Thank you for visiting our Memorial Site for our beloved, Rey Hidalgo. As we prepare to celebrate the 40th Day anniversary of his passing, we request Rey's family and friends to participate in the FB LiveStream Eucharistic Mass (Facebook Page: MHC - Marikina Relief Services) on December 22, 2020, Tuesday at 10:00AM. We also ask for guests to write a short speech, poem, short memory, or tribute in memory of Rey's well-lived life and legacy here at Gatheringus.com. We are grateful for your continued outpouring of love and sympathy.
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We created a GatheringUs Memorial to remember our beloved, Julio Rey B. Hidalgo. As we prepare for the 40th day anniversary of his passing on December 22, 2020, we wish to continue celebrating his life with our family and friends. As we plan this virtual gathering, we will share details here. Thank you for... see moreWe created a GatheringUs Memorial to remember our beloved, Julio Rey B. Hidalgo. As we prepare for the 40th day anniversary of his passing on December 22, 2020, we wish to continue celebrating his life with our family and friends. As we plan this virtual gathering, we will share details here. Thank you for contributing to this lasting memorial and for commemorating his life and legacy.
OBITUARY
Julio Rey Buenaventura Hidalgo, or “Rey” as many fondly called him, was born in Rosales, Pangasinan on October 1, 1947 to Magdalo and Fresnida Hidalgo. He was the eldest and a wonderful Kuya to his sister, Maripi, who was born 13 years later.Rey led a very simple childhood and was a very loving son. His parents nurtured his love for learning and encouraged his competitive streak in academics. It was no wonder that Rey graduated class... see moreJulio Rey Buenaventura Hidalgo, or “Rey” as many fondly called him, was born in Rosales, Pangasinan on October 1, 1947 to Magdalo and Fresnida Hidalgo. He was the eldest and a wonderful Kuya to his sister, Maripi, who was born 13 years later.
Rey led a very simple childhood and was a very loving son. His parents nurtured his love for learning and encouraged his competitive streak in academics. It was no wonder that Rey graduated class valedictorian at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School and High School, and consistently received Academic Honors even until his college years at the Ateneo de Manila University. He always had fond memories of his school days and loved to reminisce on his childhood friends, most of whom stayed in close touch with him throughout the years, even to his final days. Rey also held a Masteral Degree in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management in the early 1970s, and also forged great friendships with his AIM classmates and their families.
In February 1975, he met the love of his life, Bambit, in a fateful visit to her house in Malolos, Bulacan. Their fathers had been close business associates for many years, but he only met Bambit during that visit, and Rey was instantly smitten. Their friendship and love grew for each other, and five months soon after, they knew that theirs was a love for keeps. They happily married on July 19, 1975, and spent each and every day of their lives staying true to the vows they made on their wedding day. They were blessed with two loving daughters, Cynthia (born in 1976), and Victoria (born in 1978). In his professional career, Rey was very skilled in matters relating to Business Development, Corporate Planning, as well as Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Rey not only earned praise and respect in the corporate world, but he was also a man who was very interested in history and politics. He united his passion for reading and writing with his deep love for his country by researching and writing several papers, and authored his final work, Connecting The Dots, which is his love letter to the next Filipino generation.
Rey loved to talk—and talk a lot—because he had such a vast knowledge of many subjects that he could not help but share his insights into the how’s and why’s of life and the world. He had a fondness for animals—owls in particular, perhaps because that is his spirit animal: truly wise and filled with awe on so many matters. His wisdom is indeed his gift to the world, and his legacy, his way of being a “man for others” like a true Atenean. Rey was also a man of many talents, able to sing, and to play rhythm guitar to his favorite hits by The Ventures and The Shadows. Oh, and how he loved music! His favorite pastimes were listening to music with his family and playing the guitar.
Rey was loved deeply, not only by his immediate family, but by his many, many friends who respected him so much, and cared for him till the very end. He nurtured these relationships and this kept him strong, despite his illness. He always had an interesting story about his many friends and you can tell how fondly he remembers them all.
More than the friends who loved him dearly, what remained in Rey’s heart until his final breath was his family—his darling: Bambit, his two daughters: Keech and Via, and his two apos: Izzie and Enzo. It was most important for him to always be with his “treasures” and see them face-to-face, and to tell them of his great love for them, as he always did. Rey was blessed to receive his final wish to go to his “forever home” with all the people who love him and where the “The Continuing Saga of Rey and Bambit” will endure for all eternity.
I can’t believe that I am here, preparing for your 40th Day Mass, and speaking to you "remotely" - as "in" as it is these days. Nearly a month ago, we were all so eagerly preparing your discharge from the hospital and... moreHi, Papa, it’s me, your Colot.
I can’t believe that I am here, preparing for your 40th Day Mass, and speaking to you "remotely" - as "in" as it is these days. Nearly a month ago, we were all so eagerly preparing your discharge from the hospital and arranging for your return home. What was unbeknownst to us is that God, too, must have been expecting and preparing for your homecoming to Him, to your “forever home” in Heaven.
Yes, we have known of your illness for sometime. Some might even say that Mama, Ate, and I were lucky to be gifted with the many years, days and hours of being together despite your condition.
Sleeping (not sleeping at all) and waking up to our first morning without you was the hardest thing to overcome. I have not stopped crying and praying, and being just overwhelmed. I can’t even bring myself to respond to the outpour of love and sympathy for me and my family. Nothing could have prepared us for this heart ache.
I have been dreading these days of your absence in our lives since I was young enough to have a concept of death.
As I was thinking of what to say to you, I remembered that I wrote you a birthday letter in 2015, as I remembered to consciously say enough "I love you's" to all my loved ones. So, whenever I felt it in my heart, whenever I remembered you during the day, whenever I felt your love through your many messages, letters, and songs - I said "I love you, Papa". So, this was the letter I wrote you in 2015, on your 68th birthday...
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To my dearest Papa,
I did the math this morning and realized "my Papa is getting older". I felt a painful tug at my heart, recognizing the niggling presence of my biggest fear and nightmare: losing the two people who brought me and Ate into this world.

Searching my phone to do another PicCollage for your birthday, memories filled my heart with much happiness. And I thought to myself how much I love these people who smile back at me. This is my home - my family. My world, my everything.
All of these remembrances of moments in time that have come and gone, made me remember the unfortunate reality that most people do not get to hear or know about how much they are loved, until they too, are gone, only to be a memory.
I refuse to be one of those people.
So, Papa, this is how I've come to know and love you...
Walking to fetch Izzie a few days back, with you looking on as I took every step away from you, I could not help but be reminded on how you and Mama have been like this in my life, as well as Ate's. Always looking on, watching out for us, and always at a respectful distance, enough to just "be there" when we need you to be. We will forever be thankful that you and Mama nurtured and nourished all the things we love, went on with our whims and cheer for us through every step. Did you know that many of our friends in school thought we had the coolest, most supportive parents ever? We were (and still are, I think) the envy of many of our friends and classmates.
I relish the fact that you still see me as this little girl and call me your "Little Turtle", and all of us women in your life your "Darling Treasures".
You are the smartest man I know. And many people remember you for your academic feats achieved by your astounding intellect and self-discipline. But what many don't know is that you have a ginormous heart of gold - one of the most upright, just, and moral people I look up to. All I know about being fair, truthful, and doing what is right at all times, I learned from you and Mama. All I know about marriage - the necessary ingredients of trust, love, and respect - I learned and saw through your example. Now, your little quips of wisdom have been the words I conscientiously choose to live my life by. I find myself amused to be mouthing these to your apos, happy to be passing these on to Izzie and Enzo.
You taught and influenced me to love how the world works. I am not sure if I've said this to you but one reason I took and loved Political Economics is that it gave us many things to talk about. Your love for this country, its history, and its people astounds me, and your work to make big changes happen makes me proud. Thank you for being the spark to the many realizations I, and so many others, needed to see. Thank you for taking the time and effort to shape my heart and mind (as well as other's) to remember and appreciate being a Filipino.
I heard Ben E. King's song, "Stand By Me" and remembered you with a smile. One of my best memories of you was singing this at the top of your lungs as we happily packed our stuff to move to our new home. So, that song, as well as many other tunes, melodies and lyrics are part of the treasure chest of memories that Ate and I always love to hear and hear again. Music was always our thing - another bond - I hold close to my heart. My playlist "Papa's Songs" is a testament to the huge repertoire of music and memories that filled our childhood. I will, of course, have a special place in my heart for "our song": "The Way You Look Tonight", which we danced at my wedding. ❤️
On your birthday Papa, apart from wishes and prayers for continued good health, much happiness and more memories to cherish, I wish for you more periods of contentment and peace. To live and love in the moment, especially to take the time to appreciate (and show it) the people who love you so much. 💕
Thank you for your kisses hugs, your sniffing, your respect and your undying love for each and every one of us. Thanks to you and Mama, you raised us to be the best people we can be and thank you for loving us for all that we are.
I will forever cherish and love being your Little Turtle, your Darling Treasure, your one and only Colot.
I love you with all my heart, Papa! 💞
Happy, happy birthday!
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I love and miss you with all my heart, Papa. 😘 less
Hi, Papa, it’s me, your Colot.
I can’t believe that I am here, preparing for your 40th Day Mass, and speaking to you "remotely" - as "in" as it is these days. Nearly a month ago, we were all so eagerly preparing your discharge from the hospital and... moreHi, Papa, it’s me, your Colot.
I can’t believe that I am here, preparing for your 40th Day Mass, and speaking to you "remotely" - as "in" as it is these days. Nearly a month ago, we were all so eagerly preparing your discharge from the hospital and arranging for your return home. What was unbeknownst to us is that God, too, must have been expecting and preparing for your homecoming to Him, to your “forever home” in Heaven.
Yes, we have known of your illness for sometime. Some might even say that Mama, Ate, and I were lucky to be gifted with the many years, days and hours of being together despite your condition.
Sleeping (not sleeping at all) and waking up to our first morning without you was the hardest thing to overcome. I have not stopped crying and praying, and being just overwhelmed. I can’t even bring myself to respond to the outpour of love and sympathy for me and my family. Nothing could have prepared us for this heart ache.
I have been dreading these days of your absence in our... less