EVEN at the age of 91, he was writing letters to the editor — or rather e-mailing them — from his home in Cebu City.
And they often got published in the country’s largest broadsheet, the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
His last piece titled “Very real risk of confrontation” saw print in PDI’s Nov. 3, 2015 issue.
It was about the tension between China and the United States over the West Philippine Sea claims.
Amado “Amading” Fuentebella Cabaero Sr., a retired banker, was founder and chairman emeritus of the Philippine Association of Retired Persons.
He passed away in Cebu City on Dec. 8, joining his beloved wife Clara who died earlier this year.
Cabaero was at home with his children when he died, the day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Cabaero was a regular contributor to PDI’s opinion page in the letter-to-the-editor section. The commentaries would also see print in Sun.Star Cebu, where his daughter Nini is editor in chief of its online network.
Long after his retirement, Cabaero continued to write about political developments and fighting for the rights of Filipinos, especially senior citizens.
He was a staunch advocate of government transparency, particularly in the use of pension funds by the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.
Cabaero was also founder of the Cebu Magellan Lions Club, and former president of the Cebu Bankers Club.
Cabaero lives in the hearts of his 11 children: Amado Jr. (Boy), Roberto (Bobby), Carmen (Menchi) Perez, Josefina (Joji) Nidea, Victor (Vic), Maria Gracia (Grace) Ferreros, Amado III (Eddie), Eugenio (Gene), Teodorica (Rica) Miranda, Maria Lourdes (Nini), and Claro (Chito), his children’s spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
His vigil wake is ongoing at St. Peter’s Chapel on Imus Road. Holy Mass is celebrated daily at 7:30 p.m. until Sunday, December 13.
The funeral will be on Monday at the Manila Memorial Garden in Lilo-an, Cebu, after a 12 noon requiem mass at St. Peter’s Chapel.