By: Anthony Arbias | November 14, 2025

One time, we had an impromptu botanical trip in the mountains with Sir Leonard. It was actually a one day notice but the boys were glad he showed up with his big and heavy backpack with his massive new laptop inside.

Part of his heavy load was a neatly packed sandwich complete with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise. As dear friends of his know, Sir Leonard has a bad habit of not wiping his mouth after eating. With mayo on the side of his mouth, he said “uy gusto nyo?” Hehe. Upon seeing my packed lunch, he jokingly said “Uy pare what’s your mystery meat for today?!” I looked at him then he laughed aloud. It was actually fried spam with rice but he thought it was one of those famous Chinese canned meat loafs which he thinks is made up of mystery meat that he is afraid to eat…

Since the formation of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society or PNPCSI, it has become a tradition for us to come along with Sir Leonard on shopping expeditions for ingredients in Binondo during the week of the Chinese New Year. The ingredients we stored in our humble office at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, which Sir Leonard uses during our endless marathon meetings. He is actually quick and smart with food preparations and he regularly prepares the dishes for us by himself.

When Leonard arrives at our office, he already has his pinamalengke goodies and just tells us to relax. Sometimes we just look at each other knowing he usually doesn’t wash his hands before cooking. Later on, we found out his cooking expertise came from his experience with the family restaurant run by his father.

As a mahiyain and courteous leader, he would cook pancit and other fast-cooking dishes in large volume for our volunteers during the Tree Inventory of Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, which he volunteered PNPCSI to do for PAWB.

Months before his retirement as an employed Botanist for the long time NGO he worked with, he kept on saying that one day he would start a small restaurant just like his family had in the past. By then, Botany and consultancy would be his only sideline.

Before he left for Leyte to do his field work, we accidentally bumped into each other in Araneta Center in Cubao. Both of his hands were carrying two heavy bags of food items and a small kaldero. He smiled to me and he was proud and happy to have brought his groceries from Binondo. He was in a hurry. It was the last time I saw him alive.

After 15 years, I still miss him and I hope that the truth will soon come out.