Perry Was Our
Peer: How Dr. Calica Touched the Lives of Filipino Americans
A Eulogy by
Bobby M. Reyes, media advocate and founder of the Media Breakfast Club of Los AngelesThere's a little of Dr. Perry Calica in every one of us. For we share his dreams
of good things for the family, his friends and country.
From time to
time, Perry Calica would invite us, writers and community activists, to his
residence. There he and his wife, Fely, fed us not only with food but with
dreams as well. Dreams that were possible to achieve if only we put our hearts
into them.
(Editor's Note: Bobby
Reyes delivered excerpts of this eulogy on April 15, 1996, during the
memorial service at the Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn -- Hollywood Hills,
Memorial Park in Los Angeles, Calif. Dr. Calica's fellow writers organized it.)Dr. Calica was full of ideas. He probably nurtured so many fine ideas when he
was yet in high school or college, or even when he was this tall. His
ideas were pragmatic. As a member of the Media Breakfast Club (MBC), he joined
two of our other members, Leo Pandac and Rollie Ecarma, in opposing a Los
Angeles-based casino in becoming our corporate sponsor. He reasoned that there
was no way we could justify the use of casino dollars to the youth whom we were
trying to reach. He said that he preferred that we remained poor and principled
rather than moneyed but flawed in character.
Perry Calica also refused to see the dreams of others die. The Philippine Town
project was a good example. When Publisher-editor Nena Aragon-Decena met
difficulty in getting support for the Philippine Town project, Dr. Calica
joined her in trying to save the project. In March 1994, Ms. Decena died. But
the Philippine Town project did not die with her for Dr. Calica picked-up the
pieces. We now hope that Dr. Calica's death will not mean the end of the
Philippine Town concept.
Perry Calica stood by his friends. He was one of the Media Breakfast Club's
original supporters. He showed his true grit when some Philippine government officials
advised him to stop supporting its founding chairman, Bobby Reyes. They said
that Reyes was becoming controversial because of his anti-government positions
and various advocacies. They did not like his support of the Media Breakfast
Club. They said that it would probably jeopardize his projects in the Philippines or those that required the help of
the Philippine government. Instead of listening to Reyes's detractors, he
accepted the MBC's offer to become its moderator in October 1995. He stayed on as
presiding officer of the media club's meetings until he entered the hospital in
March 1996. Dr. Calica said that he would attend the MBC meeting on April
10, 1996. He
died the day before the meeting.
The MBC sponsored a Freedom exhibit at the West Covina county library in February 1995. The
American Legion's Manila Post 464, under the command of Dr. Calica, was the
only Filipino-American veteran group that joined the festival. He told Bobby
Reyes that he wanted to share the MBC's idea of providing an answer to a common
question asked by military veterans. Their question was, "Who will
remember us after we are gone?" When the next Freedom exhibit comes in
February 1997, it will be a testament to Dr. Calica's foresight and
perseverance.
The hymn "We Remember" is appropriate for this occasion. The last
three phrases in its refrain say "We remember. . . we celebrate.
. . we believe."
Yes, we remember Dr. Calica's works and his generosity not only of his
resources but more importantly, also of his time. We celebrate Perry Calica's
reunion with his lord and master, Jesus Christ, and with the eight Los
Angeles-based writers who died ahead of him. We believe in his dreams, plans
and programs. We believe in his belief that ultimately nobody can put a good
man down.
Watch out, Saint Peter. Perry Calica is now in heaven. He has joined Nena
Aragon-Decena. Maybe they will be pushing the designation of a small part of
heaven as "Philippine Town." A Philippine Town in paradise that is
run like heaven by American souls of Filipino ancestry. Of course, Perry Calica
would not prefer a Philippine Town in paradise run like hell by Filipino
politicians. One never knew how hellish it would be.
Farewell, Dr. Calica. We bid you good-bye. We assure you that for as long as
the Media Breakfast Club meets on Wednesday mornings at the Aristocrat
Restaurant or elsewhere, we will remember you. We will always celebrate your
stint with us. We will not forget your death anniversary. We remember you
during All Saints' and Memorial Days, just as we do recall the lives of the
eight other Filipino writers and journalists who died earlier in Los Angeles. Now that you are gone, we, your peers,
remain to push our common goals. Nobody will forget your dreams for the
betterment of the Philippines and the United States and the whole of humanity. For we are
one and that you are a part of our history. # # #
Related news items:
Newer news items:
Older news items:
|