Ode to Lolo

Ode to Lolo ...

Lolo Narding...he is always descibed as a strict disciplinarian with a quick temper, an astute politician and a doctor with a solid reputation in his field. I remember him as sweet, loving lolo. He inspired awe and respect but most of all, I remember his smile and twinkling eyes. They were mischievous and benevolent at the same time. I can see them now; remember how they smiled lovingly and proudly upon his "apos" surrounding him in the living room (he loved to play with Bulyot) He would beam proudly as we sang, danced, recited poems for him and the rest of the clan. He was a great teaser and a good storyteller.

I don't remember him as as being strict. Maybe he was, but I honestly don't remember being scolded by him or ever being afraid of him. He was my lolo and I was proud of him. I can see him now with the townspeople who were always waiting to see him. I see him in Lapo-lapo. Proud and tall (he wasn't a tll man but when you're a little girl...) walking with his knee high boots, white shirt and straw hat like an haciendero. Always smiling and full of life. I was so proud to be his granddaughter and felt very lucky. The houe and everybody seemd to revolve around him. Influential people as well as ordinary people were always around (I used to resent this since I considered them intruders and nuisances. They were alwyas around -- in the dining room, living room; at all times of the day) You can imagine how proud i felt when the Archbishop Olalia of Lipa came to the house for the party lolo gave when I was hermana for the Flores de Mayo. Oooh and there were two bands to play for the procession -- one band up front and the other one at the back. I felt like a little princess. All this attention lavished on me because of my lolo!

right pic: Fr. Luis Mortera (parish priest), a , Rogelio dela Rosa, Lolo Narding, Atty. Epipanio Ona *** left pic: Lolo Narding and Ninoy Aquino as the guset of honor in a commencement exercises of SJA in the 60's

When he was alive, the house in San Jose was beautiful and very well kept. He grew the most incredible roses. There were roses all around -- big sweet roses! There were all kinds of flowers everywhere -- daisies, red ginger, camia, sampaguita and a menagerie of animals - pigs, chicken, turkeys, doves, fish and a mnkeyeating eagle in a big cage; and also a small nipa hut were we played house. It was a veritable playland. My lolo' playland!

I remember him at the head of the table at diner in our house in Banaba, telling stories and jokes with daddy (wish I could remeber those jokes) He loved kare-kare. We always said grace before dinner. In those days, he carried a gun which he always put aside before sitting to dinne. Beside it would be his own brown *?* leather wallet. I thought he was the richest man in the world since his wallet was always bulging. (at christmas time, he would give each of us crisp 20 peso bills. That was a lot of money for a little girl and reinforced my belief that he was indeed loaded!) After dinner, he and daddy would smoke cigars. Mommy would sometimes play the piano and we would all sing together.

When he got sick with cancer, they say hw was often impatient (as most sick people are) I remember thinking how courageous he was. Even though he wasn't feeling well, he always smile at me.

So...what do I remember about lolo? I remember his love for nature, his gentleness, his smile, his bright eyes, his laughter and how proud I felt to be his granddaughter

by T ATA LEJANO -NATORI (first grandchild of Lolo Narding and Lola Canding)

At the Natori's dinning table in NY devouring the famous kowsin Fred's cuisine
l-r : Leo Ona , Bursing Ona , Tesi Ona, Tata Lejano-Natori and Fred Natori

PAHINA ONA