Eulogy for Tito Pepe

 A friend was asked to do a eulogy for the dad of our high school classmate who was murdered in 1995. As a father it became his lifelong mission to seek justice for his soon just as any good parent would.

I have absolutely no memory of Tito Pepe before Nonong updated me about the case and asked me if our class would organize events and support the family for Phillip. I probably met Tito Pepe and Tita Nena for sure, sadly during Phillip’s wake to offer my condolences.

Everything about Phillip’s case was patiently told and re-told by Tito Pepe untiringly and patiently to anyone who would listen. Each time was as surprising, shocking and unbelievable. There were times when new leads came up, new stories connections about the case that brings hope that maybe justice will finally be found.

There is a normal order in the universe that it is the son that buries his father but in Tito Pepe’s case it was the other way around. To add to this difficulty, he was murdered by the very institution he was serving, that institution he was serving lied, covered up his death and tried to blemish the reputation of his son by saying it was suicide.

It is a father’s instinct to protect his son. And he did. It became his lifelong quest to find justice for Phillip. The family most likely suffered quietly in his quest. From what I heard even the business. The emotional, financial and physical burden would have likely taken its toll. But he persevered, as a loving father should.

Phillip was our high school classmate, murdered 23 years old with his whole life ahead of him. We did not see him as a man. Through Tito Pepe’s stories we got to know him more. I now think of the cliché – the fruit does not fall far from the tree. Most likely Phillip can be felt by us through Tito Pepe – his grit, his values and above all the love he showed to his son Phillip. Phillip would have been a great father just like Tito Pepe.

At the same time just maybe, Tito Pepe also looked at us with fatherly eyes. Imagining how Phillip would have grown up to become a man. We as classmates somehow represented Phillip as we ourselves started getting married, having our own kids. The fact is, by celebrating Phillip’s life and death with Tito Pepe and family – this has become a good reason for us classmates to get together. Tito Pepe was Phillip to us we became Phillip to Tito Pepe….

And to end with a happy thought. After 25 years, father and son are now together. This thought comforted me when I heard about his passing….