Betan Rites

Loyola Memorial Park Chapels

Marikina, Rizal

January 24, 2018

Messages

Beloved Brods,

Just got notice from Risa Lansang Reyes, Botit's sister in law, that our beloved Brother Manuel Zaballero Reyes, aka "Botit" has passed on.

He was rushed to the Lung Center yesterday. The message says Botit died at 5:30 am.

As one of Botit's best friends and kumpadre to his second son Norman, I have no words for now except that Botit is inimitable - in his quiet influence, native intelligence, giving nature, and gut feeling that I've not seen in anyone. I have only sorrow for the passing of another fallen legend and very close friend.

Dear Botit, I rest on the consolation that in these past few years, you have turned yourself to the mercy of the Creator.

God bless you, Botit.

Tatang

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Brod Botit shall be missed !! RIP Brod Botit.

Jay Jay

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I pay my respects and give honor to Brod Botit with quite a number of memories in the few years we shared together before I left RP.

I remember when he applied and entered the frat in ‘68 when I was an officer wIth GP Eding Hizon and VGP Jun Advincula - if I recall correctly, one of the sessions at Henry Gutierrez’s house and the finals in Antipolo at the farm of kabatch Ric Tolentino. Together at work in RPC under the helm of Boy Morales; the mahjong sessions with “Barkadang Cubao” at his house and my house; the short drives spinning time with brods in my hometown in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; etc.

I came a bit late, but it’s still my “luck” that I’m in town to say goodbye. I feel bad that his batch mates will not have him for their forthcoming golden anniversary.

With my prayers, farewell Botit.

Norman’65

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From way, way back during our salad days, Brod Yongyong Afable said of Botit, “Did you notice that Botit never gets sick?” But then…

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to reap…” (Ecclesiastes 3)

It was time for Botit to be called by his Creator. But not before living a life full of excitement and fun. And fulfillment. He shared whatever resources he had with many brods without asking anything in return. Having been very close to Botit, a wealthy Lola’s favorite, we had a taste of living like Great Gatsby inside their sprawling compound in Mariposa/Makiling. In spite of our occasional rowdiness and craving for all sorts of thrills, Botit’s loving parents still accommodated us in their home for frat gatherings. Botit was, therefore, a significant key to our exciting Betan life during the late 80s and early 70s.

There is only one Botit. He is beyond replication. This rich kid had a brand unique only to him. For instance, he was the one who introduced us to the cheapest drink – San Miguel gin with Tru-Orange. He was also a guru who introduced us to emerging fads at the time. But Botit was never hooked to anything at all. Except perhaps his attraction to pretty women, which is normal. He was the “coolest” person I have ever known in my life, a proactive guy who would not just react even in the most stressful situations. Perhaps by training of his Lola, he looked at all things objectively and dispassionately. Thus, his analysis and predictions of situations, developments, positions and conditions were often accurate. One of the many narratives that will interest us Betans was when, still a barbarian, the Pepsi were trying to recruit him. His answer: “Baka gusto niyo kayo na lang ang sumali sa akin.”

I learned to defer to his native intelligence and sense of gut feeling, and he had his feet always planted on the ground. There was a time when Yongyong and I tried to convince Botit to join us at Ateneo MBA. To this, Botit asked: “What are your subjects?” And we said, “Human Behavior and Organizations is one of them.” Botit replied: “Do you have a subject on animal behavior?” Hmmm, come to think of it, doesn’t Botit truly bring in a new, but very basic, perspective in management?

He finally married a pretty young lass at a time when all of his Barkadang Cubao brods were growing their families already. He didn’t hide how envious he was with us. He finally married school teacher Eleanor aka “Bebot” at the age of 40. I was their wedding photographer.

Just a few years ago, it came as a surprise to many who knew Botit that he was transforming himself from hedonism to a life of spirituality. From his written messages, I would see the words “Lord” and “Savior”. The center of his life, as in almost everyone of us, has become his family. And his Creator.

But he never forgot our fraternity. I gather from his Blitzkrieg batch mates that he had been attending meetings in preparation for their 50th Batch Anniversary. I see him in recent photos with Brods on many occasions like Last Rites of those who have gone ahead. And he would be there during our fraternity balls… There are so many anecdotes that surround Botit’s life, but I will leave others especially his Blitzkrieg batch mates to recount them.

Accompanied by Bebot, his son Norman and a nurse aide with a big oxygen tank in hand, Botit risked going to Baguio last July 2016 just to meet up with Yongyong and me. Yongyong and I thought that, by the way he badly looked, Botit had just a few months to live. But the Lord and Savior gave him a year and a half more.

Even while alive, Botit was a living legend. By his passing, his name shall be remembered for a long long time. He has faithfully served the Frat for 50 years. Botit is survived by Bebot and their four children. The first two are boys, and Norman (his second son) is my godchild. The third and fourth children are girls, whom Botit extremely loved.

So there. I remember what Jun Vale aka Alipin ng Goodtime said many years back: “This is a race where I want to finish last.” Yes, indeed, we are all in a journey with a common destination. Botit who was almost a superhuman only reminds us of our immortality. He went ahead of me and you and Jun Vale. But who knows? Botit must be happier now with his Creator.

Tatang

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Here's another pic of Botit during his younger years. Wala pa siyang eyepatch noon. His lost his eyes in a bad car accident driven by a friend (not a brod). He could have died in that accident were it not for BROD BING JOVEN who brought him to the hospital, and Brod Bing didn't realize that the victim was BOTIT!!! The driver/friend fled the scene, and a taxi driver fixing his taxi died on the spot.

Tatang

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I first got to know Botit when he joined the frat in 1968. And in 1969 we were hanging out as Barkadang Cubao mostly at Tatang's house and also at Norman's. In 1971, Botit and I were just "bumming" around. I had the weed, he had the car but we had little money. We would hang out at the bowling lanes at Uni-Mart in Greenhills. Most of the time we would pick up kolehiyalas, smoke damo and then drive to Tatang's house in Montreal St. Tatang got enamored of our lifestyle -- maraming damo, iba ibang "chicks" kahit walang pera. Eventually, Tatang quit his job at Congress to join us full time. A couple of weeks later, Botit and I attended the wake of one of Brod Asiong's "Sigue-sigue" bodyguards. Asiong invited us to come and visit him at the PPL Bldg. We did and we were hired as Program Managers under Brod Teddy Rey. Now, Botit and I had damo, different chicks and had income pa. "Basta masaya", that was Botit's mantra.

Botit is the only person that I know who never got mad at anything or anyone. He harbored no ill will against anybody. There was no mean bone in his whole being. It seemed that he was always masaya. He was unique in a sense that he marched to a different beat. He had a different insight into things, questions or events. And I say this not in a negative way. I actually admired him for that. He looked at things differently or from a different angle that you would be surprised that he saw it that way and you did not.

I will never forget our December 1972 trip to Baguio with Botit, Yongyong and Tatang. I was the designated driver and all the other 3 brods were basag. I remember we drove up Mt. Sto. Tomas to enjoy the scenery, the incident at the American cemetery, Botit wandering around in the early morning hours and getting lost, our trip to Vigan, Tatang's hometown.

The last time I had a conversation with Botit was at the Platinum anniversary. He was so proud of his daughter, he was speaking so highly of her. Botit was still the same-- low key but maybe a little nostalgic. He asked me about my family (he knew them very well) and I told him that I was already divorced. I smiled and he smiled back. Then I heard it again: "Basta masaya!"

Botit, I know you are out there -- SOMEWHERE, MASAYA!!!

Dan Galoso

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Farewell Kabatch!

I remember Botit on Feb 18, 1968 at Ed Soliman's house in Kamuning. This was our meeting place to ride the bus to Antipolo. After Noli Nolasco collected our envelopes with shaved hair, he had us line up to inspect which part of our body was stll ok and put an "x" mark sa bawal. After inspecting Botit he said "E wala nang puwedeng tirahin dito". He had "x" mark on his legs and the butt part of his shorts. Only his arms had no "x".

He was also a savior during our finals. Our half time presentation took a little bit more time because of him. The "masters" loved his antics. He would act like "bondging" during our skit. The Brods made him do a flying kick. He would hold on to somesone and try to raise one of his legs and his his other would give out and he will fall. They all had a big laugh and would order him to do it again.

I don't think he was able to run the uphill gauntlet because of his legs. He was carried on someone's back which meant going through at a slow pace.

Bye Kabatch, we will miss you always specially on our 50th.

Amang

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Rest in Peace Brod Botit in the arms of our lord Jesus Christ . although I never had a chance to meet personally with you I am touch and most

mpressed by your Unique but Exemplary Behaviour while living your Life.

"only person ... who never got mad at anything or anyone.....harbored no ill will against anybody..... no mean bone in his whole being ... always MASAYA ... (HAPPY) ..He was unique ... he marches to a different beat..... a different insight into things, questions or events... in a POSITIVE way! Brod Dan admired him for this.. He continuous ..Brod botit looked at things differently or from a different angle that you would be surprised that he saw it that way .....and you did not ! Truly HAPPINES does not depend on the outward things but on the way we see it."

Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others ...like what Brod Botit did while living his life to the fullest ...Farewell Brod Botit ...Have a Great Day with our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven!

Mon Ventura ' 65 BlackSaints

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I totally agree with the way Tatang described the life of our dear brod Botit. I was fortunate to enjoy Botit's company during those good times in the mid 1970s. He was already a UP alumnus while I was still trying to figure out where to get my next drink and smoke.

Botit's was a very generous person and his wallet was always bulging with cash. When it starts to empty, he would just visit his Lola and she would write him a check to cash. On one occasion, Botit was upset because the bank refused to honor the check, claiming that the signature on the check was different from the signature specimen that the bank has on file. One phone call to his Lola and the problem was resolved. It turned out that his Lola's signature in the morning was legible because her hand was still fresh and strong. As the day wears on, so does her strength and signature. The bank manager apologized and gave him the cash. Later on I asked Botit what happened. Botit jokingly replied " My Lola threatened the manager that she would buy the bank and fire them all".

I can also remember another memorable evening I had with Botit. One late afternoon at around five o'clock, Botit called me on the phone. He said "marami akong pera at damo ngayon. Mag tawag ng mga chicks at mag party tayo dito sa bahay. Ako bahala sa lahat". True to his word, he asked the maid to prepare food for the guests. I told him that I was able to contact a few girls who also invited a few of their girl friends. Botit and I ended up with about 10 invited chicks. Botit volunteered to drive his car and pick them all up. When I asked him if we should invite a few brods, his reply was a typical Botit response. " Baka sa kanila pa mapunta yung mga chicks, kaya yung mga pangit lang".It was almost midnight when we finished rounding up the girls. Parang noche buena yung party. Nauwi sa food trip at inuman. I don't recall any dancing at all. Botit was like an Uber driver, delivering them all back home at dawn. In short, zero ang score namin but the guests had a blast and gained a few pounds from all the eating and drinking.

Botit had contacts with some anti-government activists from the Cordilleras. One day Botit told me to gather used clothes and even expired medicines from my father's medicine cabinet. As a good disciple, I followed my guru's order. We ended up driving quite some distance and evading police checkpoints, trading the used clothes and medicines for one grocery bagful of omads. Botit just proved that the old Pinoy tradition, the barter system, still worked. Another month-long supply courtesy of Botit's creative imagination.

I was invited to one of those Mariposa compound non-stop Friday thru Monday parties. I remember Danny G and Bobby M (better known by his alias) and Tatang were present. Botit had one big bag of omads and he declared that we can not leave the room until the bag is completely empty. Tatang refused to smoke so Botit and Ahas came up with a genius plan. When Tatang fell asleep, these two brods would blow smoke (shotgun) into Tatang's nasal passages. We could see the smoke enter when Tatang inhaled some air and also saw some blue smoke come out when Tatang exhaled. Later when Tatang woke up, he would complain that he felt high and trippy. We would all laugh and Botit would say " guni-guni mo lang yun" .

We dearly love and fondly remember you Brod Botit. May you continue to enjoy a good trip on your final journey to eternity.

Good bye and God bless you!

Vale

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Hi Vale,

Totally enjoyed your reminiscens with Botit. Quite vivid the way you related your stories. I imagine Botit behaving the way you describe. What a guy! Sorry na lang tayo at hanggang doon na lang ang kwento. Sana marami pa. But salamat na rin kay Botit for his unparalled friendship among brothers.

Boyet