Peter Leahey
Tatang, I'll miss seeing the awe on my friends and family's faces when I would lead them on a tour of the Peke Plantation as I called it. Their heads shaking as I pointed up to the intricate staging you built throughout the massive mango tree. Outright disbelief as I advised how you continued to climb the tree in your 60's then your 70's and finally into your late 80's!
I'd do my best to try and identify your many exotic fruits and Filipino vegetables as we walked through the property. On our way to the chicken coop I'd warn - 'Don't try to pet them!' as we passed by your prized roosters. Once in the coop, I'd again warn 'don't say you're hungry - or else Tatang will cook up a dozen fresh eggs for us to eat as an afternoon snack :)'
Jaws would drop as the multi-layered ladders leading high up the coconut trees came into view. 'Yes, he still climbs those ladders too' I'd advise. Adding, ' hopefully he's home so he can machete one open for us, as Tatang has the sweetest tasting coconut water you've ever tasted.' Finally as the tour wound down we'd pass by the snails you raised by diverting water from the neighboring watercress farm - providing one last example of your ingenuity.
Tatang, no one who ever toured Peke Plantation will ever forget your delicious mangoes or coconut water if they were lucky enough to have some. But most of all no one will ever forget you and the hospitality and self-reliance you demonstrated to us all, especially me. We'll miss you dearly Tatang. Rest in peace.
