From Robert Harland, Redemptorist Chapel. Bacolod City
September 17, 2012
It’s a great honour for me to have this opportunity to say a few words tonight about my very good friend Nonong Montinola.
While this is a time of great sadness for us all, I am joyful that I had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Nonong for as long as I did.
We first met in the early 1990s when I was with Asia Pacific division of The Coca-Cola Company in Hong Kong. I started popping over to Bacolod to play golf during the Holy Week and Christmas holidays.
Neoly and Nonong Montinola, Robert Harland, Stessie Hecita
It was Bob Cuenca who introduced us and before long I was joining Nonong and Felix Yusay on the golf course.
As a golfer, Nonong could sometimes be quite emotional.
I remember once after he unsuccessfully tried 15 times to get his ball out of a bunker, he threw his club in the air, dropped to his knees and started taking to the ball. He said: “I don’t think you want to leave this place do you? Ok, you can stay then!”
He then proceeded to bury the ball in the sand. He then picked up his club and moved onto the next hole. That was Nonong.
At that time, I did not have a family here in Negros, but I never had a lonely Christmas. Nonong always insisted I celebrate Christmas with him and his family. He was the perfect host. Always attentive and constantly asking if my beer was cold enough. I always warm to a host who offers you a cold beer as soon as you come through the front door. Yes, that was Nonong.
When I retired to Bacolod in 2001, I spent more time with Nonong and thoroughly enjoyed the family get-togethers. Not only did I enjoy the warmth of Nonong, his family and friends, but I also enjoyed his food. I frequently said to him “You keep the best table in Bacolod”. He would always modesty insist that wasn’t the case. But it was. He was a real foodie.
Nonong was also a man of passion, especially when it came to collecting things and he collected many things.
At one time he became interested in Spode China from England. Because of my frequent trips to the UK I was able to help him with his collection.
He later moved onto what I can only call his African period. Suddenly fierce-looking native spears, bows and arrows, African masks and stuffed animal heads began arriving at the house.
At one stage, Neoly said to me “you know Robert; this house is beginning to look like a museum”. As she said those words I looked up and saw the head of a none-to-pleased African wildebeest staring down at me. I knew what she meant.
But that was Nonong. Always enthusiastic. Always passionate. Always raring to go.
And when Stessie gave birth to our son Robert Jr. in 2008 I was thrilled that Nonong and Neoly and their children agreed to be his Godparents. We brought Robert Jr here yesterday. He’s too young to understand, but when he gets older I will tell him all about his illustrious Godfather, Nonong.
When people pass away, one often hears comments like “he’ll be greatly missed; he was one of a kind”. Many times, however, such comments are simply platitudes. But not in Nonong’s case. He really was one of a kind – a larger than life character – and he will be sorely missed by everyone whose life he touched.
In short, Nonong was a decent, caring and loving man. As we would say in England – he was a real gent.
Farewell Nonong. It’s been a pleasure. I salute you. Until we meet again
From the Bahay Kubo...with Robert Harland in the Philippines 