At the hospital, Boots and their two children were in the ICU room – Joey and Chiqui who came a little later with husband, Robbie Puno, the newly elected Congressman of Antipolo. Chiqui brought the latest addition in the family, their unica hija, named Sabrina, for Pat and me to see. It was past her sleeping time already – we could not get her smile to us even how hard we tried to do comical antics – poor child. Pete’s sister, Angge from New Jersey was also visiting together with a brother, Dado and his wife. It was a private family gathering. Pat and I had the chance to talk to Pete, but we did not expect him to answer back as there was a ventilator attached to his mouth. Boots asked him if he could recognize us- he answered softly – Becky, Pat. Boots was very calm and contained. I have known her to be such even in difficult situations. I am totally amazed with her. Visibly, she attended to all the needs of Pete at home and in the hospital on top of her other work related responsibilities. They have all the help they needed, but she’s in command. I was completely dumbfounded and choking when I saw Pete. I did not recognize him – very thin and with several tubes connected to his body. For a while, I went out of the ICU and sat on a chair.

At 9:00PM, all visitors at the hospital even family members, were asked to leave as a policy. Boots and children invited us to a late dinner at Shangrila Hotel in EDSA. It was a buffet dinner. We had the chance to talk more over dinner as we were conversing very softly at the hospital.

In retrospect: During our happier days in the 80’s and the 90’s, our two families often had parties and gatherings, cooking our best dishes - Christmas, New Year, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, etc.. Pete was a good cook. Among his numerous recipes, my favorite was “Callos,” a Spanish influenced dish. In turn, he confessed that he liked my “Pancit Molo” the best. We held our parties alternately at their home or ours in Vienna. Our children, four of each, were of the same age and so, they were never bored in our gatherings and in their activities.

Of course, Pete was gifted with a suave voice ala Frank Sinatra, his idol. He belted both the sentimental and jazzy songs of the “guy with the blue eyes.” Herminio, the excellent pianist at then, Philippine restaurant in Georgetown, accompanied him whenever he got hold of him in gatherings. We never got tired of listening to him because he was like crooning with his mellow voice.

He was well read and an excellent conversationalist who can be engaged in any topic under the sun, in English or Tagalog. Once, in one of our gatherings at their place in McLean, I enticed him conducting our conversation in Tagalog - walang Inglisan. To my surprise, he challenged me in pure Tagalog, a purist - “Magandang gabi, Ginang Pagsibigan. Kinalulugod ko ang inyong pagdating upang dumalo sa ating munting pagtitipon sa ditto sa aming tahanan, kasama ang inyong tao at mga supling.” Maraming salamat at pinaunlakan niyo ang aking anyaya sampu ng aking maybahay na si Elisa (real name of Boots) at aking mga supling“ Our children were visibly laughing. They did not fully understand what we were talking about. At one point during dinner, Pete said, ”Minabuti kong kayo at ang inyong pamilya ay aming makaniig ngayong gabi sa ating salo-salo upang ating mapagusapan ang ating nalalapit na ika-dalawampu’t- limang anibersaryo ng ating kasal. Of couse, not to be outdone, I answered him with- Marami pong salamat sa inyong paanyaya Ginoong at Ginang Roa. Ang aming pong buong mag-anak ay naririto sa inyong tahanan upang ipahiwatig ang aming kagalakan na maidaos ang ating nalalapit na anibersayo sa buwan ng Junio. Totally surprised at ourselves, we shifted our conversation to our Taglish way as our children were already feeling that we were in another world and could not join in the conversation. From time to time Boots and Pat would butt in, but Pete and I were unstoppable like crazy.

Our family close friendship started when the Roa family arrived from Manila in mid-1982 when Boots accepted a diplomatic position at the Philippine Embassy. That time, I was locally hired as a secretary at the Community Relations office of then, Minister Counselor Ronald Puno. Ronnie is now the Honorable Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in the Philippines. I did not know Boots on a personal basis, only in TV, but I knew Pete very well. During our college days at Far Eastern University in Manila, Pete was a member of the University’s Drama Guild under the directorship of the late Sarah K. Joaquin. That time they had a stage presentation which required acting and dancing, thus, their association with the Modern Dance Group headed by Rosalia Merino Santos. I was, then with the Far Eastern University Folk Dance Group, attending our own rehearsals under Corazon Generoso Inigo in preparation for our European Tour for six months. The Drama/Modern Dance schedule of practices were before the Folk Dance Group’s at the same dance studio in the Arts Building. After our successful European Tour, I also practiced with the Modern Dance Group.

The folk dance group members would come a little early. There were opportunities for the two dance groups to chat a little bit in between. I would see Pete, like the rest of the dancers, in black tights, leotard top attire and soft black dance shoes. I described Pete to Boots and his children how he looked that time. The children made fun of him because they could not imagine their Dad performing jazz movements like jazz walk, scissor’s kick or pirouette in black tights. I told them not only their Dad could act, sing and be a TV host, but he also could perform Modern Dance – what a total performer. After graduation at FEU, I did not see Pete anymore but learned through the media that he and Boots Anson, the actress and TV personality, had eloped and got married the same month and year as mine and Pat’s. Their first child, Leah, was even born less than a week before our first child, Ricky. It was truly wonderful seeing Pete again after so many years and meeting Boots and their children at the Philippine Embassy. The rest is history with our families holding gatherings and parties alternately at our homes.

@9PTBCE = Pete the Organizer

We visited Pete on Wednesday. The following day just before we were to depart for the airport to fly to L.A and VA, I received a call that Pete had passed away fifteen minutes earlier. This news was not totally unexpected but still Pat and I were very sad. We were on our way to the airport and won’t be able to change our plans. We shall see their children in Virginia to condole with them.

During our hospital visit, Boots and her children told us that had discussed with them (with conference call to Leah and Ben) his own funeral arrangements. He would like to have a viewing, cremation of his body and most important, a concert during his wake. He did not want people to be sad. He wanted as a celebration of his life, music and singing at the wake. He requested Boots to invite Herminio, his pianist, Pilita Corrales and Richard Merck, among others. I forgot who the others were. He even had chosen the Barong that he will wear. Boots and her children calmly took all of these. They were like their mother, so contained.

Leah and Ben had a community gathering with a mass and at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna on the 9^th day of their father’s death. Pat and I were already home from our trip by this time. We were also able to attend one of the nine days nightly prayers at the home of Vic and Linda Frondoso, the in-laws of Ben and parents of Michelle. Many Washingtonians still remember the late Pete Roa, Boots and his family.

September Birthday Celebrants:

Evelyn Bunoan, a Manila Mail columnist on 9/1

Florence Hansen of Vienna, VA on 9/2

Ed Fadul of Herndon, VA on 9/20

Jennifer Tabones of Sterling, VA on 9/23

Dr. Jovy Eusebio of Bethesda, MD on 9/24

Lita Ramos of Burke, VA on 9/24

Mito tabones of Sterling, VA on 9/26

Bing Branigin, Manila Mail journalist on 9/26

Email: pagsibiganr@aol.com