Marcelo Boy Bravo is my cousin through uncle Mariano Serapio Bravo, who was our neighbor in Barangay Malingon, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato (formerly Buluan) along with my uncles on my mother side, Antonio Rellizan Abubo and Eustaquio Rellizan Abubo. We arrived in that farming community of Malingon before the Second World War and stayed on to cultivate the Malingon farmlands even after the war.
Nearly all the children of the Bravos and the Abubos as mentioned above were born in this community. We grew up together, work in the farm together and went to school together. Thus, I know Marcelo from a small boy. We amiably called him “Amboy” because of his white, handsome and “american” features.
When we were ready for high school and later on college years, we were separated with our personal choices of the schools in Koronadal, Tacurong, General Santos City, Cotabato City or Zamboanga City. I selected Koronadal as Marcelo went on to Tacurong. The other cousins went on and studied in the other towns and cities.
When we finally had to work, I became a preacher as Marcelo was a seaman touring cities, nations and continents. It must have been the satisfaction of his life seeing beautiful places and meeting new friends! But, his work experience hastened his “hard of hearing” more than many of us Bravos who are affected with this difficulty. To me that was caused by his work in the boat.
One time he came home from his work as a seaman and I had a chance to meet him in Urdaneta City. He related to me his work assignment in the belly of the ocean liner attending to the engines. “The loud noise of the engines affected my hearing,” he said. I remembered talking with him about acupuncture and he wanted to give a try. I was then practicing this alternative Chinese medicine and with 4 and then 6 acupuncture needles, Marcelo’s hearing improved. He was delighted and I gladly returned to continue his healing session until he was called to Manila for work purposes.
The last time I had a chance to talk with Marcelo was during the “Bravo-Marquez family re-union” in Cabanatuan City hosted by our cousins, the De Jesus family. He was telling about a farm land applied for by the late Uncle Mariano. I did not get all the details of his story until such that I received a long letter from him detailing his claim as an “heir” to the farm land in question. I wanted to accompany him to see the people and the place, but our schedules did not permit, and now, Insan Marcelo is gone on to his Creator.
This reminds me of the truthfulness of the life promised of God Almighty (Titus 1: 2 and I John 2:25). All who accept this truth will enjoy the everlasting life in heaven with God. That life, hopefully, is given to cousin and all our relatives and friends!
To our Insan Marcelo, may you “rest in peace” as you go now to our Creator God Almighty. To your wife and children, may we continue to pray for the guidance of God so we can truly find our Lord Jesus “the water of life,” John 4:10 – a wonderful gift for all of us! May God bless each one of you!
