Remembering Tatay Roperto

Bicolano father saves his family but lost his life


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For most of his life, Ruperto Esplago (left) worked as a carpenter, farmer, and fisherman to make a living for his wife, Shirley (seen in photo), and nine children (Photo courtesy of Kristine Esplago)

“Hindi sapat ang salitang salamat,” Kristine, 34, tells the Manila Bulletin when asked what she would like to say to her father, Roperto Esplago. 

Tatay Roperto’s story recently became viral on Facebook, after one of his daughters narrated his act of heroism that saved his family during the onslaught of severe tropical storm Kristine (international name Trami) in Nabua, Camarines Sur. In the process, however, the 74-year-old father of nine lost his life. 

In a series of posts on social media, Kristine (who, in one strange alignment of fate, has the same name as that of the severe tropical storm) remembered how her father managed to keep their family safe as the storm raged on and the floods submerged their house and its environs. 

“Gagawa ka ng balsa para makaalis kami sa bahay na napupuno na ng tubig,” Kristine says in her Facebook post. “Iginawa mo muna kami ng upuang papag sa bubong para maka-survive tayong lahat, kaya lang sa paggawa ng balsa nilamig ka na at pinulikat, ‘di ka na nakalangoy.”

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It was his instincts as a father who protects his family first and foremost, combined with his experience as a carpenter that made it possible for Tatay Roperto to find ways to build a make-shift raft to carry his family – which included his wife Shirley Esplago, his daughter Kristine and her two children, plus one of his sons and a daughter-in-law with two of his other grandchildren, and a cousin of Shirley’s who was with them at that time. 

“Habang nag-iipon sila ng materyales, pinulikat po ang tatay ko at nalunod,” Kristine recalls for the Manila Bulletin, adding that she will forever be grateful to her father for the second life he has given them. 

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The Esplagos with Tatay Roperto. 

The sixth among nine children, Kristine has fond memories of Tatay Roperto, who also worked as a farmer and as a fisherman for most of his life. “Mahilig po yan si Tatay magkuwento ng mga sinaunang kuwento bago matulog,” she tells the Manila Bulletin. These stories included tales of Juan Tamad as well as Ibong Adarna, “at kung anu-ano pa na mapupulutan ng aral.” 

Indeed, the Esplagos have learned a great deal from Tatay Roperto. As Kristine wrote on social media: “Isa kang ehemplo ng Isang magiting na ama! Ikinararangal ko na Ikaw ang tatay ko!”

Asked about how her mother Shirley has been coping with the tragedy, Kristine says that she is slowly learning to accept the bittersweet fate that the storm brought to their family. 

“Makakapahinga ka na, Tay,” says Kristine. “Mahal na mahal ka namin.”

The Esplagos are among the numerous victims left at the wake of severe tropical storm Kristine. As of publishing, the death toll from the said storm is at 150, with damages estimated to be around ₱15 billion.