Mam Vicki,
Si NenNen Abadies ni sa Philadelphia. Ingpanaw na diay si Sir Edlin. Midyo sayo man siya ing panaw. Dia na diay mo sa US, mao diay nga naluya ko ug pangita sa inyong address sa Cebu ug Manila kay gusto unta naku nga mo visit sa inyoha. Nanga minyo diay ug non-Pinoy ang mga bata [Almond ug CzaCza] mao diay nga dili naku sila makit-an didto sa atoa.
Nag move mo sa Florida after 17 years sa New Jersey? Nag move ko sa New York area sa 1997 gikan sa West Coast area [LA-Seattle]. Dia ko nag tarbaho sa companya sa Manhattan. Idol baya to naku si Sir Edlin. Gidala-dala baya naku kadtong $1 nga iyahang gihatag sa akoa pag-abot niya sa iyahang business trip sa una. Pag-ari naku sa New York City, naga adtu ako sa building sa Cibitank kay akong damgo nga maka graduar sa law school ug maka entra sa Investment group sa Citi. Mga Americano pangutana permi, "why Citibank". Ako'ng tubag, "that's Sir Edlin's company. He's my mentor".
Naningkamot baya gyod ko nga maka graduar sa college. Dia pa ako karon, naningkamot pa gihaphon nga maka lampos ug makuha naku ang akong MBA/JD bisan tigulang na. At least duna koy BS sa Finance ug naka membro ako sa SEC [inspired by Sir Edlin] pero naka resign na ako sa akong membership SA 2011kay "back-office" na ang akong function karon--same company, diffrent work.
Ah, si Sir Edlin ba, wala gyod maka hulat nga maka graduar isa ako sa law school.
Gusto naku mo visit sa inyoha [then] aron ingnon naku si Sir nga daghan kaayong salamat kay sa iyaha aku na inspire nga maga major sa finance. Bisan na discover naku nga dili lalim ang mahimong Investment Banker kapag female ka ug dili pang Miss Universe---bisan bright ka--ha.ha.
Ah, si Sir Edlin, wala gyod maka hulat. Ako gyod nga panganduy nga dalhon naku ang akong MBA/JD ug ang akong Bar exam result kapag moduaw ko sa inyo ug ingnon naku si Sir, "Sir, proud ka sa akoa kay bright ug hard worker ako nga sologoon nimo". Dugay na unta kong nahuman, Mam, pero naga support ako sa familia sa Pinas ug balayranan sa medical sa akong Papa [he is 80].
Sayang Mam, perti nakung pangita sa inyong address. Gipangita pod gani naku ang address nilang Kuya Robin ug Ate Lenny. Wow, sa New Jersey lang mo naga poyo sa una? Wow, while I commute every day to work in Manhattan and looking for you in Pinas, and while I used to look at the Citibank building and Jersey City from my office while wondering where you were, you and Sir Edlin were actually just across the
North River. Wow! I've been working in Manhattan for the last 12 years, I could have served you and Sir Edlin, like the old days.
Di na bali, Mam. Kapag mag kita mi ni Sir Edlin sa resurrection, didto nalang naku ipakita ang akong na accomplish sa kinabuhi after I left Pinas, and hopefully he will be proud of what I become.
Miss you and Sir Edlin, Mam Vicki. [ nennen email: fidel1932@gmail.com]
Our deepest sympathies to the Torralba Family as you mourn the loss of Edlin. May God comfort you in your time of grief.
Mike and Titang Mancao & family Cebu City, Cebu Philippines
In remembering Edlin, and his sad and untimely passing, I recall the words of the late Edward Kennedy as he delivered the eulogy for his brother Robert who was assassinated in 1968. “My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life,” he said. “ (but) to be remembered simply as a good and decent man”. And it is in this spirit that I remember Edlin.
Many of us who knew Edlin remember him as a a multi-faceted individual. To say that Edlin was a character is quite an understatement. He was a bright man who sometimes masked his intelligence and true character by seemingly looking at life, and articulating his view of it, with an easy joke, a wry comment, some cynicism and once in a while, a painful rib. “And aye, there's the rub…” because sometimes he offended some people with his ribbing. Some of his friends felt genuinely hurt. On the other hand, in my opinion, some of Edlin's criticism and ribbing helped many of us stay grounded and not get too impressed with ourselves nor our “accomplishments”. In a sense this enabled us to relate with him and each other as mere travelers on a long journey thru life all in the same boat, so to speak. And I found value in this, and again, on this I speak only for myself.
Those who knew him best like Vic Cui, Maning Satorre and Robin King have an even fuller perspective. They were close enough and together with him and his family often enough that they saw his many good and sterling qualities. He had a fierce love of family and exuberantly proud of his wife and children. He was loyal. He cared for his friends. I also know him to be made of much sterner stuff.
We have had Edlin on our minds for the past two weeks as he struggled thru the cancer that finally took his last breath. Vic Cui and his wife Mending literally flew in from halfway around the world (Singapore) to try and help cheer Edlin up thru his difficult times; Robin and Lenny King also were packing their bags in Manila to make the trip to Crystal River for the same purpose. Maning could not travel because of health concerns yet he and wife Vicky Satorre were touch thru all the days and nights of painful vigil. Needless to say we are all devastated. No words to Vicky and his children can ever salve the wound nor ease the pain of Edlin's passing.
And if a man, in life or death, were to be judged by the quality of his family and the loyalty of his close friends, then Edlin Torralba was a prince of a man indeed. “A good and decent man”. And that is the only way I know many of us will remember him.
I learned of Mr Torralba's demise from Dr. V. Torralba's office when they called to cancel my appointment for next week. I have not met Mr. Torralba but the news of his demise still came as a shock. I extend my deepest sympathies to Dr. Torralba and her family in this time of sadness and grief.
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts"- Col. 3:15.
Conchita D Riparip MD
Edlin to me was very dear for many reasons. He was my student during his 4th year in USC Boys' School, one I could say had leadership quality. As high school tennis champion he was my tutor in tennis when we used to practice at the USC Main Campus quadrangle. Much later while working at Citybank branch in Cebu in 1982 he assisted me in presenting to the parents of USC Boys' school a credible financial plan to convince parents to increase the very low tuition to improve the quality of instruction in the BHS. Then, I had the opportunity to visit him in Crystal River having been given the chance with a gift travel ticket after the Golden Jubilee anniversary of my religious priesthood. In 2009 he was here with me to celebrate with his classmates the 50th year of their high school class graduation. In a sense I do love and miss him as a real father. My condolences to Vicky and children. Fr. Mar Alingasa, SVD