ON THE 16th anniversary of his passing, we remember Anthony Dee for the many lives he touched and for the friendship that began more than three decades ago.
Only few know that at the height of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Anthony opened the doors of his telephone company to two strangers coated in volcanic ash—Elmer Cato and Chandler Ramas.
Because there were no operators on duty at Datelcom at the time, it was Anthony who personally connected our call to the Philippine Daily Globe in Manila. Tired and hungry, Anthony asked us to stay for dinner after we filed our report on the cataclysm.
We will never forget that act of kindness.
Anthony was a generous, dedicated man who did so much for the people of Mabalacat. A true Boy Scout leader at heart, he was always ready to lend a helping hand and is fondly remembered for establishing the local volunteer fire brigade.
Many believe Anthony would have served wonderfully as mayor of Mabalacat had he been allowed to take the seat he rightfully won.
Today, we see Anthony’s spirit alive in his son, Timothy, who carries on his father’s legacy as leader of the fire brigade and as an elected member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Mabalacat.
Even while recovering from a recent eye procedure that should have kept him resting at home, Timothy did exactly what his father would have done—he stepped up to help extinguish the fire that recently gutted the Angeles City Public Market.
Like father, like son. Anthony’s spirit of service lives on.