S.A.M. Role Models
Dado Banatao: “My Story Could Be Your Story”
I attended the funeral Mass for Dado. I was seated on the third row—right in front of his framed photo. And as I sat there, one memory played on repeat in my mind: A Farmer’s Son—the story of how he once walked barefoot to elementary school in Iguig, Cagayan, a story I have shared countless times with public school children for 10 years now. I could hear him saying, “My story could be your story.” And I couldn’t stop the tears. As I knelt facing him, I prayed:
“Dado, you are now at the right hand of the Father. There are millions of public school children who need a miracle—food on their table, parents who can truly show up, teachers who form and inspire students, values that anchor them, and the right to education they deserve from our government. Please kindly intervene… and make your story their story, too.”
The Mass was concelebrated by three Jesuit priests—two former Ateneo de Manila presidents, dearest Fr. Ben Nebres and Fr. Jeff Villarin, and Fr. Manoling Francisco.
Fr. Jeff shared something I deeply understood about the Society of Jesus. He once asked Dado why he was giving so much to the Ateneo. Dado answered—simply, powerfully:
“Because as a scholar there, they taught me to think.”
He shared how insecure he felt coming from little means and from public school, surrounded by classmates who had much more. But the Jesuits kept pushing him—to think, and to write… and write… and write.
After Mass, we gathered for cocktails—and we were given the rare honor of seeing an exquisitely curated exhibit of Dado’s life: the technology breakthroughs that helped move computing from room-sized machines to personal devices in our hands; artifacts of his journey; facsimiles of contracts; IPO announcements; awards and recognitions; and an arresting mosaic of Dado. The attention to detail was beyond—and so unmistakably “Dado.”
Even the cocktails carried his “isms” in cocktail napkins. Two were everywhere:
- “That’s BS.”
- “My story could be your story.”
And then came the Words of Remembrance—shared by a chosen number: friends, mentees, a scholar, and supporters of PhilDev Foundation. Most of us were in tears, because the words for and about Dado were true. They revealed the man behind the brilliance: the friend, the mentor, the philanthropist, the father.
One part made the whole room laugh—because it was so human and so loving. Someone shared the three questions Dado would often ask:
- “Will it dominate the world?” (Whew. I will adopt that now!!)
- “Are you willing to die until the company gets to where it should be?”
- “What will Maria ‘Babes’ (his wife) think and say about this?”
And the punchline we all loved: if Maria didn’t seem to like the person… it was a no go!! Dado was Dado because of his ‘Babes’, two exceptional human beings
I also loved the candor of Sheila Lirio Marcelo. She didn’t sugarcoat it: a man the likes of Dado could be difficult at times. He exacted excellence—stressing disruption is necessary and “crazy” changed the world—but in the same breath, he was caring and giving. Foremost, she wrote it best: “Filipino talent was never the problem—access was.” And that is exactly why Dado believed Filipinos belong on the global stage—when doors open, we don’t just participate; we excel.
Dinner was superb—by Chef Jessie Sincioco. It was also wonderful to be with Ruby Maria Ruby Jacinto, Marilyn Ong, and Olivia Limpe-aw, among others—people who, like me, were there not only to mourn, but to learn. I look forward to celebrating his birthday on May 23, when they will launch Dado’s book.
Not incidentally, Dado is deeply part of the story we tell in the I AM S.A.M. Foundation because he is a true role model: a public-school boy from poverty who rose with courage, character, and excellence, gained considerable success, a man who embodied TIER—Trust, Integrity, Empathy, and Responsibility—and who gave back (and continues to give back) to country, society, and humanity.
Rest in Paradise, Dado—at the right hand of the Father. And please whisper to Him that our education system needs a miracle… and that’s not BS.
(Sorry, Mom and Owa, for borrowing Dado’s isms.)
P.S. Not least, thank you so much, dear Denissa Venturanza, with the “Friends of Dado”— Ronna Reyes Sieh Doris Magsaysay Ho, Lizette Cojuangco, Paco Sandejas, Art Tan, and Chef Jessie—for the wonder and awe of a night for family, friends, and fans—and a tribute befitting THE Dado Banatao.
