On December 31, 2016, my family and I celebrated the New Year by hosting a small gathering at our house with the Magat family. It had become our tradition many years back that both our families would join together to celebrate the yearly holiday seasons. Never did I imagine that this past New Years’ Eve would be the last time I would be enjoying the company of my dear kuya Doming. I will miss him dearly for he left behind lots of pleasant memories and good deeds. I will best remember him as very understanding, patient, forgiving, generous, and always willing to listen and set aside his own feelings for the sake of unity and harmony in the family. For example, the fact that he sometimes felt ignored or taken for granted by others, he would still be willing to listen and extend an open arms invitation to those people and received them into his house with no complaint. I never knew him to harbor any ill-feeling to anyone, even to those he knew had done him wrong. He always used his favorite phrase “NO PROBLEM” when confronted with something or when anyone needed his help. Such wisdom of kuya Doming shows not only that he appreciated peace and harmony, but that he was also a man of integrity. He was caring and always willing to help others even if he had no duty or obligation to do so. For example, when my wife and I came to the United States many years ago, kuya took care of most of our essential needs to start up a new life. I will never forget his kindness and concern of the well-being of my wife, who was pregnant at that time. Upon knowing that my wife was sleeping on the floor of the room that she and I were renting from one of my sisters-in-law, he quickly provided my wife a bed to sleep comfortably as I was trying to adjust to life in the U.S. To my knowledge, this act of kindness by kuya was not only accorded to me, but to all of his in-laws who came here to the states. He truly was a good man with a huge heart. I saw him as a loving son to his parents, a generous sibling to his brothers and sisters and helpful to all his in-laws. He was a good provider for his family, a caring husband to his wife, a great father to his two daughters, a super grandfather to his 5 grandchildren, a loyal soldier who served his country with honor and pride, a friendly neighbor and reliable friend and to me, a brother and a friend forever. His passing is a huge loss not only for his own family but also to me personally. I lost a man that I both respect and admire. And while I am saddened and mourned by his passing, I am glad to have known such a great man like kuya Doming and thankful to God that he was brought into our lives and our family. It was he who taught me the value of true friendship, compassion, and wisdom worth emulating. Kuya Doming truly left us a lot of pleasant memories and plenty of good deeds that I will take with me forever.