A TRIBUTE TO ONE TRUE SEAGULL STALWART!

[kampanaryo_spy]

(Note: My apology; I couldn't find a bigger and better picture of Jessie.)


JESSIE CASIO MONTERO
01 June 1964 – 07 November 2008


“An anak ni Tata amoy puli sa ako.”

Jessie uttered these words just before he lost his voice, few days before he died of renal failure.

I will always remember Jessie as an athlete, a mathematician, and yes, a hunk! While most of us were skinny as a shoe lace in high school, Jessie was already built like a bear, with a voice that roared like a lion’s.

Jessie was “feared” by most Seagulls, though only few would admit it. Not that he was a bully, only that he had in him an aura that seemed to say, “don’t mess with me or you'll be sorry!” And this he proved when one time he got so provoked that he slapped a Seagull---a girl---just like that!

While our CAT Battalion Commander was Bienvenido Acido, it was Jessie, our Adjutant, whom everybody revered and feared with equal measure. Methodical and stern, he had hawk eyes that could spot from afar even the slightest movement that would make you either sit on air or kiss the ground.

There's one interesting fact that I hadn't had the chance to ask Jessie even if we had countless reunions after high school. With Edpels as our commander, I was an Ex-O of Bravo Company who hated CAT because I couldn’t stand the mid-afternoon sun. Restless, I was an easy prey for Jessie. But then I noticed that while Jessie made officers, cadets and cadettes squat for misdemeanors while on formation, he was lenient with me. It so intrigued me that it came to a point that I goofed on purpose. But each time, he would look the other way. I got to squat only when he made all officers do it.

Jessie was a born leader, a trait that shone brightly during Intramurals. As a testament to his leadership skill, our batch became overall champion in our Junior and Senior years. He was perceptive in that he knew what everybody wanted. Knowing I would only play either pitcher or first base in softball, he would make me choose. And so from first year to fourth year, I played pitcher to his catcher. Unlike me, Jessie didn’t play basketball. But he was a force unto his own in the volleyball court.

Intellectually, Jessie excelled in Math. One time Sr. Carmen, SPC assigned us a Math teacher who was not professionally prepared. On our first meeting, Jessie pointed out to the teacher that her solution to a problem was wrong. The teacher walked out of the room crying.

Jessie learned the ways of the world early, often telling some of our classmates in Practical Arts about his exploits the night before. A gentleman, he had a way with girls. In fact during our senior year in Purisima School, it became a source of joke when the girls he had courted---at least eight of them---all sat on the same row!

While we were busy earning degrees, Jessie was busy winning his spurs as youth leader. Then considered by many as still wet behind the ears because of his age, he went on to show his mettle, impressing even seasoned politicians like Ex-Mayor Florentino R. Falcon, et al. And just recently, he won the admiration of Congressman Philip A. Pichay and Mayor Hermenegildo P. Pimentel Jr.

When Jessie entered politics, nobody was surprised. After all it was a trajectory etched on his palm. Seagulls rooted for him because we believed he was our contribution to the world of politics, someone we could truly be proud of. And why not? He was naturally advantaged: he had a rare gift for arresting oratory; he had a good grasp of issues and could analyze them to his advantage; he could craft platforms that had substance and impact; he was a baritone who could sing up a storm; and he was popular among the young and the old!

Eventually Jessie got elected to public office. But it was his role as political strategist who could deliver the votes that he would be remembered best.

And now that Jessie is gone, Seagulls will never be the same again. Who will be our “libuter” in 2011 when Seagulls turn 30? Jessie took this task to heart every time we had a reunion, inviting Seagulls personally regardless of where remote area they were residing. Alas! all that is lost forever.

Am sure Jessie would have wanted to live longer, if only to see his first grandchild from Tata or Jessie Jr., his second son. And that he wanted his grandchild to replace him spoke of a life that, though short and unfinished, was well spent.

God must've favored Jessie because He made his one final wish come true: Just 15 minutes after he died at 6:30 in the evening of 7 November 2008, Jessie’s apo---a boy---was born!

And so life continues. For Jessie!

[toyang]

K-spy,

Kahapon dakay garu ako mosumpay sa pinost ni edpels ngadto sa pikas na thread
kay yahinuklog ako na gabasa nan iya mga gilaong ngadto. madayaw na ga post kaw
nan tribute para kan Jessie. nganhi dakan ako sumpay.

I admit, isa ako sa batch nato na mag mokigti an kalag kan Jessie naadi nan high school
pa kita. sugod pa gayud yaon nan elementary pa kami sa Mga Bayani Elem. School daan na ako
mahadlokon kaniya. malaghungi sa lagi an boses tapos kun manan-aw singkitar kanako paga palisan na kalibre...
May ako kadumduman na favorite niya na kanta nan grade three pa kami
na hangtud kuman memorize ko pa gayud an lyrics. Most requested song yadto ni
Maam Fanes Garrido (maestra namo nan grade three) kay adiser magsugod an klase pakantahon naay niya si Jessie. mamingaway agaw na kanta.

Nan High school na kita, whooooy suki na siya pirmi nan harana. iban yaon sila ni edpels.
ngadto yaon sila manag istambay dapit sa iskwelahan nan "Barangay Purisima High school".

One time bagan year 2000 yadto yanguli kami ni katunggan sa Tago.
ga imbitar si Sol Pilapil nan dinner para sa mga seagulls. didto si Jessie.
ga sekreto siya pag sugo kanako. galaong na "Ikaw kay panagsa da sa kita magkinitaay, sugoon takaw kuman. Hala ikuhaay naay ako nan tubig sa kusina." indog ako diretso kay gakuha nan tubig para kaniya. pero baya langoti ako kay paga sugo ako. hadlok gihapon ako sa iya.

An last na mga tiyabon ni Jessie na di ko kalimtan yadton ga reunion kita nan 2006. na galaong siya...
"Basta gani magpatawag nan reunion an ato batch, kinahanglan mo attend kamo regardless kun uno pa an istado nato sa kinabuhi." kay an iban lagi na batch ta mag sa mangasipog mo attend.... Sakto na kay gadag-um nan mata ko...

[edpels]

Thanks k-spy for a nice tribute to our fallen flock member. am sure he'll be happy wherever he is right now esp that few minutes after he's lost, a new sibling of his was thrown into this world, of course one of the many that will replace him. Tuyok2 lang gayud inin ato kinabuhi ba. a new generation of him is coming.

[kampanaryo_spy]

K-spy,

May ako kadumduman na favorite niya na kanta nan grade three pa kami na hangtud kuman memorize ko pa gayud an lyrics.

uno yang na kanta, "Hung-hong ni Nanay?"

Thanks k-spy for a nice tribute to our fallen flock member.

edpels,

kamo gayud ni jessie an close kay kahin pa ni ma'am prado, sayuhi sa taraw kamo in tubuan nan paray-paray.

naay pa kuman, demodo baya, naman yaka honor kaw kay ag kaw mangopya kan jessie? hahaha joke

[toyang]

K-spy,

May ako kadumduman na favorite niya na kanta nan grade three pa kami na hangtud kuman memorize ko pa gayud an lyrics.

uno yang na kanta, "Hung-hong ni Nanay?"

K-spy,

Dili kun hung-hong ni nanay... Yahikalimot ako kun unoy title nan yadto na kanta.

Yadi kay an sinugdanan.

Pagkalayo kadtong amo
Ako ray nanganaw kanaw
May kahoy nga mintubo
Mao kadtong tugkaran sa amo
Unsa kadtong kahoya
linginon siya ug bunga
Nanurok ug nanalingsing
latayan sa kasing kasing.....

Amu yaon...

[kampanaryo_spy]

Pagkalayo kadtong amo
Ako ray nanganaw kanaw
May kahoy nga mintubo
Mao kadtong tugkaran sa amo
Unsa kadtong kahoya
linginon siya ug bunga
Nanurok ug nanalingsing
latayan sa kasing kasing.....

yang,

dihaw kaha an uluhan nan ini na kanta, SALINGSING SA PATAY NGA KAHOY?

[toyang]

K-spy,

Inday lamang. pero an dudar ko bagan kay "PINITENSYA"...
Kay an sunod na stanza nan yaon na kanta galaong:

Kalisod kining mingyo
Ako ray dako ug kahago
Kay nan didto pa ako sa poder ni mama
wala ako mag PINITENSYA...

[nigeligor]

My condolence and prayers to the bereaved family of Jessie.


cocoy

[edpels]

kspy, tinood am pagalaong mo na c jessie yakatabang sa ako na ma honor ako. hehe. gamay lang in a way. tapos, give and take sab kami kay pakopyahon ko sa isab sa iya sa lain na mga subjects. amo yaon kami ka manggihatagon. what friends are for.

pero yaoy wara niyo masaydi na paborito niya na kanta sa high school. yadton pagalaong ni toyang na kanta, panahon pa sa yadto sa elementary. sa high school yaon isab. tukda niyo: kanta ni rey valera.

[Insomada]

Edpels,

An iyo tandem ni Jessie amo yaon na pagalaong ni Siony Boy naadi symbiotic relationship.

Rey Valera ha? Dili ba kon “Kung kailangan mo ako, sa oras ng iyong pag-iisa”?????

Mapahiyomon kay yadto na bata. Kon molabay na siya sa amo mo smile gayod siya sa ako bisan usahay dili na kami magkaestorya.

Kadayaway isab inin iyo tribute kaniya by having reminiscences of him

[toyang]

[/quote]

kspy,

pero yaoy wara niyo masaydi na paborito niya na kanta sa high school. yadton pagalaong ni toyang na kanta, panahon pa sa yadto sa elementary. sa high school yaon isab. tukda niyo: kanta ni rey valera.

Edpels,

Pastilan Dudes duda ko yaon kanta na "NAAALALA KA" di ba? di ba? di ba?

[kampanaryo_spy]

yang,

ka brayeti mo. di ba taraw haw mang harana na si edpels kan katunggan, pag "peking" (duck?) pa gayud nan sista, dayon taraw niyo balikwas ni katunggan sa higdaan haw manilib kamo sa giwang sa dingding.

haw pagkasilom taraw yaon, ihum-ihum na si jessie kay si edpels taraw dili na dayon ka tan-aw kan katunggan.

[kampanaryo_spy]

BELIEVE-IT-OR-NOT: THE SEAGULL VERSION!

Jessie died on Friday night. Pagka Sabado, first night nan rosaryo, yangadje kami ni japan asta ni tambunting. pag abot namo, didto na daan sa henrich ug tata pimentel. sa ila likod na lamisa, didto mag ingkud si balo carcallas ug nick limbaga.

ga istorya si henrich na si balo impakita ni jessie nan wara pa kami mangabot. sa paga ingkudan ni balo, atbang niya an hagdanan sa tunga nan bay na jessie. didto kuno si jessie ga ingkud, puti an bado, haw sigen smile kaniya.

stories like this we normally take with a grain of salt. then this afternoon, i went to laiden to remit the contribution of some Seagulls for our "night" tomorrow, and to discuss the menu.

the first thing Laiden told me was, "Jessie visited me yesterday!"

Gahigdaay kuno siya nan hapon nan Domingo, between 2:30-3:00 PM. Pagtan-aw niya sa pertahan, didto si Jessie, gatindug, gakatawa.

Description ni Laiden nan attire ni Jessie: "Black pants, white t-shirt na V-neck na either Guitar or Violin."

Laiden said that Jessie just stood there, smiling at her. When she gathered enough resolve, she said: "Aduy uno taraw anhi?"

Then like a smoke, Jessie was gone!

[toyang]

K-spy,

Bagan kay anhi yangimbarot dayun ako...
Aduuuuy dili lamang ako pag kabliton ni Jessie ngadi kay
pihit raba gayud maghanap nan makag tapa ngadi. KOPRAS!

[kampanaryo_spy]

K-spy,

Aduuuuy dili lamang ako pag kabliton ni Jessie ngadi

yang,

bagan amo na gayud ad-on na pamarahe, abo na na wara mo an titulo nan iya kanta kadumdumi. either that or you start wearing something red or having some gihay by your side.

naman panglingi-lingi daan haw mag tugna kaw.