Sofronio Ajero Gapayao Jr.

The candle from Fatima (Portugal) lighted his passing towards eternal life aided by the Holy Church’s prayers & Sacraments. His family, relatives & friends were with him when he departed from this world.

Sofronio was from Legazpi City, Philippines. Jun, as he was fondly known by many, was born on the Feastday of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, November 27, 1948; to +Rosario Ajero & +Sofronio Gapayao, Jr. He was the baby to his siblings: +Nestor Sr (Salve), Honesto Sr (Lilia) & Lita Gapayao.

Jun was married to Teresita Daep Daet & they were blessed with 4 children: Maria Joy, Fr. Jay, Joan (Manuel) & Jomar (May) & 4 grandchildren: Iris Claire, Julia Caitlin, Sebastian, & Nathaniel John.

Jun’s simple joy revolved around people: family, relatives, friends with lots of food & drinks & laughter, attesting to his motto: Basta buruhay! (As long as we are alive).

He was an ideal family man, making sure that his family would always be fine & united. for him, it was always family first. He taught his children that helping others in need should be inherent in them; and that “everybody in this world has a God-given gift.”

After his brothers passed away, he had been a father to all his nieces & nephews. “As long as we are together -a family, everything will be fine,” he would say. And he would comfortably confront & talk to them (oftenly, after a shot of brandy); when things were not doing so well, he would say:“may mali” (there is something wrong) to open a conversation.

He was service-oriented & a hardworking person. He worked himself up to being a highway maintenance worker, a school janitor, a postman & eventually a postmaster. He invested his time doing small businesses to further support his family from sub-contractor, mini-store/eatery & catering services. At home, he would always have something to work on. And he loved cooking for his family & friends.

“Jun is always the nicest person,” friends remember him. “He makes everybody feels specially important & can get along so well with anyone,” a man of pakikisama. There was never a time that a dinking buddy’s invitation was turned down. More so, anyone who needed help was never left unaided. That’s why he is loved by everyone. He was Manoy (Big Brother), Tiyo (Uncle), Primo (Cousin) & Compadre/Padi (Friend) to a lot of people, and Papa Jun to the closest ones.

Jun’s devotion to the Black Nazarene & the Sacred Heart, to Our Lady, Padre Pio & Saint Raphael helped him accept his death. The prayers & help of friends strengthened him in spite of the physical pains from his cancer. He courageously took them all upon himself with no complaints. His beautiful life, his faith & hope in the Lord had been a great consolation for his family knowing that “the souls of the just are in the hands of God.”

Your prayers for +Sofronio, Jr. will bring him to the fullness of life in heaven.