The Lolo I Wish I Knew.
I heard a lot of anecdotes about my Papa's father, Lolo Sendong. He was the Kapampangan School Principal who went to the promise land, a.k.a. Mindanao, to teach. There, he fell in love with Rosalina, a native of Mainit, Surigao Del Norte. Later on, he also fell in love with Rosalina's home town and decided to settle and raise his family there. He was known to shout "Sinverguenza!"(meaning, "Shameless!" or more like, "Chickenshit!") when he gets dismayed or upset over something. My Papa and his siblings also remember him as a very doting father. He was always good-natured and generous. He took care of his family and made sure of providing them all their needs, to the point of spoiling his wife, Saling. He even helped out Lola Saling's family. Lolo Sendong was also known to be a food lover. They said that the Gatpolintan home was always abundant with food. . . and there was always an air of freedom. The kids were free spirited and encouraged to be themselves.
Lolo Sendong seemed like a very amiable and loving person. Too bad, we, the grandchildren never got to know him. He died of a Heart Attack at a very young age, probably because of his love for lechon and adobo. I wish I got to know him. I'm pretty sure, he would have also spoiled me to death if he was still alive while I was growing up.
Rosendo Yamson Gatpolintan(as school principal)
Lolo Sendong at one of his sisters' wedding.Photos by the Gatpolintan Family
Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan
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