We are gathered here tonight to pay our last respect to a friend and comrade. His colleagues and those who served with him remember the legacy of achievements he attained as an officer, a leader and a gentleman. Still others may not know him that well and yet admired the man for all the soldiery virtues and qualities that marked an exemplary career and a lifetime of service to the country.

Perhaps only his family would have known him best, in every facet — as a good and loving husband, the hero to his children, an outstanding professional in his career as a military officer, and all the grand loving memories that sum up the bits and pieces of life worth living and a life well lived. To the late General Tobias’ wife, children and grandchildren, our deepest sympathy.

The passing away of General Tobias, to my mind, marks the passing of an era. The days of the old warriors in uniform whose gift of honor, courage, dignity, loyalty and dedication to duty became part of their legacy which we now try to preserve.

In his lifetime, he saw and fought at least four wars in defense of democracy and freedom: the Second World War when he was inducted into the USAFFE in 1941 and was even taken a prisoner of war in 1943; the Korean War where he was a member of the 14th “Avenger” BCT; the Vietnam War when he served as the commanding general of the 1st PHILCAG-V; and the war against the insurgents who challenged the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. In all these wars, he gave his all as a dedicated and professional soldier of our country.

Gen. Tobias fought also on other wars for the sake of the Filipino people: the war against criminalities when he was METROCOM commander and the war against the ravages of nature when he led the massive rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of the taal volcano eruption and the collapse of ruby tower caused by a high intensity earthquake that hit manila in the late sixties.

Even after he retired from military life, he never rested for he was continuously tapped as a public servant to help those with less in life – as head of the NHA and, later on, the Refugee Center in Bataan. Of late, because of his love expertise as administrator of the Luneta Park.

For those of us who worked with him he was the consummate disciplinarian and incurable perfectionist. His penchant for details was almost unbelievable. He would spend hours and hours just to make sure that in everything he did, nothing would be left to chance. But serious as he was in his official duties (in fact he rarely smiled), his concern for his subordinates would make them forget the difficult times they experienced with him later on.

General Tobias belonged to the pre-war batch of officers whom we are inclined to identify with; the big brothers whose top-rated records in the service we wanted to equal.

Indeed, his career was filled with courage, discipline, commitment and honor in manifesting the highest tradition of arms. He was a man with vision, dedication and a clear perspective of how our country should be: a people free from tyranny and oppression, a nation vibrant and strong, a country that is happy and prosperous. His passing greatly diminishes the breed of officers who had carved brilliant careers in their time; but, most of all, who had served our country honorably and well.

But like you and me, our time on earth is a divine trust. The lord has given him to us, his family and friends, to cherish a lifetime of blessing regardless of the many tests that the lord has strewn along the way. And now the creator has claimed his ultimate right — to bring his favored son back to his loving bosom.

General Tobias will fight wars no more, see and feel sufferings no more. He has truly gone home. I have no doubt that he has finally found the peace and solace he has been longing for all of his life on earth.

The passing away of a loved one is a pain each of us must endure; but lucky are the ones he left behind who can endure it with pride, comforted by the thought that, in his lifetime, this husband, father, grandfather, brother, or friend dedicated all his energies and inner resources to the service of his fellowmen.

General Tobias will live long in the memories of those who knew him, but longer still in the hearts of his fellow soldiers and officers who now man the ramparts. He lived a good and useful life. In his death, all of us somehow felt diminished in some ways.

May the lord almighty see it fit to bestow upon his son, the honor he truly deserves; the gift of eternal life in his heavenly mansions.

Allow me now to read the following prayer that I feel would reflect the fulfillment of his life’s mission of this earth:

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; and,
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we pardoned; and,
It is in dying, that we are born to eternal life.

Goodnight, sir. I bid you goodbye.