Remembering Tito Norge

On May 24th, the family lost a dear uncle, Dr. Narciso “Norgic/Norge” P. Tenorio. He was 89 years old. As my wife and I went through our photo libraries, looking for pictures of him, we took turns in recounting stories and “Norge-isms” and shared laughs and tears together. There was no doubt that Tito Norge left an indelible mark in our lives and our extended family. So when I came across this quote, I thought it beautifully encapsulated how he meant to us:

Sometimes, people come into your life for a moment, a day, or a lifetime. It matters not the time they spent with you, but how they impacted your life in that time.”

Author Unknown

I used the same quote to create my Facebook post to honor a man who we all loved! Interestingly, my wife, my mother, my siblings and an aunt and her family each had her/his/their special encounters with Tito Norge. That is why I included pictures of each instance.

As I sit here in their Florida home, looking out at the lanai where he spent most afternoons, three things come to mind about Tito Norge:

1. He loved to laugh — when I asked my wife and other family members what they associate Tito Norge with, this was the first thing that came to mind. Tito Norge loved a good joke and shared lots of them with us. Some were really funny. Some were corny. Others were risqué. A few we just didn’t get. But it was clear to us that he loved to laugh and had an infectious laughter, to boot. I wonder now if that wasn’t one of his secret ingredients for living this long.
2. He loved Silliman — one of the first things Tito Norge would ask me on each visit to their home was if I had any news about Silliman University, his alma mater. On many conversations, after dinner, he would reminisce about Silliman–the years he walked on the grounds, hiding in the bushes to escape the university guards who were patrolling the campus, and the many interactions with the famous Silliman faculty and students, whose names I had heard many times while growing up. Despite his Catholic background, he had a deep appreciation of his Silliman education and close ties with the faculty and students of Silliman in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. And his love for Silliman was translated into gifts, donations, and scholarships established in Silliman, to honor his parents and his loved ones.
3. He loved “his people” — this was a regular line that Tito Norge used to describe the people of Dumaguete and the Philippines in general. He would repeatedly tell me that he was a direct descendant of Lapu-Lapu, the datu (ruler) of Mactan who killed Ferdinand Magellan and defeated initial attempts of Spanish colonization in the Philippines. He never forgot his origins, especially the poverty his family experienced, as he was growing up. He would often send money back to relatives, nieces and nephews to help them with their schooling, in the hope of helping them break the cycles of poverty in their respective family lines. One time, in one of their last visits to Dumaguete City, Tita Luth was frantically looking for him, calling up every relative to ask their help in locating Tito Norge, worrying that something bad had happened to him. When Tito Norge got back to the hotel, she learned that he had practically spent the whole day talking, joking, and laughing with some people of Barangays Piapi and Bantayan whom he had met while visiting there. Apparently, they were eager to spend time with a balikbayan. Fortunately, the Barangay Captain brought him back to the hotel, and ensured his safety. Despite his years of living here in America, no matter his educational accomplishments, and other professional accolades, he never forgot his being a Dumagueteño and a Filipino.

We will miss you, Tito Norge. Your impact on our lives will always be cherished. Rest In Peace!

NOTE:

Tito Norge’s Celebration of Life service will be on Sat, June 19, 2021 at 11AM. The venue will be at the United Church of Christ at The Villages, 12514 Co Rd 101, Oxford, FL 34484. It will be streamed on Zoom as well. If anyone is interested, please message me.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in honor of Tito Norge to the Northwest Kidney Centers in the Bellevue / Seattle area. You can donate by clicking here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/norge-tenorio?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=norge-tenorio&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=123e0371bb3e4a519eee7df4a4857388.