OPINION VP aspirant Sara’s recommendation BY VIC N. SUMALINOG
Scan me for digital copy
on PAGE 6 VOL. 74
NO. 609
FEBRUARY 11, 12 & 13, 2022
DAVAO CITY - PHILIPPINES
Reminiscing
12
PAGES
P10.00
PORTRAIT of Dr. Bo by Archt. Cecile D. Hidalgo
about Dr. Bo
THE happy couple, Dr. Bo and Olive Puentespina
W
ITH Valentine’s Day just right around the corner, many are already making arrangements and reservations to make the day of romance on February 14 extremely happy to love and be loved. But, unfortunately, some people are not just as lucky in life as they continue to mourn and grieve for their loved one who had passed away. The death of a loved one is always difficult. It is never easy to cope after a loved one dies. I experienced this first hand when my father passed away; and my widowed mother was never the same again in having to mourn, grieve, cope and deal with such a major loss in the family. This time, I saw the same heartbreaking mourning and grieving in dear Olive Panaligan-Puentespina when her beloved husband, the well-loved Dr. Roberto “Bo” Palmares Puentespina, Jr., passed away last November 15, 2021, after suffering from Esophageal cancer. Davao’s popular veterinarian was well known for his advocacy works in wildlife conservation which included the critically endangered Philippine eagle. Dr. Bo’s bird shows, where he dedicated 10 years of his active life in their family owned Malagos Garden Resort, were always well
THE mourning of a well-loved wife
DR. BO and Olive with Toto, Ingrid and Sophie
attended and so loved especially by children. His passion in establishing the Davao Thermo Biotech Corporation to produce biofertilizers and his launching of the Yellow Drum Project to convert biodegradable waste on the household level from the landfill to the composting plant; and his earnest campaign on proper waste segregation to be able to turn biowaste into valuable soil conditioners and biofertilizers, are truly admirable undertakings. Dr. Bo’s admirable objective was to help clean the environment while advancing the field of Philippine agriculture at the same time. Yes, Dr. Bo accomplished a lot in all of his 57 years well spent on this earth. When he passed away, many things were written about his accomplishments---the precious legacy he left behind. But what was Dr. Bo really like as a person? Dr. Bo’s beloved wife, Olive, gives us a good picture of the man she truly loves dearly. “As a new wife living in Davao, I saw how devoted Bo was to his parents. Every time we’d go out, we would see to it that on our way home, we would pass by the street in Bo. Obrero where Mama (Charita Palmares-Puentespina) and Tatay (Roberto Puentespina, Sr.) live. Bo just wanted to be assured that both his parents were alright. He was malambing especially with his mom whom he would teasingly give a pinch or two. Mama would cringe in pain and would end up running after him.” “As my husband, Bo would always think of what would be best for me. He would always come home (
OLIVE and the kids during Dr. Bo’s wake
w w w. m i n d a n a o t i m e s . c o m . p h
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