This is my wish: (refer to my life) by Salvador "Doring" Labis Caragos

Life is fleeting - life is passing. No one stays forever, only the good memories remain. So, after serving God for 73 years, my wish is to go home where there is peace forever. I am most happy with my family, my loving wife who cares for me so much. My children though three are married, never let the day pass without showing concern about my health, thus I gladly give this few lines to them and hope they will carry on my wish, especially my daughter who is still single and who always show concern for our needs.

When I am sick and cure is not possible, do not let me stay long. Spending for medicine can cause more sickness even for those who are taking care of the sick one. Let me go and let God.

When I pass on, prolonged wake is not advised. Spending sleepless nights is not good for my wife and children. Let them have rest. One night is good enough and a simple coffin is more appreciated for after all, it will be covered with dirt. If there is cremation, it is better, though I have a plot at the City Garden, but quite far from those who have the time to visit my grave, though they have the luxury of time?

When I was active in sports and civic organizations, I accumulated more than three hundred trophies, plaques and certificates of appreciation. Looking at it, all I can say is only my wife and myself admired and appreciated the proof of accomplishments. Add to these simple collections, are what my wife received, for she too was active in the different organizations. But there is one award we will always keep and be proud of, the “MOST OUTSTANDING FAMILY AWARD” given to us by the barangay Kauswagan some four years ago. It was not given to us in an air-conditioned hall but in a makeshift stage in a basketball court. Such a humble award and with humility, we accepted it and cherished it more than anything else.

When I retired from the bank in 1988, I received a small amount of retirement pay. My wife and I started a business occupying one vacant space of IBAA/PCIB. We started a lending and pawnshop operation. From a small beginning, we had it grown to a big one that we ventured to open two new branches, only to suffer setbacks due to managerial neglect. We were not careful and we lost millions. My wife is skillfull in managing funds, while I learned that I am wasteful. If it were not for my wife, we could not last this number of years. I have been told that when I started my lending operation, which made us go on a tour in Europe, it was not because of my ability, but of my wife. How I wish that little credit be given on to me. Now that I am old, I earn nothing except scorn and words of my being (sort of) useless.

I have 7 grandchildren, 3 girls and 4 granddaughters. Whew, hope I can I have one boy from my youngest daughter who married very recently. When my eldest daughter got married, I did not pray for a boy because, after all the family name is no longer a caragos. I Have 4 beautiful granddaughters. Then my only boy got married and I prayed for a grandson, but God gifted me with 3 equally beautiful granddaughters. Well, God gifted us with 7 lovely and very talented girls and they are my jewels in my crown of old age. (my youngest daughter is now pregnant and will give birth to a beautiful baby girl the 8th in the row.

As I close my eyes at night before going to sleep, I counted my grandchildren and see them dancing and singing like fairies, and I guess they are for after all I loved them for what they are. I am very fortunate to have them because not one of them has given me troubles, but simply joy. God is so good to me for the grandchildren I have.

To pass the time, I ENJOY TAKING CARE of fish of different varieties in the aquarium and in the pond. I take care of plants, flowering as well as ferns that grow on trees and walls. Every time mom arrives from Ikebana flower arrangement meeting, I waited with eagerness for a new plant she always brought home to add to my collections.

On organizations, this has become my way of life that started when I was a teenager. I joined neighborhood organizations that ultimately the members bonded together and build chapel for month of May fiestas. We encouraged nearby barrios for their teenagers to bond together and do what we did, then friendly competitions began and we had grand time together. I was elected president and that started my eagerness to make our place beautiful and lively the year round. It happened and I became officer or leader of the organization for several years.

Working in the bank was no fun. At that time (early sixties) bank employees were required to wear neckties, much more the officers. But neckties were bigger than the salary received, to be honest, but with God’s help, we survived and stayed in the bank and ultimately, the salaries became bigger than the neckties. I started as a savings account clerk, accounting clerk, loans clerk, back to cash operations as settling clerk, teller, Telegraphic and demand drafts clerk, assistant cashier, cashier then assistant manager then manager/senior manager.

So, officers were given privileges and being one, I was able to join the Cebu Jaycees, the cream of the organizations in Cebu with members the likes of Serge Osmena 111, Raul del Mar, Ike Benedicto, Vic Dumon, Marcelo Fernan, Jess Durano, Andy Misa and many more who became senators, congressmen, chief justice of the supreme court, city mayors and owners of big establishments not only in Cebu but in Manila and Makati as well. Cebu Jaycess is the melting pot of highly successful people. I am lucky to belong to that oganization, given the privilege to chair two successful projects and as chairman of the delegates to a convention.

In the field of banking, I became treasurer of the Cebu Bankers Association, and as manager of FIBC’s Basketball Team that became champion of Interbank Tournaments for two years. In Iligan, I became president of the Iligan Banker’s Association, then President of Cagayan de Oro Bankers.

Homeowners Association president of San Vicente Village Homeowners Association, San Vicente Village, Mandawe City, first to organize the sports teams for the youths acquiring a lot from the subdivision owner for the basketball court and volleyball court. Opened a pathway from the subdivision to the San Roque Church outside the subdivision in coordination with the parish priest Father Ellah and Incoming president roque paloma.

In Cagayan de Oro, we reside at the RER SUBDIVISION Phase 1 (until now). I became the second homeowners association president after Naz Chavez (now deceased). Projects done: construction of the club house, tennis court and planting of trees at the park, providing the security guards with two bicycles, flashlights and night sticks “baton\.?, anti rabbi vaccination of dogs and have the dogs kept inside the fenced houses or had it tied to avoid incidence of dog bite.

REACT PHILS. – member of the Pineapple Group, became secretary, group chief and ultimately as Region Chief. As group secretary, I received the Tory Award (ten outstanding reactor of the year. As group chief, my group was awarded most outstanding group of the year and I was a recipient of the most outstanding group chief award. As region chief, recipient of most outstanding region chief award, most outstanding region and awarded the kabisig award for organizing react groups and most number of projects done by the different groups. We visited all groups in Surigao, Ozamis, Oroquita, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Agusan del Norte. 7 groups were transferred to Region X111 or Caraga region in 1997.

ROTARY – inducted as member of the rotary Club of Iligan in 1971- Chairman of the different committees, treasurer, asst. secretary, director for 4 years of the 4 avenues of service, chairman of the governor’s visit and fellowship. Moved to CDO and joined RC CDO (mother club, the biggest club in the district with 122 members, and elected as president in ry 1985-86 after serving the club as chairman of the different committees and as director of the 4 avenues of service in different rotary year. In 1997-98, I served as district governor of ri dist 3870.

I give honors to the district by receiving the award as outstanding district governor and outstanding district. I was awarded in Indianapolis international convention witnessed by almost 20,000 delegates. I owe this achievement award from my wife Linda who inspired me so much, to my children Minnie and husband ray for working without let up, to Kerwin, Honey and Lei. I also thank the 32 clubs and their president and members for doing their share as outstanding clubs recognized by ri pres. glenn kinross.

BCBP- Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals-I joined the bcbp as a breakfaster in 1999 after two years as rotary district governor. I was invited by so many friends many years back but I kept saying I can not be in two big organizations at the same time. So, I finished my governorship and waited for someone to invite me again because I felt empty with nothing to do for community involvement. One Friday morning, at around 10 AM, I sat down and began asking God why I am not invited again now that I am free. At 11:45 my phone rang I heard a familiar voice asking me if I can join him tomorrow morning (Saturday) and my first question was, what time are we going to tee off and he said, join me for breakfast with the Lord. I was so happy and thanked God for answering my prayer.

I started as a breakfaster and I enjoyed to be with new friends giving more emphasis on prayers and how to serve the Lord in our community and at the marketplace. I served the chapter after joining the BCLP in various capacity until I was appointed as Chapter Head and stayed in that position for the duration of three years.

After my installation as Chapter Head, God allowed the evil ones to hold up our store divesting us of two million cash and jewelry; our helper to use our landline to call their friends in their celfone consuming 60,000.00 which until now we are paying-; then our jeweler to steal gold worth 40,000.00. This we consider as His way of purifying us just like gold tested in the crucible of fire. I served our chapter for the full three year term. We attended national anniversaries in Dipolog, Cebu, Palawan, Tagbilaran and Davao. Our West Chapter was the host to the 27th national anniversary celebration. This was the time that coincided with Rotary’s Counsel of Legislation in Chicago, Illinois, expenses paid for including my wife where I was elected as the delegate, which I begged off not to go and asked the no. two elected pdg to represent me. I said to my self, Lord I choose the better part, and I chose you to serve the 27thNAC. I finished my three year term as chapter head hoping to serve more in another capacity but was advised by bro bong and bro joe that I can not serve anymore and they did not recommend me because I am already old. But is joe younger than me? Now it is clear that even in the service to God, there is still palakasan.

I’d like to go back to where I got the privilege of successfully doing what ever task is given to me. I owe this to the very woman who shared my life for the past 45 years, ROSALINDA, the beautiful rose of my life. She is the most understanding, the most loving wife, mother and grand mother, she is every thing to me. With out her, I am nothing. She is the epitome of good life thru hardwork. If only my children can see what she is doing to make life easier. If only they can follow her footsteps and do what she did to me, they will surely enjoy life and see their children and grand children the way I see them now. What a wonderful life. Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you for the greatest gift I received from you, my wife, children and grand children. Thank you also for my sons and daughter in law, they are so good to me and my wife, Linda.