My father’s legacy of integrity, family, and faith

Nov. 1 is not only All Saints’ Day — it’s also a day of joyful remembrance.

- FLOR G. TARRIELA

It marks the birthday of Benjamin “Amen” M. Gozon, our beloved Tatay — a man whose life of honesty, humility, and devotion continues to guide our family.

This year, we celebrated by visiting the Manila Cemetery ahead of the crowd and gathering for lunch on Nov. 2. Granddaughter Annette Gozon Valdez used AI to bring old photos to life in our family chat — sparking laughter, tears, and nostalgia. Inspired, Ate Kay gathered more vintage pictures, and her son Menardo “Butch” Jimenez turned them into a moving video of memories that reminded us what a rare man our Tatay truly was.

Tatay, a lawyer, served as Director of Mines for 14 years, Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources under President Diosdado Macapagal, and Governor of the Land Authority, the forerunner of the Department of Agrarian Reform. He became the first non-engineer Director of Mines — a testament to his diligence. “Every task assigned to me, I studied well” he would say. His dedication and fairness earned him respect.