I am a friend of Jeff's mother Zeny. I see Jeffrey Arota through his mom's eyes. I see him with the eyes of love. I am aware that you too see him with the eyes of love -- love that recognizes the good, heals all that is broken, sings a song of thanksgiving.
I am a friend of Zeny, Jeffrey and the family. We go back to 1980s when Zeny was getting established here in Canada. Initially, she was working for a Toronto family in the domestic worker program. Zeny impressed me with her smile and her sense of humour. She was a good friend and -- don't tell other people -- she would give me free haircuts.
She was very active -- a businesswoman and successful and she was a pioneer for her family. Gradually new family members began to arrive. Over the years of the 1980s and 1990s I got to know her mother and sisters and her boy Jeffrey -- Jeff with his big, warm smile and hint of laughter in his eyes. Each time we met he would do the "mano" -- take my hand to his forehead and show me respect.
Jeffrey showed some of the best aspects of Filipino culture -- easy with others -- always ready to laugh. Like his mom, Jeff was generous and active. He was multi-talented, a carpenter, an electrician, a renovation expert and even a manicurist.
Jeff also had a special gift of song. He shared that gift to delight other people. He did not bury his talent but with the support of family and friends he grew his talent. As the years went by I would on occasion be invited to a competition in which Jeff was performing. There was always a crowd. Zeny and the whole family were there -- Jimmy and his little brother Jimzen -- being his close support. It was a marvel to watch how the little guy Jeff with the big voice grew into a performer who could give you goose-bumps with his voice -- communicate thrills of emotion in that powerful high voice. It was at times a religious experience, a voice reaching in song to the divine, sharing the power and the glory, giving glory.
Over the past couple of days, watching clips on Youtube I see the man, calbo y guapo, who loved to joke, who sang with others, let their voices and their music shine too, who was happiest making others happy. In his photos one sees the father of son Jazz and daughter Harmony who delighted in his family and children.
On his memorial Facebook page his friends tell about the love and affection, the laughter and delight that he brought into their lives. His musical friends and those who followed his performances with Yan Yon Band and all the other groups remember his renditions of "Me & Mrs. Jones," "The Midnight Hour," "Mustang Sally," "Zombie by The Cranberries" -- Jeff did those classics proud.
For those of us who believe that "all will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well," it makes sense that Jeff's time of dying has been in Holy Week - Semana Santa. He is a man who like Jesus was happiest sharing food and socializing with others -- a Holy Thursday person. We have sorrowed through the time of his Good Friday. His many friends and family have had occasion to pray in grief and hope. They have said that he is with the angels who sing before the throne of God. So we all know that Jeffrey is an Easter person and tomorrow we are celebrating his Resurrection mass.
May all the good memories of Jeffrey stay with you; may you always hear his voice raised in song to lift you up in your low times. May the example of his life inspire his children, the women he loved, his extended family and his good friends to live life to the fullest. We are better for the time he shared with us.
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