Family and Friends
Welcome and thank you for your attendance today and joining us to celebrate the life of my Dad, Cecilio.
I’d like to share my memories of Dad.
Dad’s a son of the solid north. Born at Aparri, Cagayan and raised at Tayug, Pangasinan [3 February 1938]. He completed his tertiary education at Far Eastern University majoring in Accounting. He became a Certified Public Accountant and built a successful practice. At the same time, he has a knack for teaching and became a professor at Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the University of Manila.
In his professional life, I think his best achievements include becoming Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Manila. He assumed the role despite of just having a Bachelor Degree. We are very proud of this achievement. This is proof that he’s attained the role purely on merit and skill. He eventually was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree, although, he preferred being a University Dean. He signs his name as Dean Cecilio R Uy to a point that people have mistaken his name to be Dean instead of Cecilio.
Another achievement is on being selected as one of the external auditors for the Philippine Constabulary – Integrated National Police. He would proudly display a sticker of the PC – INP on his jeep or car’s windscreen. Even the traffic police are giving him a military salute as he drove pass.
Personally, he was a great Dad. Growing up was never dull. While we seldom have dinner with him on weeknights, he made a point to dedicate the weekend with us. We used to live in Las Pinas which is between Cavite and Laguna. We have a choice of spending the day at either the beaches of Cavite or the swimming pool resorts of Laguna. He also loved going to fiestas. We’d go to Bulacan for a fiesta among others. I share this love of the fiesta with him. It is the best example of Filipino hospitality. There is nothing better.
A particular good time was when he would pack the family for a road trip back to Tayug, Pangasinan. This is always around the time of All Saints Day in November. He liked going back to Tayug and introducing us to the rest of the family. He never forgot his roots.
Today, we farewell Tayug, Pangasinan’s favourite son.
After school, we normally get picked up by a cousin to get us home. On some occasion, Dad will pick us up and would treat us to a merienda at Max Fried Chicken, at the airplane that’s been converted to a restaurant for some club sandwiches or at some fancy hotel restaurant for cake.
Our home at Las Pinas is a hub on weekends. If we’re not in Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Tayug or visiting friends for lunch or dinner, Dad liked to entertain guests at home.
Dad is the most welcoming person I know. If he meets a new person, his instinct will tell him that this new person is a potential friend.
We have a long driveway at Las Pinas. Dad will set up a table and chairs at the street end of the driveway. He’ll have a case of beer and whisky. He loved his whisky. The first neighbour to walk pass our driveway is promptly invited for a drink. Next thing you know, the entire street is at our driveway with an impromptu party. The name of the street we used to live in is Tidy Tips. By the end of the party, our place in untidy and the guests are way pass being tipsy.
When we moved to Australia and he still have his accountancy practice back home, this period made him split his time between Sydney and Manila. But he always makes a point to be here with us during Christmas and New Year. During the most important time of the year, he will always be with us, his family.
This is how I remembered him, simply Dad.
Your attendance here is testament to his generosity and friendship to you, his family and friends. He made good friends here and back home. Friends that treated us like family.
It was different here when he first joined us in Sydney. It was so quiet for his liking. But that changed when he made friends with the gang at BM Mount Druitt, with his drinking buddies at the [Blacktown] Workers Club and, most certainly, his Lodge Brothers here in Sydney. Your tribute last night is befitting of your Past Master and Brother and he’d be pleased that you have delivered that honour to him. It is a reflection of the high esteem you hold for my Dad. You made Sydney just like what he’s used to back home.
Thank you for honouring his memory today.
by Dennis P. Uy [son]
