Tarlac, also taken cared of by my mom's relatives. He even courted my mom's eldest sister, Auntie Del, but sadly, they didn't become more than friends. He's also an "adopted son" of my grandparents (father's side) and when the right time came, he offered his home to be the home of my dad's sister, Auntie Riza, when she studied here in Pampanga.
Ka Naguit, a comrade, a source of strength and faith, a brother, a leader, a beloved husband, a father, a friend, a survivor, will be terribly missed, not just by me, but by all the people whose lives he has touched, by all the choir members here in Pampanga, even in Tarlac, including those who never got married because they were hoping, dreaming and praying that he would be their husband.
I can already see the flock of people, thousands and thousands of them, (including me) who will attend your burial. All these people love you. All these people will sorely miss you. But you don't have to worry because these will be the same people who will take care of your family for you. The same way that we don't have to worry because I know we'll meet again, in His time, in His Kingdom.
Ka Naguit, maraming, maraming salamat po. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo! (Thank you very much. I love you so much!)
Here's the only picture I have of him. He's the one wearing eyeglasses.
From left to right: Kuya Angel (his son), Ka Naguit, the groom (unfortunately, I don't know his name), Gemma, the bride, Ka Naguit's "alaga", Ka Glo, his wife, Ate Ailah, his youngest child. I apologize to the other persons in the picture, I, unfortunately, do not know their names.
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