Antonio "Tony" Magallanes Baluyot's Obituary
ANTONIO “TONY” MAGALLANES BALUYOTAugust 6, 1937 – January 21, 2019Tony Baluyot passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 21, 2019. He was 81 years old. He is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Nery M. Baluyot, his “Mi” to her “Di”; their four children, Eunice M. Baluyot, Lorraine B. Espiritu, Amelia M. Baluyot, and Reuel M. Baluyot; and two grandchildren, Timothy Sean Baluyot Ignacio and Isabella Marie Baluyot Espiritu. Tony, who was one of five children, also leaves behind two of his surviving siblings, his only sister Anita Somoso, his youngest brother Mario M. Baluyot, their children, and grandchildren.Tony was possessed of a sharp mind and varied interests. Numbers came easily to him, which helped him earn a business degree at university. He taught high school geometry and algebra in his early adult years. Decades later, he helped his grandson grasp geometry, successfully. Tony gave his daughter Lorraine the gift of numbers, and a compass-like sense of direction.In his youth, Tony was a skilled swimmer, ace basketball player, and a pool shark. Aided only by makeshift swim goggles, Tony swam and dove in the open waters of the Pacific, jumping from small fishing boats. He often skipped school to shoot baskets or pool, which did not serve him well at the University of the Philippines. In Manila, he hung out and played with men who later became world champions in pool. His passion for the game endured to the very end, coaching his granddaughter and grandson both. Daughter Amelia inherited his excellent aim and hand-eye coordination. She also has her father’s stoicism and quiet strength. He shared with his wife, three daughters, and grandson his love for basketball, the L.A. Lakers, and Kobe Bryant.When his children were young, Tony raised pigs and chicken. On slaughter day, all four children arose before dawn to watch. Tony hunted in the mountain ranges and swamps of his hometown, Real, Quezon. He brought home various game, including wild boar and fruit bats, which he himself dressed and prepared. He braised the wild boar belly in coconut milk, palm vinegar, garlic, lemon grass, and chili. He skinned the fruit bats then made adobo with them. In the 1970’s, while still living in the Philippines, he introduced his family to kimchi. In the U.S., he made kimchi at home in the Central Valley until he no longer could. He recreated beef “tapa,” which, in his hometown, was a form of jerky made with venison. To dry the meat, he used a food dehydrator, one of the countless gadgets he purchased after seeing them on television. He also reignited his passion for fishing. He tried to convince his grandson fishing was fun, to no avail. He regaled his granddaughter with fishing stories, and shared with her historical trivia about places they drove by.Tony taught his very young son perspective in drawing, and how to correctly spell “neighbor.” When Reuel was about five, Tony showed him how to slaughter and dress a chicken, which escaped from the boy’s loose grip and, headless, ran around in circles until Tony intervened. He took his son to karate and swimming lessons, and refereed the weekly boxing sparring sessions between Amelia and Reuel. Tony never discouraged his son from cooking and baking, despitethe flop that was the 11-year-old’s first attempt at baking, a Black Forest Cake. Tony had to force a knife with both hands to get a slice of what he quickly and aptly christened “plywood cake.” His son learned from him different kinds of knots while packing merchandise for his wife Nery’s drugstores. His son shares Tony’s high tolerance for spirits, which Tony later had to give up due to adult onset diabetes. Diabetes also ended his love affair with ice cream, although the disease did not stop him from taking his grandchildren on regular trips to the ice cream store.Tony was a councilman and twice ran for mayor in his hometown of Real. While he dabbled in politics, Tony was stoic and otherwise rarely sought the spotlight. In later years, he provided invaluable support, sometimes thankless and almost always in the background, unconcerned about perceptions. Tony and his wife helped their daughter Eunice raise her son while she was in medical residency. He drove long distances to deliver food he and Nery prepared, to their children, grandchildren, and extended family. He concocted salve from aloe vera plant he grew, sharing the potion with anyone interested. He raised vegetables and planted fruit trees, including persimmon and calamansi, the Filipino lime, both of which the entire family will continue to enjoy.Tony was a fan of guns, and of American western novels and movies. He devoured Louis L’Amour paperbacks and could quote John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movie lines. But he also knew Shakespeare, Keats, Longfellow, and Poe. He quizzed his pre-adolescent son what The Raven quoted; he introduced Ichabod Crane to his two youngest children.Tony loved music and dance. He danced the tango, cha cha, and swing. He played the piano by ear. He sang—on the campaign trail as a young man, in family gatherings, and in church. He listened to classical, jazz, big band, and everything Frank Sinatra. Although his repertoire always included “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” Tony’s favorite song was “My Way.”In July of 2007, Tony contracted a parasite with a lifecycle of 10-12 years in the human body. He looked forward to finally ridding himself of the parasite by July of 2019, after surviving several near-death experiences in the preceding 11 years, sustained by his faith in the Lord and surrounded by loving family and friends. One rainy Sunday afternoon on January 20, 2019, he asked his daughter Lorraine to take him for a walk. He sat near the glass doors of the care home, in his wheelchair, looking out as the rain came down. He enjoyed his last coffee, warmed by the mug he held with both hands. Lorraine took one of the last photographs of him at 4:56 that afternoon. Tony passed away just before sunrise on January 21, 2019.We will miss you, Di, our Dad, Kuya, Tito, Grandpa, Lolo.
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