JESUS ANTONIO "TONY" MATAMOROSA CARPIO

JESUS ANTONIO "TONY" MATAMOROSA CARPIO

(Oct. 25, 1931 - May 26, 2010)

Former NBI Director, Human Rights Lawyer, Writer

Faithful Spouse of Bernardita Zalazar Carpio (…)

Father of 14 (3 girls and 11 Boys), Grandfather of 24

An Officer and a Gentleman

On May 26, 2010, Papa passed on to join Mama with God. His death also brings us to ponder upon the mystery of life.

"Each one of us will render an accounting when we stand before God at the end of our lives," says Papa's favorite teacher at the Ateneo de Naga, Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ. And for Papa, we can take a glimpse of his journey through the first line of a song he used to sing-with Mama on the piano: LOVE CAME TO ME.

Love came to Papa through Mama and through us their 14 children.

"Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise," as the song's title goes, so did Papa carry on with life's challenges. He was a quiet and unassuming man, always reflecting on beyond the daily grind. He kept in mind from the same song that "So ends each story. Softly, as in an evening sunset, The light that gave you glory will take it all away."

Thus, he wrote following Mama's death:

God Gave Me a Saint!

Bernardita, my beloved, my darling, my bride!

Mother of my Fourteen! My woman fulfilled!

Blessed are we, pilgrims by your side.

Blest be your son-priest and as many Christ has willed.

Marylike, you were all love and understanding

Serene and smiling thru all stress and strain!

And when our sorrows were utterly demanding,

You showed us how to embrace God's gift of pain!

Your radiant beauty was mine to have and to hold!

I shall sing of my Treasure all the days of my life

Far dearer than fame and fortune and mountains of gold,

God gave me a Saint! To be my wife!

And sinner that I am, God kept me true!

I knew no other woman! No one but you!

 

And early on as a soldier he also wrote:

 

The Reason Why

I gazed what had caught my eye-

The early sun perched on the hill

As red and ominously still

As an egg yolk painted in the sky.

Enrapt in beauty I stared