Chapter 14 - A Great Man

April 25, 2021 - During the early 80s, my colleagues in the university established a computer consulting firm in Iligan City. Computrade Philippines, Incorporated was the first and the only computer firm in Iligan at that time. Upon my return in 1985, after completing my masteral studies in Manila, I was invited to join them as member of the board in-charge of software development projects. One of our clients is Mr. Henry T. Siao, a big-time businessman owning several establishments in the city. That is how I first met him. Our business relationship gradually blossomed into a personal friendship up to a point where I am almost considered a member of his family. I could come to his house anytime on short notice and share a meal with them. He even reserved me a guest room so that I could spend a night there if I wanted to. During my wedding in March 1992, he was one of my principal sponsors.

 

Henry is an active member of the Rotary Club of Iligan. At one time, he was the club president and in the words of another senior club member, he was the best district governor that they never had. He recruited me to Rotary in a somewhat elaborate way. The Rotary organization is involved in many worthwhile projects throughout the world. One of these projects is the district-to-district Group Study Exchange (GSE). GSE is a program consisting of a team of four or five non-Rotarians to be led by a seasoned Rotarian in the district to visit another district as ambassadors of goodwill.

 

Just a few months after my wedding, he recommended me to the GSE program. On the strength of his recommendation alone, I was accepted and became a member of the GSE Team for that year. Our leader was the venerable Judge Celing Velez of the regional trial court of Cagayan de Oro. Our destination: South Texas, USA. Our other members were Gary Pantanosas, now a successful businessman based in Orange County, California; Rommie Burlat, now an internationally known, multi-awarded movie director; the third one is Hernani “Nonoy” Chua of Cotabato City, but I have no news about him since our GSE days. The fourth member was Joel Maglunob who worked at the office of the governor of the autonomous region. After our GSE trip, he transferred to the DSWD where he rose to become the Assistant Regional Director in Cotabato. On March 11, 2003, two suspected hired killers gunned him down in front of his house.

 

I emigrated to the United States in 2001. When I returned to Iligan in 2016, Mr. Siao was the first person that I visited. He was now frail and sickly and lying on his bed most of the time. When he saw me, he smiled and sat up on his bed so that we can have our pictures taken.

I write about him today because he is celebrating his birthday. So I join with his wife Ninang Nene and sons Congressman Frederick (now the city mayor of Iligan), Robinson and Sherjack in wishing him “Happy 83rd birthday, Ninong Henry. May you live to be a hundred and more!”

 

Epilogue. Henry passed away peacefully last July 10, 2023, at the age of 85, two years after I wrote this piece.

 

 
When I visited Nong Henry in 2016 at his residence: From left: my daughter Lira, Ninang Nene, his wife, Ninong Henry and myself.


 
Members of the Rotary Foundation GSE Team to South Texas in 1992. From left to right: this writer, Hernane "Nonoy" Chua, Rommy Burlat, Joel Maglunob and Gary Pantanosas.

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