Franklin Zafires

An appreciation for Rock and Heavy Metal music – KISS and Queen on full blast coming from your room, and the walls would tremble with the drum routine. Finding the entertainment value of the zany goings-on of the WWF… and letting us ram your big belly with our heads while pretending we were Tatanka and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Life advice for the bullied and skinny little kid that was me, in words that never went over her head. Funny stories of walking home from MLQU because you didn’t have any money (you spent it all on cigarettes!) and you mimicking the realistic sounds of bombs going off whenever you were teasing us. For being another animal-crazy Zafires like me, relating stories of Lala, Crazy Cat, Parwan and Saphy while you were babysitting us yet again.

For all these things that you gave me and so much more – thank you, Tinz, for being an important part of my childhood. You left too soon and my heart cries at your sudden passing. You will always be my cool uncle with the mop of dark, curly hair, the overgrown kid who genuinely had fun hanging out with the nieces and nephews. Sleep easy in the company of angels, Tito Nonoy. We will miss you.