Jason T
Period 1
April 27, 2012
My Grandpa's Story
Filiberto
Lavarreda Ovando is my grandpa. He was born in Tumbor San Marcos, Guatemala in
the year 1938. He was a mix of German and Spanish. Growing up he was one of eight brothers in his family. From
what is known about his childhood he was part of a very loving, caring, united
family and adored by everyone. Something special about my grandpa and his
family is his last name Lavarreda because only one family shares this last name
meaning anyone with this last name is related.
From stories I heard my grandpa was very friendly and
helpful. A quality of my grandpa that was known was that he was an honest man
always true to his word. Later on in his life was a caring father with a strict
attitude at times. His body type wasn’t anything special he was average height
maybe 5’6” around there with white skin. Another story I heard of my grandpa
was he like to eat exotic things like snakes could be an example. Somehow even
with eating exotic things he was said to be a very healthy man never got sick.
Besides eating exotic things he also liked riding horses, swimming, sports, and
was really into classic cars. Education wise there isn’t much known besides
that he graduated high school with honors then went to college and also got
diplomas for having excellent writing.
Once my grandpa got older he was drafted into the army of
Guatemala at eighteen but this wasn’t because he wanted to back then it was
forced upon all 18 year old males to be drafted. Even though he was drafted he
was never put in action from what is known he served his time and got out.
Around this time was when the Civil War of Guatemala was going on and that
lasted for 30 years. Unfortunately my
grandpa didn’t live past the civil war. During this time it was
difficult to find a job but when he did he worked for the government. In the
department of making sure money was collected and that it got to its
destination. He also manage a finca which from what I was told translate to a
ranch owned by the government. In this time he was approached by people who wanted
to steal money from the government. He was offered to help them but my grandpa
refused. Even though he refused he said he wouldn’t speak a word of this to
anybody he just didn’t want a part of it but that wasn’t enough and he knew it.
Once he had the feeling something bad was going to happen he informed my
grandma about the situation so she would know he could possibly be killed.
Sadly that’s what happened he was killed and when his body was found he was
marked as unknown pretty much meaning no one knew who he was. Eventually my
grandma saw this on the news and went to recover the body to give my grandpa a
proper burial in his hometown where he was born. He died at the age of twenty
six but in that time he had three daughters with my grandma. Also had two
affairs that ended up giving him another daughter and son my grandpa was known
to be a womanizer. Shortly before he died in regards to the civil war of
Guatemala in “1970 - Military-backed Carlos Arana was elected president,
and he immediately placed the country under a state of siege, giving the
military more control over civilians. For the next decade, a series of
military-dominated governments escalated violence against guerilla groups and
indigenous communities”(PBS). Another thing my grandpa lived past was the even
in “1966 - Civilian rule restored; Cesar Mendez elected president”(BBC).
Even though my grandpa died young he still lived in a time of major events for
Guatemala.
Besides my grandpa being a womanizer and dying at a very
young age I believe he was a great person at heart who I wish I would have had
the pleasure to meet I don’t believe my grandpa deserved the fate he got but regardless may grandpa’s soul
continue to rest in peace.
