Today is the 15th death anniversary of Dominador "Domen" S. Reyes of Sorsogon City and Bulusan town of Sorsogon Province. He is quoted in this article, as written by his son, Bobby M. Reyes, the editor of this website. (As updated on Jan. 10, 2014).

Birds and bees and all wildlife don’t have Social Security, Medicare or pension funds but they thrive because they live solely on God’s love—Dominador S. Reyes

On Dec. 31, 2000, I was driving in Southern California, and listening to a radio station that played country music. Then the disc jockey played a song by Alan Jackson. It was 11 days before the second death anniversary of my father, Dominador. Suddenly I remembered his saying about wildlife and God’s love, as quoted above. Then I started shedding tears of joy.

Nearly two years before that day, I wrote a eulogy for my Dad, excerpts of which are found in this article, My Father Was the Birdman and Butcher of Bulusan during the War and a Don Quixote Later in Life

When my father died at the Makati Medical Center in Metro Manila, he left this world without any real-estate property in his name (except for a very-modest ancestral home in Sorsogon City, Philippines, actually bought by my mother from her income as a public-school teacher), no bank account, no life-insurance policy, no stock-exchange investments and no pension plan. But compared to his contemporaries, especially the politicians, many of whom died as rich individuals, Dominador died a happier man for he left a legacy of service to the poor people of our home province, especially those that needed pro-bono legal services. No Sorsoganon has ever accused my Dad of stealing a single peso even when he was in the Army and in politics. His leaving a good name was a priceless legacy.

That legacy I got from my Dad made me continue – non-stop – my crusade for the ATIC in the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) that I launched in May 2000. “ATIC” is the acronym for “accountability, transparency, integrity and credibility.” My NaFFAA opponents have not realized it that my body, my mind and my adrenaline all run on, and are fed by, love, as taught by my Dad and as depicted in Mr. Jackson's song and YouTube© video.

A lan Jackson’s song made me remember that day and all the days that followed (and years that will come until my last breath) Dominador’s lesson about “living on love.” Yes, love for and from God, family, country and fellow men. Just as Mother Nature finds a way to enable wildlife to thrive, God also makes possible for a Don Quixote like Dominador to live a full life – with help from a wife, children, other kin and friends. This seems to be the natural law for after all, the mighty and the lowly, the kings and the peasants, the powerful and the powerless all die the same death and all of them could not take any material thing – except reputation – to the Great Beyond.

Perhaps as the world begins a new year, people must start to live more on love and less on materials things. Almost all the problems of modern society in all countries – from the United States to the Third World like the Philippines – are caused principally by greed in the pursuit of obtaining money and more money that can buy influence and the resulting power and perks in the fields of politics, business and even from churches.

As the New Year dawns on us, perhaps we must hear Alan Jackson sing his hit tune, “Livin’ On Love” (© 1997 Arista Records, Inc.).

Here is the hyperlink to Alan Jackson’s 1994 memorable video©: &NR=1" mce_href="/&NR=1">&NR=1

I guarantee that when readers view Alan Jackson’s YouTube© hit, some of them will shed a few tears of joy, as they remember their departed elders. Let us now face the New Year with more love. Yes, love for our God and/or Mother Nature, our family members, other kin and friends and fellow mortals, especially the downtrodden and those who need our help.

By the way, if you want to sing along with Alan Jackson, as you view his "Livin' On Love" video©, here’s the song’s lyrics©:

Two young people without a thing
Say some vows and spread their wings
Settle down with just what they need
Livin' on love

She don't care 'bout what's in style
She just likes the way he smiles
It takes more than marble and tile
Livin' on love

Livin' on love, buyin' on time
Without somebody nothin' ain't worth a dime
Just like an old fashioned story book rhyme
Livin' on love
It sounds simple that's what you're thinkin'
But love can walk through fire without blinkin'
It doesn't take much when you get enough
Livin' on love

Two old people without a thing
Children gone but still they sing
Side by side in that front porch swing
Livin' on love
He can't see anymore
And she can barely sweep the floor
Hand in hand they'll walk through that door
Just livin' on love

Livin' on love, buyin' on time
Without somebody nothin' ain't worth a dime
Just like an old fashioned story book rhyme
Livin' on love
It sounds simple that's what you're thinkin'
But love can walk through fire without blinkin'
It doesn't take much when you get enough
Livin' on love

Livin' on love, buyin' on time
Without somebody nothin' ain't worth a dime
Just like an old fashioned story book rhyme
Livin' on love
It sounds simple that's what you're thinkin'
But love can walk through fire without blinkin'
It doesn't take much when you get enough
Livin' on love

No, it doesn't take much when you get enough
Livin' on love. # # #