Anthony Subijano UPD'72 (right) with Bong Beredo UPD'73 - July 14, 1975 at Frat's 29th anniversary

Anthony, GP of the Sydney Chapter and UPBSFI Country Director, passed away in Australia on July 23, 2008

* From Jun Valenzuela, 7-24-08

Anthony was a very private person. I was one of the few brods who was able to infiltrate his inner circle of brods. Just before he left the hospital in June, I had a long conversation (mahigit isa't kalahating oras, para ng mag syota kami) with him over the phone. We exchanged stories about the good old days and he was very talkative except for some cloudy recollection of his batchmate names. To my surprise, his recollection of some frat events were more vivid than mine. He had no hesitation in using expletives (putang ina), just being the old Anthony that I have always known. He was also very appreciative for the help and concern that the brods were providing him. I would never had known that he would be gone very shortly.

The last time I was with Anthony was during our July 2006 fratball in Manila. Together with some brods from our generation, we drank till 6:00 am at Paulo's, a bar and restaurant owned by a brod. We ended up serving ourselves with beer because the waiter had already fallen asleep. As usual, we recited the same old stories over and over again. This Betan tradition is a common occurence every time the brods come face to face with alcohol bottles. Walang kasawa-sawa, sabi nga ng mga partners natin.

Anthony, being a working student during our days, could only spend time with the brods at night after school hours and during the weekends. His circle of selected brods used to wait for his arrival at school during paydays. These were rare moments where we could enjoy endless orders of pulutan and binge on beer, instead of the usual "stainless" drink and Growers peanuts. Being from Cavite City, on numerous occasions he would just crash at our house in Quezon City after a night of heavy drinking.

One memorable event always stays fresh in my mind. One day, a brod wanted to give away his barking pet dog. Wowie, the butcher, (Dan Bautista 73) offered his services. And Anthony offered his place in Cavite. So on one Friday night, Wowie put an end to this brod's misery. After thoroughly cleaning and chopping the bow wow to pieces, disposing the head and the paws to eliminate any piece of evidence, we drove to Anthony's house on the early morning of Saturday. With the approval of Anthony, the brods concocted a story. We told Anthony's mother, (God bless her soul) that we bought a whole goat and we needed a place to cook it. Her approval was never in doubt. Wowie, now the chef, prepared different cuisines for the brods. Anthony's mother, who never had a doubt on what animal was being simmered, even joined us in feasting with the exotic bowwow turned meeehhh cuisines. It tasted so delicious that she even pitched in some cash for our beer. It turned out to be a fun-filled weekend for the brods. And there were so many more with Anthony. Unfortunately, the fun ended unexpectedly too soon. However...

Parting just increases the joy of being together again. Brod, don't forget to throw a party for the brods in your heavenly place. You are now free.  Anthony, Brod, I love you. You are dearly missed and fondly remembered.

* From Pogs Gaspay, 7-24-08

When I read about the death of Anthony yesterday, I could not immediately respond. Death in the virile airs of summer is just hard to ponder. Especially so, when so many beloved brods I knew well have left us in such short succession. Four of the brods I mingled happily with during our Diamond Jubilee last July 2006 in Manila, and whose images are still indelibly grasped in my mind and the photos we keep, are now gone forever - Tito, Engie, Teddy and now Anthony. I'm glad I went and had a week of a proverbial Indian summer as a reminiscing Beta Sigman with them.

Anthony's death grips me deeply as he succumbed too quickly to a disease I also have been battling with. I, like any survivor, can not help but wonder why I am still spared. His death reminds me that it is only the grace of God that still keeps me here. Anthony was much younger and appeared healthier when we last parted. Though I was already out of Diliman when he became a brod, I had some memorable moments shared with him, for Anthony was an omni-prescence in BetaSigman alumni events in Manila. He will forever be remembered for his enthusiastic demeanor and his obiquitous camera. His death indeed diminishes us all.

As the outpouring of e-mails on his death reminds us, he was an essential part of the fraternity's halcyon years at UP Manila in the first half of the 1970s. He also was part of the group of brods who did well in careers in the computer programming industry. And, of course, he was very much the face of the UP Beta Sigma International in Australia.

Brods from his cohort years in the 1970s best describes his essence in their recollections of their lives with him. His unflinching stand against impending death in the last three months since he was diagnosed with an advanced form of lung cancer is characteristic. Brods who were fortunate enough to have conversed with him since, tell of Anthony's embrace of life despite his desperate prognosis. Vale describes his character best.

As we mourn Anthony so must we celebrate the gift of life and friendship he gave us. Anthony you are a true brother and I am extremely proud to have known you! Cheers! Cheers! Cheers to Anthony! He's so good. ....

 

* From Bong Beredo, 7-23-08

I feel sad to hear that Brod Anthony Subijano passed away. Too bad I did not get a chance to talk to him last night but I know he got my message. I was one of the fortunate Padre Faura brods who got a chance to share those happy and glorious days at UP Manila with Anthony.

He was one of the imposing brods then when me and Vale were still skinny young brods. We used to tease him, Francis Fernandez, my batska OlanJ Jamir and then Babes Ignacio as them "Cavite Boys"  who are all "alagad ni Claro Santa Maria".   May your soul rest in peace Brother. We will miss you.

* From Willie Vergara, 7-23-08

It is with deep sadness that I have to report the passing away today of BROD ANTHONY SUBIJANO '72, Batch 1081. Brod Anthony is our Country Director for Australia and current GP of the Sydney Chapter. He was diagnosed of cancer that spread to his brain and several parts of his body.
 
Brod Anthony's photographs can be seen in our website. He has been our biggest and most powerful link to the era of mid-70s as shown in the several pictures that he shared with us. Thank you, Anthony. If only for these contributions, your name will live forever in our hearts.
 
Brod Bong Beredo tried contacting him last night, but in vain. So Bong just left a "hi" message. Sometime ago, many brods like Norman, Vale, the Aussie Brods (Rolly Zubiri, Alex Roseus, Rene Padilla, Mario Manzano, Popoy, etc.), many of his contemporary PFaura Brods, Ezra Castillo and I called him either at his home and his hospital bed. At the time of our conversation, he already wanted to turn over the GPship of his Chapter. Brod Anthony was so appreciative of all our encouragements.  May I enjoin all the Brods who know Anthony to input to whoever will be appointed to speak during the BETAN LAST RITES. You may write those memories of Anthony, a truly dedicated Betan, in this loop.

* From Bernie Bacosa, 7-23-08

I feel sad and out of words right now.  May your soul rest in peace Anthony.  I know you will have access to this email somehow now that you are part of heaven's space. I am sharing with the brods photos of you and other brods. We will always have fond memories of you. God bless your soul.

                                   UP Manila Brods (clockwise): Flor Pagador, Ronnie Agbayani, Anthony Subijano,

                                                                                Babes Ignacio, Chito Tapawan, Bernie Bacosa.

 
* From Norman Bituin, 5-30-08

I called Anthony at Canberra Hospital (from LA by dialing 011-61-2-62442222, then asked for Rm 14B) at about 12:20 this morning and just chatted with him, mostly about the frat and "tsismis" among the brods, for a good 30-40 mins.  He says physically he is strong but just forgets names from time to time due partly to his medications also.  He'll be at the hospital for a few more days where you could call him, then he'll be going home.  He did have a lot of stories and humor with him.  He says he is impressed with Pogs Gaspay's memory about the frat and the brods; he's happy that Jun Vale has tied the knot with his Diliman gf Iou; that he's proud of having been the sponsor of Babes Ignacio; that his kabatch Kiko Delmendo has always been the musical horn man ("torotot", he said) even from the old days; etc., etc.  Also that Ben Abon has called from RP to wish him well.  When he goes home, he says he'll have more time to look at his email, plus at old pics and mementos and he will send to us for posting at the Int'l. web.  I reiterated our best wishes and prayers for him and for his full recovery, for which he's very thankful and happy.

 * From Alex Roseus, 5-28-08

I spoke to Anthony this morning. He is currently confined at Canberra Hospital. He had a ct scan of the brain  today and the result will be known tomorrow.  He seems to be in good spirit but he is coughing a  lot  and his memory is still bad. Other that this, it is conforting to know that he is not in any pain at all.  But what I find alarming is the fact that he seems to have very little recollection of a lot of brods, even those who are very close to him. And he gets very frustrated with this. I have asked the brods to make sure that at least one of us  will ring ring him daily  not only to give moral support but also to help  him remember names of brods and to tell him  stories about Beta Sigma.  Sis Myrna also told me that his ex-wife and kids are going to visit him tomorrow and I think this would make Anthony very happy.
 
By the way,  I was told that Anthony's email is full because he has not opened his emails for  weeks now. Also, at present  he has no access to a computer in the hospital.  Ringing Anthony thru his mobile would be more advisable. (61) 0438 417734.

* From Rene Padilla, 5-26-08

It is with sadness to inform you and the brods that Anthony, our Sydney GP, is sick with lung cancer. At what stage the cancer is, I don't know. I've spoken to him this am (10:30 May 26 from Canberra) and he said he just came out of the hospital for further blood test. As for the treatment, it will be determined by the results of the test undertaken.

At this stage, it will be best to offer prayers for his recovery and also, may I request from any brods who've been afflicted by this sickness to write him a short note about your experiences (anthonysubijano@hotmail.com) or call him on his mobile (cell) 0438 417 734 (61 country code).  

Sydney 1991 -  Cezar Villanoy, Vic Pulmano, Rene Padilla, Bal Villanueva, Anthony Subijano

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