Rodrigo de los Reyes y Berenguer: Hail, El Cid!
El Cid was the moniker given to the deceased, Rodrigo de los Reyes y Berenguer, by his close associates in Philamlife. it was taken from his namesake, Rodrigo diaz de Vibar, the original El Cid feared by the Moors during the years of the Crusades, and revered by the Christians who adoringly referred to him as El Campeador, or the Champion. El Cid for his military exploits became a national hero of spain. he was a medieval knight and one of the most famous Knights of the Templar. Rodrigo de los Reyes, our very own El Cid, won many battles during his time both as the head of the Philamlife sales Agency and later as the PCEO of Philamlife. he was Philamlife’s champion, a knight in shining armor and a hero in the eyes of Philamlife’s employee and agency force. Throughout his years at the helm of the company, Philamlife was the undisputed leader of life insurance in the Philippines. At one point it controlled 40 percent of the life insurance market. it was number one in premium, unbeatable in net income, first in persistency and a run-away winner in customer service. Philamlife was the gold standard of the life insurance industry. it was the employer of choice for fresh graduates and young professionals. The company had branches all over the country and the entire stretch of the archipelago was the playground of its soliciting and servicing agents.
Mr. de los Reyes was also known by other nicknames. To his contemporaries and friends, he was simply Ding. Otherwise, his subordinates referred to him deferentially as RR. How you addressed him betrayed the level of relationship you had with him. RR treated his employees and agents like a family. He was like a father to all of us even to the elderly employees and agents. And they all loved and respected him. RR’S fatherly traits reflected how deeply he cared for and loved his family. His love for his wife, Nilda, was without measure. As she could not walk, he would carry her with all the affection he could summon. Their love story was a fairy tale that started “once upon a time” and ended “happily ever after.” I wonder what words of tenderness he would whisper to her when he left for work, and what terms of endearment he would utter when he got home. When Nilda died, I cannot imagine the anguish he suffered; the pain and sorrow he endured. It’s common knowledge that RR visited her graveyard everyday. What is not known is what poignant thoughts he had conjured and endearing words he had mumbled to convey his feelin
How do you bid adieu to the last gentleman of the old school? It’s even difficult to speak about him in the past tense for his acts and deeds will continue to resonate in our minds. But let our hearts exclaim as he spends his final moments with the people he had loved and served so well: Goodbye, Ding. Farewell, RR. Adiós, El Campeador. Hail, El Cid!
ings for her. We ordinary mortals feel guilty and inadequate that we are incapable of showing such level of affection to our spouse. Jenny, his daughter, when I told her how much I esteemed his Dad who was then still alive and that he was one of a kind, jokingly texted me that when God created RR, He destroyed the mold. As the family had announced, RR passed away peacefully at age 96. His wife, Nilda, and daughter, Rebecca, are up there waiting to meet him. Now, RR must be happier to be in the bosom of his loved ones in heaven after a rewarding and fulfilling life on earth.
When I was working as an expatriate in HK with the parent company of Philamlife, RR would visit the home office. In the evening or during the weekend that RR was there, I would fetch him at his hotel to have dinner or do some shopping. He loved buying home fixtures and gifts for his family, including his grandchildren and inlaws. And he knew exactly what to get for each of them. He also loved fine dining and he feasted on authentic Chinese food. He would request the elderly secretary in my office who knew the best restaurants and the finest delicacies in HK to help us in ordering the food since some menus did not have English translations.
And he never failed to order her a take-out food as she refused to join us. When he found out that there was another Filipina working in our HK office, he personally talked to her and encouraged her to work hard and love her job. RR’S congratulatory call was one of my most valued wellwishes when I got appointed as the Insurance Commissioner by President Benigno Aquino III. I knew RR would be watching my moves and he was in my thoughts when I took my oath of office.
RR knew the value of hard work and excellent performance. He studied at the De la Salle College for his early schooling and finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at the Far Eastern University. He studied law under a full scholarship at the Lyceum of the Philippines, which had just opened up its law school. His lack of funds forced him to work as a teaching assistant to support his studies. He got married while taking up law so it compounded his difficulties. But he was undaunted. He vigorously pursued his studies, earned his degree and passed the bar. And the rest is history.
RR, you made us proud to be Philamlifers. Those of us who had the opportunity to work with you at Philamlife are fortunate that we lived, we worked during the dozen years that you were at its driver’s seat. It was an enjoyable ride and a productive journey that we all treasure. How do you bid adieu to the last gentleman of the old school? It’s even difficult to speak about him in the past tense for his acts and deeds will continue to resonate in our minds. But let our hearts exclaim as he spends his final moments with the people he had loved and served so well: Goodbye, Ding. Farewell, RR. Adiós, El Campeador. Hail, El Cid!