The April 24, 2010 post in Neonate’s blog, “Winks and Blinks” says:
This is Grace, the daughter of neo.nate. My family and I regret to inform you that my father passed away on April 19, 2010. Thank you for taking an interest in his blog and his writings – it was one of the things that kept him going during his retirement. We miss him very much. RIP Dad.
I only knew Neonate online but I can say that I have been enriched by his participation in this blog. I will miss him too.
I looked at my blog archives and would you believe, Neonate’s comments covered 30 pages since 2005. He was one of the early participants in this blog.
In one of his comments, he worried about the absence of public outrage over Gloria Arroyo’s abuses which are staple topics in this blog.
He said, ” My gambit into Ellenville is to stimulate diversity of viewpoints and debates to break the tedium of consensus – a devil’s advocate. But first I would like to make a worrisome observation about public opinion, mainly the absence of public outrage on issues that posters rant about in this blog. Could the reason be because most of the passionate, intense, patriotic Pinoys are abroad and few are left at home?”
In his introduction to his blog, he gave us a glimpse of his personal life.
“Upon retirement, I took up writing as a hobby to stay active mentally. I wrote a weekly article in a tabloid paper but quit when I sensed that my written opinions were not in harmony with the advocacies of the paper’s publisher. Since then, I would express my opinions and rant in an occasional letter to a newspaper editor on some current hot issue. Now it seems that the writing bug has inflicted an op-ed relapse. Blogging is my latest mode of shouting in the wilderness. “I shot an arrow into the air. It fell to earth I knew not where.” Who knows, someone may even read the blogs titled Winks and Blinks. As in the tabloid articles, the topics are free wheeling and free-style, but usually of public interest and at times of an emerging issue.
“Surfing health websites about the ageing brain and memory confirmed that an active brain does stave off memory loss. Medical research found that the brain is like a muscle — the more you use it, the stronger it gets and it stays strong longer. A brain stimulated by reading, learning and other activities requiring thought and imagination helps avert memory loss, although illness such as diabetes, stress, insomnia, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, even prescriptive medication, cause memory to deteriorate with age.”
He described himself as “I am a bloody Flip, the pejorative word for Pinoy or Filipino (a native of the Philippines) as denigrating a word as the Ugly American WASP — white Anglo Saxon protestant. You bet I am a senior citizen, as grumpy as they come and proud to be one, senior that is.
“ But pride cannot replace the nostalgia of remembering dear friends and kin who have departed this life, who enriched my own life by inspiring me with their virtues and humbling me with their faults. Sure, longevity is a privilege but has drawbacks, I suppose. No more poker or bridge playmates.”
If I guessed it right, Neonate is based in the United States but his heart is in the Philippines. He commented on August 27, 2009: “2010 to me is more than the year an evil regime is banished, and a fresh start for this miserable nation. But hope for recovery is contingent on a President that is rock-firm on decency, and the emerging candidates are not inspiring. So, like Diogenes, I continue my search for an honest man to lead the nation. Until now.
He is an ardent Noynoy Aquino supporter. He commented in September 2009: “The diversity of opinions about the prospective Noynoy presidency is delightful, but there is one consensus about his character — he is a decent person. To me, decency means a clear conscience, a quality apparently missing in the Arroyo brood and some of the putative candidates for the presidency. It is my hope that the electorate, including Anna and Tongue, will finally decide in favor of decency in the 2010 contest.
“In reply to the query:’Noynoy may be decent but what about the people who will be running the country ‘behind his back’. Like the Kamaganak, Inc., nuong panahon ni Cory?’
“My response —
“Granted Noynoy is carrying some heavy baggage, mostly inherited. As some here commented,“a guy whose greatest accomplishment so far is being the child of his parents”, and the millstone burden of a brat sister whose taste in paramours is terrible and whose logorrhea is unparalleled (posing a risk that sibling advise may escape the decency filter). That only proves he is human, just like us.
“Granted too that the Kamaganak syndrome is a potent threat, but that would be true to ANY presidency, and the well entrenched hegemonies still are the present day warlords of their fiefs — the oligarches, political dynasties, the bureaucrat-business partners in corruption. It will take more than one presidential term to dismantle, but a determined honest man (remember Diogenes) can initiate the trend towards a decent society.”
Where ever he is now, reading reports of how Aquino is faring, Neonate must be smiling broadly.
What a beautiful eulogy, Ellen! Neonate will be doubly pleased.
I will miss, not only his articulate posts but his regular email to me.
Thanks, Anna for informing me about his passing.
It’s heartening how internet has brought us together,sharing thoughts and ideas.
thanks to you too ellen for this nice one on neonate. may he rest in peace.
Nakakalungkot naman.
Paalam, kosa.
Yes. Neonate is one decent and insightful blogger here in Ellenville. I enjoyed his posts, just like Anna’s, especially those that have connection with my first love, the sea. . . Requiescat in Pace our dear friend. . .May you have fair winds, clear skies and following seas in your blissful journey to the after life. . .
Neonate site was my source of nutrients and healthy foods. 🙂 I learned a lot of new stuff from him, he was my email buddy, too.
Sure gonna miss you, Orly. So long….
Good bye Neonate, may you rest in peace.
This is a beautiful eulogy to a beautiful soul that is Neonate.
Rest your oars, Orly, as we continue to drift in the violent seas; in search for a captain to plot the course ahead. You’ve made your final voyage, you’ve sailed well.
We will miss you, sailor.
my deepest sympathy to the family and love ones of neonate..
rest and peace and we sure gonna miss you.. my prayers will be with you always..!!
MY GREATEST DAY
What will you do
On the day of my death
When the time finally comes
I draw my last breath
When it first happens
I begin floating above
Looking down now
At the ones that I love
My final sunset
Is already done
I’ve waited and waited
For this day to come
My body has grown tired
Serves no earthly purpose
Remember I’ve gone now
To God’s holy service
Faces I see are pale and sad
Hearts almost broken
No more of my words to hear
Will ever be spoken
Tears are now falling
Like the early spring rains
But why are they crying
I no longer feel pain
Cry no more tears
Because I’m no longer in sight
I’ve started a new life
On this very night
My heart is alive
In a total new way
As though I just awoke
To start a new day
The songs that I sing
Are those very old
The streets that I walk
Are the brightest of gold
One life is over
But the best one begins
This is not a sad loss
But a heavenly win
This place where I am
Everything is so bright
The wings that I wear
Are whiter than white
The wings that I wear
In my heavenly home
Nothing like this
Have you ever known
Be happy for me
No more stormy weather
Cry no more tears
I’m living in heaven
For ever and ever
Written by: Pamela Haworth
reading Ellen’s eulogy and bloggers opinion,i conclude Neonate was a good man, a great soul who chose to carry the torch of decency amidst a dark and windy hill……
Your memory lives on…
Everybody has to reach the end of one’s life journey, Una-una nga lang.
Rest in peace, Neonate.
Tuloy ang laban Igan Neonate…isa kang inspirasyon upang lalo kaming maging inspirado na ipagpatuloy ang bukas na kaisipan para sa ating Inang Bayan at Kapwa-Kababayang Pinoy.
Sumalangit nawa ang inyong kaluluwa at pagpalain ka ng Panginoon!
We love you. God Bless!
Eternal rest grant unto him Oh Lord, and may perpetual light shine unto him. May he rest in peace. Condolences to the family..you were indeed blessed and thank you for sharing him with us here in Ellenville..
ANG AKING DAKILANG ARAW
Bawat isa ay mayroong sa ati’y araw na itinakda
Kung kailan tayo haharap sa ating Tagapaglikha
Doo’y Kanyang huhusgahan sa mundo’y ating mga gawa
Siya ang magsasabi kung ano ang mabuti, ano ang lisya.
Sa pagdating sandaling yaong paglalayag sa kawalan
Kung saan ay may lambong ng lungkot ang paglisan
Mula roo’y tatanawin namimighating ating mahal
Gustuhin ma’y hindi na magagawang yakapin sila’t hagkan.
Sa pagdatal ng dapithapong hudyat nitong takipsilim
Sa buhay ng bawat isa’y may baong ding panimdim
Sa paghigit ng huling hibla ng hininga’y may naisin
Magkaroon ang kahandaang si Bathala ay haharapin.
Pagal na ang katawang lupang kay laon nang nagnanais
Mamahinga nang mapanatag ang hapo ko na ring isip
Kay tagal na iniaalay mga pagsisikap at pagsasakit
Sa inyong aking maiiwang minamahal ko’t iniibig.
Huwag sanang ikalungkot, huwag luha ang ipabaon
Sa paglisang hinihintay, inaasam ko nang malaon
Huwag ikadurog niyong puso bagkus ay bigyang tugon
Pagkakaisa’t pagmamahalang sa bawat isa ay iukol.
Humayo kayo’t ipagdiwang itong aking paglalakbay
Ang pagharap ko sa Maykapal huwag bahiran ng kalungkutan
Kayo’y aking hihintayin sa kandungan Niya ay hihimlay
Doo’y samasama nating tamasahin ang luwalhati ng bagong buhay!
Paalam, ‘Nong Orly!
Everytime I go back home to Cagayan de Oro, I had always kept the hope that I would bump into you, shake your hands, and finally see the man behind a kind of eloquence I had always admired. Now, that hope is dead.
We had always looked forward to the day when Aling Gloria would finally be just a sorely sour footnote in Philippine history books. “If” was not a point of contention. It was only a matter of “when”. We placed our bets, and Pareng Cocoy agreed to be the bet keeper. Now, it looks like you won’t be there anymore to claim your prize… tunga na lang mi ni Pareng Cocoy, ha?
See you in the future, ‘Nong Orly!
The observations were sharp, but the tone wasn’t. He was always civil. I hope the family is consoled by the fact that he seemed to have enjoyed the remaining years of his life.
Rest in peace Sir. We will all rest when she is in pieces.
as i read this post, I hear taps sounding for neonate. Rest in peace, sir!
Rest your soul in the presence of our Lord God, Neonate. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights. Condolence to the family.
“Everybody has to reach the end of one’s life journey, Una-una nga lang.” -florry
The kind of race ayokong mauna. Kulelat na lang ako pag ganito, hehe…
Even here pag lamayan, konti ang nakikiramay; pag away at personalan, labas ang mga langgam, tsk….tsk…tsk.
Well, Neonate di man tayo nagkakilala; rest peacefully and my sincere condolences to your loved ones. Cheers in Heaven.
My sincere and heartfelt condolences to Neonate’s bereaved family.
While we sometimes part ways on a political point, I always scan forward and ponder on his commentaries. And definitely would dearly miss his gentlemanly, never taunting, polite yet crisp and hard take on issues.
Neonate’s passing not only a loss to his family and friends—in addition to this blog, a big loss to decent-Pinoy writing community.
May your final sail, Sir, sends you to the sea of peace and tranquility.