In memory of the LOVING TRUMPET MAN: JAIME E. LETIM, (April 26, 1936 - August 18, 2008)

I first became aware of Uncle Jaime in the early 1990s, during the time I was courting my wife, Maris, who happens to be his niece.

There were several occasions when I visited her and Uncle Jaime would also be present at their home. I vividly recall how he often carried a small, rectangular black leather box. Curious about it, I once asked Maris, “What’s inside that rectangular box your uncle often carries?” She told me it was a trumpet. She went on to explain that he regularly visited their house to see her father—who had been sick and bedridden—and that he would lovingly play the trumpet for him (Odon Letim +). From that moment on, I formed an impression of Uncle Jaime as a kindhearted and compassionate man.

As I continued visiting Maris, I began to notice a pattern: many of my visits coincided with his. I would hear my father-in-law requesting songs for his brother to play, and then the sweet, soulful sound of the trumpet would fill the home. From then on, I affectionately referred to him in my heart as The Loving Trumpet Man.

Eventually, Maris formally introduced us. We shook hands. He looked at me gently, smiled, and softly said, “How are you?” — or in his familiar tone, “Kumusta ka?” In that simple yet warm moment, I saw more of the man behind the music. His gentle smile, his soft but hoarse voice, and his calm demeanor all spoke volumes about who he was: a loving father, a devoted husband, and a humble soul.

We eventually lost touch with him after my father-in-law passed away and we relocated to a place far from theirs. Life moved on, but the memory of Uncle Jaime and his trumpet lingered quietly in my heart.

Then came the sad news on August 18: Uncle Jaime had gone to the great beyond.

Last Friday, August 22, we went to his home in Moonwalk, Las Piñas, to pay our final respects. As I stood before his coffin, I silently prayed for him, then leaned in and quietly whispered:

"I will never forget your gentle smile, your soft and hoarse voice, and your calm demeanor. They have created a lasting imprint in my life."

Uncle Jaime, you were more than just a man with a trumpet. You were a symbol of quiet strength, of kindness, and of love expressed not only in words, but in music and presence.

Farewell to you, Uncle Jaime—The Loving Trumpet Man. Your melody may have ended here on Earth, but its echo lives on in the hearts of those you touched.