Posted by Jonathan (Jolo) Villanos on May 5, 2012:

Dad spent over 30 years in the military before he retired in 1986. It is a bit ironic since he did not see himself as a soldier when he was growing up in Moncada, Tarlac. In fact, in his high school where military training was mandatory at the time, he often got away from marching and other activities by making a deal with some of the student officers who were in danger of failing on certain subjects or who wanted higher grades that he would tutor them instead of attending these activities. Many years later, these student officers were probably surprised when they heard that he was entering a military academy. Most Filipino West Pointers started as cadets in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City. Dad was one of the few Filipinos who entered West Point without ever attending the PMA. Prior to entering West Point, he was a part-time engineering student and a full-time government worker in Manila. In order for him to stay employed in the government, he needed to pass the civil service exam. Not only did he pass the exam, he got the highest mark! Someone told him that he could convert his civil service exam result to qualify for a scholarship program given by the U.S. government, so he did. After converting it, he went to the Clark Air Force Base and took a battery of exams for the four U.S. military academies at the time -- the United States Military Academy (USMA), the United States Naval Academy (USNA), the U. S. Coast Guard Academy (CGA), and the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). He topped all these exams. He then chose the USMA at West Point and entered as a plebe in 1952. His alternates to these academies, who were mostly PMA cadets, became some of his closest friends. Like some of his classmates and mistahs, Dad could have retired early from the military service and then pursued a career in engineering, mathematics, law, economics, writing, academe, or any field that he was good at and interested him -- but he did not. Instead, he spent 30 years in the military service and remained true to his alma mater's motto of "Duty, Honor, Country" in every position or role he was given during his active service, while at the same time, being the very best dad, husband, lolo, manong, uncle, kumpadre and friend. After he retired from the service, he went "full time" with us. While in his spare time, he did a lot of things -- tending the garden; learning Spanish to the point that he was fluent and some French; writing letters, poems and ideas he wanted to share someday; reading e-books on his Kindle; listening to his favorite music on his iPod; cooking; and sharing his anecdotes, wisdom and philosophies in life. With his passing, it would be very hard not to be teary-eyed whenever I see things he often used, whenever I hear words and phrases he often uttered, whenever I smell a familiar fragrance or cologne he often wore... It would be impossible to mention everything here that may remind me of him since he was always a part of my life. I still do not know how I will cope without him, but I do know for the rest of my life I will treasure the time he was here with us and remember his zest for a simple life. (Rest in peace, Dad -- I love and miss you so much!)

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