FAREWELL MANG BERT

It is truly sad when friends who were part of our lives pass on.

Officemates are people we consider as family because we spend more time at the office than in our homes.

Last Sept.25, our beloved colleague Abelardo Dagoro was reunited with his Creator. His demise had once again created a vacuum in our closely knit SMC Head Office Accounting family. He and the guys in the department often called each other "Amigo" but I always addressed him as Mang Bert as a sign of respect.

I will always remember Mang Bert as the English speaking, burly guy with the baritone voice. He always had his camera strung on his shoulder as photography was his biggest passion. In fact in my first few days in SMC, I thought he was from our Corporate Affairs Office (Public Relations Dept.in those days) since he always carried his camera wherever he goes. I only realized that he was from the Accounting Department when I saw him working at his desk. He was always nice to me even when I was relatively new in the department, not because he knew my dad, but because it was really his nature. He was also our official photographer at Christmas parties, bowling tournaments and other office related events. He had also unselfishly shared his knowledge in costing procedures to me, being a former Plant Accountant of our Polo Brewery. I also got words of wisdom from him.

Aside from his love for photography, he was also a good swimmer and a golf enthusiast.

The last time I saw him was on his 82nd birthday celebration a year ago, when his family prepared an intimate lunch get together for him at their BF Resort Subdivision residence in Las Pinas. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see and talk to him. He was far from the Mang Bert that I remember because he had lost weight. But although his eyesight had been impaired, his sense of hearing was still okay and he remembered all of us when we introduced ourselves to him. Obviously he was so happy because he was cracking jokes, sang songs and played his harmonica for us. Tita Annie and Malou, his daughter, said he missed his Accounting colleagues so much and would often ask about us. I will forever remember not only that day, but most especially the smile reflected on his face.

Thank you Mang Bert for sharing a big part of your fruitful years with us.

Thank you also for the beautiful memories we will always treasure.

I know you are probably playing your harmonica with the angels in Heaven now.

Farewell Mang Bert. We will miss you.