Coping with His Loss
Losing his Father at 18...
When Lolo Leon died, the Assistant Plumber was promoted as Plumber, and Lolo Jose was taken on by Maasin Waterworks to assume the role as new Assistant Plumber.
While grieving his father's death, he made a decision to help his mother, Lola Epay in supporting his siblings not only because he is the eldest but because he knew that was what Lolo Leon wanted. He consoled himself with the thought that even though his father was gone, Lolo Leon would be happy seeing him take over the responsibility of now having to look after his family.
Enduring all hardships and challenges, Lolo Jose never compromised his principles for easy money. He grew up determined to make the future a better one not only for him but for his family while sharing and instilling in them the values of humility, honesty, thrift, perseverance, diligence, hardwork and an unwavering faith in God. A stern disciplinarian, he has very low tolerance for mistakes.
Lolo Jose does not know or has not met any of his cousins from Lolo Leon's family. But he does know Lolo Leon's ancestry is from Alimodian, Iloilo. In the late 1990's, he visited Alimodian with his grandson Dodong Rebuyon driving his motorcycle, with the hope of tracing Lolo Leon's roots and descendants, but unfortunately they were not able to find the information they were looking for.