To a Brother and a Friend, a Dedication.
His day is done and there's darkness
Though the nurse's light is not out.
He is gone but not our fondness;
You dare ask what's this all about?
From the place of a tranquil town
Comes this lad with honest intention;
Admire the beauty and the sound
In his heart grows a pure ambition.
A feeling of joy and longing
Of the earth to the pouring rain;
On himself, he keeps on humming
The known ballad of his terrain.
The night shall be fraught with music
That dear life is sweet and sublime
And we comfort ourselves to seek
Through the nook and corner of Time.
And in the corridors of Life
We picture him with his gavel
As he listens to human strife;
His judgment for good from evil.
Such right gesture, a semblance of might;
The correct statement of the hour.
He ponders sans doubt what is right
Using his God-given power.
And through this vignette and story
The picture and great thoughts suggest
That oblivion cannot steal away
The sad day he was laid to rest.
(Note) This poem is a nostalgic reminiscence of a brother-in-law and a friend, a former municipal judge, Alejandro T. "Boy" Canda, who first saw the light of day in his hometown of Loay, Bohol but over three scores years later lost that glow along the way, from Dipolog City to Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, the 17th day of January 2020. However, a glow glimmered when a smart and beautiful daughter hurdled the bar examination just recently presumably following the father's footsteps.
"Boy", Canda is a typical guy from the Visayan island, noted for graduates of men of the robe - Bohol. He studied to become a lawyer and along the way was captivated by the beauty and charm of a nurse, Lucila Rueles Caermare of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte that eventually became his wife. He is amiable, unassuming, down-to-earth, and dedicated. When he passed the bar, he worked for a while as a lawyer and later was promoted to municipal judge of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte until his retirement.
There's a favorite hometown ballad that when a maiden seeks a marriage partner she should search no further but a Boholano. And that search undoubtedly should end with Brod "Boy", of the Baby Boomers generation, who is friendly, likes to play tennis, and loves his family.
A billionaire once said, "...so, I hope you understand that when you have friends or someone to talk to - this is happiness."
And somebody opined, " He is a brother who is always in our hearts."
But a learned Saint, St. Francis of Assisi prayed, "...O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we received, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is only in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen."
Brod "Boy", we are sad that you've left us but we are consoled that you are in His eternal presence. May the perpetual light shine upon you. Rest in peace, Alejandro T. "Boy" Canda, a brother-in-law, and a friend!
By: Greg Intas Caponong Alcala Trabanca
