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Remembering Fernando "Junjie" Javellana-Lopez Jr.
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Words of Femando "Junjie" Lopez Jr., Tito Junjie to beloved nephews and nieces, Nonoy Junjie to longtime Lopez employees and trusted help, Boss Junjie or simply "Nonoy" to personal security and loyal staff. And to the countless others whose names and faces remain anonymous, "Junjie" was all it took to have this one man known, loved, envied, questioned and yes, talked about in a city not ready for his generosity and love for life.
What does it take for someone to be really happy and really rich? At 74, Junjie laid down the answers that many failed to understand yet so much more embraced with open hand and gladdened hearts. He literally threw money around and took delight in the cheers of everybody in close proximity—children, women, men, the seniors. All who came closest to him then saw first hand how Junjie would spread his wealth and spread it easily.
"He was generous to a fault. In my travels abroad for vacation during college, he would insist on giving me at least P1 million in pocketmoney. And he would also give me hundreds of thousands of pesos for my birthday and pay for my drinks during parties. He loved Lake Tahoe and was very fond of going to Casino. Yet he is not a gambler. He just loved the ambience of the Casino. I will certainly miss him," Alberto "Tito" Relucio-Lopez III said of his uncle.
Known to be a favorite nephew, "Tito" was by his uncle's bedside in that fateful Tuesday afternoon and has just left some thirty minutes when told that Junjie's battle for life has ended.
In Junjie's hand was a rosary made of tiny silver beads. A present from Gina De Venecia, wife of House Speaker Joe De Venecia, Tito gave it up and personally placed it in his Tito Junjie's hands.
"That was a special rosary from Mrs. De Venecia. It was blessed by our new Pope, Pope Benedict," Tito added. "Tito Junjie left us for a better world. He is in better hands."
Similar sentiments echoed by yet another family member, another favorite in Allana Lopez-Montelibano.
"A simple man, I will remember Tito Junjie as someone who was very very generous. And he loved life. He loved the masses. He had so many friends. And yes, he personally told me in one of our talks that he is happy with his life, that he has led a full one. No regrets, that was what he kept on telling me," Allana said in memory of her uncle. And true to his love and passion for life, Allana said her uncle's major organs already failed him in the last hours yet it was to be his heart that gave up the last.
"The prognosis was bad but he fought it with dignity. In the final moments though, he kept that peaceful look and we will remember him for that and more," Allana said while adding with a loving smile, "and Tito Junjie found pleasure in little things. He was definitely not hard to please. But he would also not want to be stared at."
A lover of books and old movies, Junjie's passion would ultimately go back to his generosity. Death of his passing shocked a family in Barangay Sto. Rosario, Buenavista, Guimaras, saddened a group of youngsters in Jaro, Iloilo City, dejected countless mothers in Iloilo Second District and dashed the hopes of a lot of families who were beneficiaries of Junjie's help.
From school fees to hospital bills, birthdays and other family gatherings, Junjie if approached would never say no and easily let go of his last hundred. So much more were told of his philanthropic acts yet there remains countless others whose stories remain unheard and untold.
That was how Junjie lived. A full life indeed for this one man whose richness was beyond the Lopez wealth.
Fernando "Junjie” Lopez Jr. was the third in six Lopez siblings. His remains lie in state at the Lopez Chapel, Colonial House, Luna St., Lapaz, Iloilo City until Friday, September 9, 2005. Daily 6 p.m. mass is offered for the eternal repose of his soul. The doors of the Colonial House has since been opened for Junjie's friends and loved ones who wish to pay their last respects.
