Presence Over Words – The Legacy of our Tito Ninong Jojo
Presence Over Words – The Legacy of our Tito Ninong Jojo As a child, I always find Tito intimidating. He always had that poker face on, sitting quietly at the side, observing everyone. I think one of the traits we both share is his reserved personality. Eventually growing up with him, his presence was always evident. We might not have mingled often, but his steady presence felt like a pillar in the family—strong, unwavering, and reliable, much like a rock. He was never easily swayed by quarrels within the family. If an issue arose, his responses always leaned toward peace. As I became an adult, my perspective on him changed. I began to understand that being an adult transforms you in ways you can’t anticipate. Scheduling time, for instance, has been a struggle for me. But looking at Tito, somehow, he always manages to make time—for every occasion in my life and our family’s lives. Through ups and downs, birthdays, holiday seasons, weddings, and even funerals, Tito was always there. Maybe that’s why his death has taken such a toll on the family. It was so unexpected. We had grown so used to his presence that his absence left an empty space in our hearts. I think all of us can learn from Tito. I’m sure everyone he met has been touched by his presence in one way or another. Despite his quiet and sometimes intimidating demeanor, just showing up and being there was his way of showing deep love and affection for the people who mattered to him. He may not have been loud or openly expressive, but he made a lasting impact—slow and steady, like his personality. Just recently, I noticed Tito had become more affectionate—or maybe he had always been that way, and I just hadn’t realized it. Tito wasn’t the physical touch type. Among all of Lola’s children, he was the only one I hadn’t hugged, and he wasn’t someone I could talk to openly. But I didn’t mind because I’m like that too, as an introvert. However, I can clearly remember a special moment on my last birthday. He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and a happy birthday. It was so new to me—I remember it vividly because Tito wasn’t usually like that with me. Despite not being the affectionate type, he tried to be intentional. He even started initiating conversations. In fact, he had more chats with my husband than with me, and I truly appreciated that about him. While scrolling through my wedding photos last week, I noticed how happy he looked. And yet, in my memory, his poker face stands out. Maybe it’s because he seldom smiled in person. But seeing those photos gave me peace, knowing he was happy for me and more importantly lived a full life. Tito inspires me—to enjoy life, to travel, to make time for family occasions, and to continue pursuing my goals regardless of age. He was bold, unafraid to take risks, and his growth over the years was steady and consistent. Those small, intentional steps bore fruit. I deeply admire Tito’s unconditional love for his wife and children and the way he creates an impact despite his difference in personality. Tito, I know you are with our Lord now. Please be our guardian angel and enjoy the fruits of your labor! Continue to guide us as a family, together with Jade and Lolo Nap. Your presence was never unnoticed. You have left a mark in our hearts and engraved yourself in our memories forever.
We shared our testimony together on my birthday!
We shared our testimony together on my birthday! I want to thank all our guests for their heartfelt birthday messages. This celebration wouldn’t have been complete without you all there to share it with me! This birthday is incredibly special to me because it was thoughtfully planned by my husband, with the support of my family and discipleship group. Not only did we celebrate in a Christian way, but we also used the occasion to reflect on and honor God’s goodness in my life. It’s amazing to realize how every experience I’ve had was part of God’s plan, leading up to this moment. Sharing our testimony on my birthday felt like a perfect way to glorify God and highlight His faithfulness in our lives. In this blog, I’d like to share our testimony, hoping it may encourage those going through similar experiences. I pray that if you’re reading this, you’ll find strength to keep walking with the Lord, no matter the challenges. May this testimony bless and uplift you. My husband’s testimony: I’ve always known God exists. Since I was young, I attended church because it was required by my Catholic school, which checked our attendance. However, my understanding of God wasn’t very deep. My family wasn’t particularly religious, and we didn’t go to church together. My mom has her own beliefs and religion, but she still taught us to pray. She was always busy working hard to provide for us, especially since we grew up in a broken family. I didn’t dwell much on that “broken” part because, as long as I had my mom by my side, I felt okay. There’s one memory that stands out, though, from my 4th-year high school retreat. On the last day, our parents were supposed to come so we could share happy moments with them and apologize for any mistakes we’d made. Sadly, my mom couldn’t make it—I think she was working. At that moment, I felt the unfairness of life deeply. It hurt that I had no one to hug or talk to when everyone else had their parents there. That experience made me question everything. I even felt anger toward my father for leaving us, and I wrestled with doubt about God’s goodness. As life continued into my college years, I still went to church, mostly out of habit, since it was nearby. But I still felt an emptiness inside, thinking that simply going to church was enough to cleanse my sins, like when I was a child. Then one day, Natty invited me to her church, CCF in CDO. It was a different experience from any church I’d attended before. I left with so many questions, and I thank God that Natty patiently answered each one. Through that experience, my faith started to build and grow stronger. Looking back, I see God’s saving grace in my life, guiding me even when I didn’t fully understand. It’s been a journey, and I’m grateful for the ways He’s strengthened my faith. My Testimony: Growing up in a Christian family, I learned about Jesus early, but I didn’t fully understand the concept of salvation. I believed that as long as I did good deeds, I was “good.” It wasn’t until later that I realized salvation is a free gift, offered through faith in Jesus Christ. I was too young to grasp the depth of this truth back then, but God, in His timing, used the people around me to help me understand through life experiences. As I grew older, I drifted away from the faith. I didn’t see the importance of religion and sought fulfillment in all the wrong places. While attending a Catholic school, I would follow along with religious practices like making the sign of the cross, not because I believed in them, but because I was afraid to stand out for not doing so. I feared being questioned about my faith. During those years, I became a difficult daughter, disconnected from my family, especially to my brother and sisters. I spent most of my time in front of the computer, gaming, trying to find connection and validation in the online world. I thought that being trendy and part of the crowd would give me fulfillment, but no matter how many connections I made, I still felt empty. My relationships suffered because of my insecurities and grudges. I became a “serial monogamist,” staying in long-term relationships without fully committing my heart. I moved from one relationship to the next without remorse, holding onto bitterness, which only poisoned my soul. But in 2019, everything changed. A friend asked me a simple yet profound question: “How is your relationship with the Lord?” That question made me pause. I didn’t have an answer, and it led me back to church. It was there that I encountered God in a personal way, joining a discipleship group (D-Group) and learning who Jesus truly is. It was the first time the Gospel made sense to me, and in August 2019, I was baptized. From that moment, my journey with the Lord began, and this year marks my fifth year walking with Him. During my relationship with Glenn, the first three years (2016-2019) were challenging because God was not at the center of it. We kept sinning and struggling, but after I encountered Christ, I began to feel the Holy Spirit’s prompting to share the Gospel with Glenn and with my family. It wasn’t easy. Sharing the Gospel within your own family can lead to tension, and we had many arguments. However, God was planting seeds, and I started to see those seeds sprout in my sister Uma, my father, and even Glenn. One of my answered prayers was for Glenn to encounter God personally and for us to take our relationship to the next stage, honoring God in marriage. For a long time, I prayed that he would understand what it meant to have a personal relationship with the Lord. God answered in His perfect timing,