In this season some six years ago, a very sad family affair occurred in Catbalogan City, Samar-rooted Bibeth Orteza.
His younger brother, Dr. Ephraim Neal C. Orteza, an exceptional medical professional, an activist for the good of the Filipino in the health sector, died of COVID-19.
Here’s actress Bibeth’s recollection of Dr. Orteza: “Only your body left us on this day. You remain in our hearts, my dearest Bimboy, best friend and best enemy while growing up.
“And oh, the memories, the memories!
“Of you as a young boy, doing the family prayer for a meal: ‘Lord, thank you for the food, even if the viand is not good.’
“Of you as Mama's favorite child, praised by her for your consistently good grades until the day you put the frozen cat you were dissecting in our refrigerator freezer.
“Of us growing up affectionately calling each other "pangit" because as Mama said, we'd just laugh it off when others would call us such.
“Of us walking into Palma Hall's ground floor, me towards the odd-number wing and you to the right-number wing, then simultaneously turning to call each other back with "Pangit!" and almost the entire hall responded—how we laughed until we were teary-eyed!
“Only your body left us on this day. You remain in our hearts, my dearest Bimboy, best friend and best enemy while growing up.”
Dr. Orteza, who was born August 2, 1955, died on April 8, 2020.
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