From

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Memorial and Betan Rites

Herberger Family Elk Grove Family Chapel

Elk Grove, California

August 6, 2018

[Photos from DutchA, HarleanP, GeneS, NormB]

NONG FRED EULOGY

"A man for all seasons"

by Gerry Abenes, UPD '66

August 6, 2018

Good morning brothers in Beta Sigma, beloved spouses, and friends. Thank you for allowing me a couple of minutes of your time to say a few words about Dr Alfred Aquino better known to most of us in this hall as Nong Fred. As some of you may know, ‘Nong' is a contraction of the Ilocano word Manong – a word that carries with it a variety of nuances depending on the context and milieu in which it is used. Most commonly, it is used in the context of respect and endearment. It is also used to address someone who is a man-of-the -world, vastly experienced, knowledgeable. In my culture, at least, it is also used, good-heartedly at times by women, to telegraph to a new male acquaintance, that she is finding him quite personable, so far. If I were asked in a multiple choice test to which of these nuances Nong Fred responds to, my answer will have to be all of the above. As one of our brods Dr Winston Acevedo has aptly said in a recent online message, Nong Fred is a man for all seasons.

I first met Dr Alfred Aquino back in 1988 or 89 at a fraternity ball hosted by the Southern California Beta Sigma where he was their guest speaker. Although it was a brief getting acquainted sort of meeting, it was to our mutual surprise that we shared quite a number of coincidental tidbits in our student days and early professional lives. Besides the given facts that we both went to the same Veterinary School and belonged to the same fraternity, it turned out that we were both politically active during our respective eras serving as presidents of the Veterinary Student Body Assn. and as College Councilors in the UP Student Council. After Vet School we both served as faculty members in UP Los Banos, worked in the same department, and taught the exact same courses in the same old classrooms. Indeed, with a little stretch of imagination, it seemed like within a particular window of time, we were living identical lives in different temporal dimensions.

As fate would have it, that first meeting also turned out to be the last - at least for the next 2 decades or so. Eventually, after a brief hiatus on may part, I had the opportunity to meet Nong Fred again during Bong Beredo’s fratball here in Sacramento in 2007. And, as the old cliché goes: THE REST IS HISTORY.

Nong Fred, I am not here today to eulogize how great a man you are and enumerate the many feathers on your cap. That would take too much time, the luxury of which I don’t have. Rather, I am here to tell everyone how much your fraternity brothers enjoyed your company and why.

I bet you already knew that we would miss you a lot way before that fateful hour. And you are so right. But let me tell our friends here another side of the story on behalf of our brods.

To many of us, it is still incomprehensible how you could go without leaving us your recipe for marinating those tri tip steaks that paired so well with our favorite drinks. Dave Villegas has started to panic, because you, as his birthday co-celebrant, had always been charged with manning the grill.

For the longest time, you were the master in mixing up the vowels and consonants of the alphabet and you left without designating the heir to that throne.

You have been the champion of those who stood tall and confident despite being vertically challenged. Now with your passing, there is no one in the group to lead the cause.

We will miss your unshakeable nonchalance whenever you speak publicly in your native Ilocano tongue and not give a heck that nobody in the crowd understands.

You have left our brod Johnny Regadio without a partner in your exciting misadventures and you haven’t left a clue which of those were imaginary and which of them were real.

And while we’re talking about Johnny, your brods are fervently hoping that you left him the contact information of the belly dancers that popped their eyeballs on 3 hospitality nights.

Your expertly tailored Barongs that make Filipino models green with envy….. your dizzying dance moves that make DIs look amateur and scruffy….

You are a bad boy, Nong Fred. You have left a gaping void in our hearts that will be very difficult to fill.

In closing, allow me to quote Robert Whittington’s prose that describes the sort of you are - who remained true to himself and his beliefs while adapting to all circumstances and times, despite external pressure or influence. And I quote:

“.. a man of an angel's wit and singular learning. I know not his fellow. For where is the man of that gentleness, lowliness and affability? And, as time requireth, a man of marvelous mirth, and pastimes, and sometime, of as sad gravity. A man for all seasons."

Thank you everyone for celebrating with us the life of our beloved Nong Fred. Good-bye to you Nong Fred.

Messages

My dear brothers and sisters,

I am deeply saddened to announce the death of our beloved brother, Brod Alfred Aquino, at 1:30 pm today. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Please offer prayers for the eternal repose of his soul.

Brod Johnny JR

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Brod Dr. Alfred Aquino, DVM, known to all of us by his endearing name of "Nong Fred", has gone back to our Creator at 1:30 pm California time today.

Nong Fred is a fraternity institution and a pillar of his community in Sacramento and vicinity.
Some years back, Nong Fred was named as Sacramento's Man of the Year for his many contributions to the Filipino community in his locality. Surely, he will also be missed by the Filipino Veterinarian of Northern California, of which he has also been active for many years.

As your outgoing President of UP Beta Sigma-International, I had asked postponement of the election of the Board of Directors and gave him three months to regain his health. But little did we know that our most beloved Nong Fred would no longer recover and was incommunicado since the time he underwent his last heart operation on April this year.

Ironically, the International Board of Directors has just started yesterday to consider a replacement for Nong Fred as COMELEC Chair.

Nong Fred will be known for his many contributions to our fraternity. He was instrumental in the development of the UP Beta Sigma-International Constitution and By-laws. He fought tooth and nail to get UPBSI towards a status where we won't have to pay burdensome annual taxes - from a corporation to an "Association".

He was our lifetime COMELEC Chairman and has been responsible for the smooth transition of leadership in UPBSI. He was the most active among all the International advisers and kept himself abreast of developments big and small.

He had provided important guidance on the importance of transparency in financial matters and the honest, prompt dissemination of information for the UPBSI membership.

We will always remember a respected brother, a dedicated hard worker to the cause of the Betan brotherhood and a gentleman friend.

On behalf of the members of the UPBSI Boards of Directors and the UPBSI membership, I offer our prayers, our condolences and share the sorrow with the Aquino family on the passing of beloved Brod Nong Fred.

May the Almighty Father provide his soul with an eternal peaceful rest.

Noli H. Nolasco'62B, UPBSI President

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Rest in eternal happiness Brod Nong Fred. A Betan pillar!

Edwin Ariel P. Acuña

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We mourn his passing. We will miss you Manong Fred.

VicR

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My deepest condolences to a true Betan gentleman. Lots of good memories of Fred, especially of the graceful dancer at our frat balls
pairing with the ladies, including my wife Cherry who said she had lost her tango partner. Will miss you, Brod Fred.

Dr. Fred Aquino DVM in his military reserve uniform at UP North 34th Anvsy. Frat Ball, Embassy Suites, Milpitas, CA, May 28, 2017.

Norman B.

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With a grieving heart, it is difficult for me to accept that our beloved Nong Fred has passed on. As Prez Noli mentioned, Nong Fred has done so much for International and his institutional contributions and legacy will last for a long, long time. He leaves behind so many great things and beautiful memories, and that he was accorded with a lot of accolades and awards in the process.

It is not only us in UP Beta Sigma-International that is saddened by Nong Fred's passing. He will be missed by the whole fraternity worldwide as well. Same thing with the Filipinos in Sacramento and vicinity cities, Nong Fred is almost a household name among Filipinos as his name is almost synonymous with leadership and service, not to mention his graceful dancing.

God bless you, Nong Fred. He has given you a long and fulfilled life, and indeed you have made most of that life. Our Creator has given us to you, your fraternity brothers as well as your colleagues in your veterinary profession, and your countless friends in the community, who love you and appreciate all the great things you have done.

On a personal plain, I first met Nong Fred sometime in February 1997 at the Sacramento home of Brod Billy Monteagudo DVM together with a few of us who lived in the area, I was then a new US immigrant. Our agenda then was the revival of the UP Northern California Chapter. In that meeting, Nong Fred and I immediately connected with each other so well as if we had been friends since our younger days. Our mutual feeling of brotherhood and kinship resulted not only in a special friendship but also in our partnership on many institution building projects for our beloved fraternity. I had always looked up to Nong Fred as a paragon of patience and perseverance who had a long experience in the service of our community.

To you our most beloved Brod Nong Fred, we will let you go, of course, for that is God's bidding. Yet you will always be remembered as one fraternity legend who was always there in service of the frat - in small and great things, thru thick and thin, come hell or high water.

Tatang

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I join you Brod Tatang Vergara and the rest of the Beta Sigma Fraternity in condoling with the family of Brod Nong Fred this hour of their bereavement and likewise joining them in praying for the repose of the soul of Brod Nong Fred.

Mon Ventura Black Saints ' 65

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Requiem aeternam dona frater Nong Fred, Domine! Et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

Ollie

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Condolence and prayers to the family of Nong Fred, a noble Betan. No cheers.

Ed Abon

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Sincere condolences and prayers. Rest if you must, Brother Alfred Nong Aquino, in God the Father's eternal embrace of love, peace and joy!

Butch Madarang

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Our deepest condolences to the family of Brod Nong Fred Aquino UPD’57 and may he RIP and our prayers for the eternal repose of his soul . No cheers.

Benjamin Garcia

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RIP Nong Fred Aquino UPD ‘57

Dutch Aragones

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RIP brod Fred Aquino

Ick Angeles

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I am deeply saddened that Brod Nong Fred Aquino is no longer with us. Rest In Peace Brod Nong Fred. The JRJ Clan will miss you!

Jay Jay Jayme

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Farewell, Nong Fred. Our thoughts and prayers are with you forever.

Gines Samson

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Rest In Peace brod Nong Fred Aquino.

Picoy

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Nakikiramay.

Dante Agulto

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Condolence and prayers.

Rudi Oviedo

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Rest In Peace Brod Fred Aquino.

Ben F

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Nakikiramay sa mga naiwan ni Brod Nong.

Boyet Fernandez

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We will pray for your eternal repose Brod Nong Fred Aquino. Rest in Peace.

Vic Tupaz

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Condolence to the family of Nong Fred. May he rest in peace.

Gilbert Joven

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My deepest condolences. We will miss you Brod Nong Fred. Praying for your eternal peace.

Yay Topacio

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Nakikiramay sa pamilyang Aquino.

Boy Luna

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My deepest condolences to Brod Fred’s family. Praying for his eternal rest.

Mon

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Rest in peace Brod Nong Fred . My condolences to the family.

Alex Roseus

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Taos pusong pakikiramay at dalangin sa naiwan ni Brod Nong Fred.

Jun Eusebio Mamaril

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May you rest in peace brod Nong Fred.

RGR

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Nong Fred, not only to many brods who knew him up close but also his peers and friends; not only true and noble but classy, savvy — the life of any gathering; the epitome of a gentleman indeed is he.

Gabby

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Nakikiramay.

Nugget

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Nakikiramay sa family ni brod Nong Fred, a good & noble Betan.

Jojo Alejar

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My condolences and prayers for Nong Fred and his family. May he Rest In Peace.

Billy Sevilla

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Nakakalungkot talaga ang pagkawala ni brod Nong Fred. looking forward pa naman ako na madalaw uli siya sa Ssacramento. Rest in peace dear brod.

Joel

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R I P Brod Nong Fred A.

Edgar Flores

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Prayers & condolences.

Rolly Zubiri

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Condolences and prayers to the family.

Rene de Grano

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Our deepest sympathy to the family of Brod Nong Fred. May he find rest in our Lord.

Nap Cruz

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Condolences to brod Nong Fred Aquino's family.

Jopet Laraya

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Our heartfelt condolences and prayers to brod Nong Fred's family.

Freddy Fajardo

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