My dad went to buy groceries. He never came home.
My father, Nilo Ortiz, was not a headline.
He was a husband of 55 years. A father. A grandfather. To me, his only child, he was simply Dad.
He was 78 years old when he went out for what should have been a normal grocery errand at Seafood City in Los Angeles. He was not taking risks. He was not looking for trouble. He was doing something ordinary, something thousands of Filipino families do every day.
He should have come home. He did not.
Seeking justice
An alleged theft-related incident occurred while Dad was leaving the shopping center. It's now part of an ongoing criminal case in the United States.
Since my father died, our lives have been divided into two chapters: before and after.
Before, my mother had her partner beside her. Today, she sleeps alone. Before, my children had a grandfather they could call, visit, laugh with, and play with. Today, they have memories. Before, our family had a man whose presence made everyone feel safe. Today, there is an empty chair that can never be filled.
I am speaking now—not for sympathy, not for revenge, but because my father's life mattered, and no family should receive a call that turns an ordinary errand into a permanent goodbye.
My father should still be enjoying his senior years. He should still be traveling with my mother. He should still be celebrating milestones with us. He should still be playing Uno with his grandchildren.
Instead, we are left with grief, court proceedings, and the responsibility of making sure his story is not forgotten.
Senior safety
As the case moves forward, my mother is going through the painful process of facing what happened to the man she loved for more than 55 years. No wife should have to carry that kind of grief. No family should have to relive the worst day of their lives again and again.
We respect the criminal process and the role of the court in determining responsibility for my father's death. But outside the courtroom, his story should also be a reminder to every Filipino family: We need to take senior safety more seriously.
This is not about blame. It is about awareness. It is about prevention.
Many of our parents and grandparents still run errands on their own. They go to groceries, markets, churches, pharmacies, parking lots, and community spaces. They walk more slowly. They may be carrying bags. They may be alone. They may trust that the spaces around them are safe.
Every Filipino family knows someone like that—a lolo who still drives himself to the grocery, a lola who still goes to the market alone, a parent who says, "Sandali lang ako," leaves for a simple errand, and then comes back home.
My hope is that my father's story encourages families to check in more closely with their elderly loved ones, remind them to stay alert in public spaces, and make sure they are not left vulnerable when they move through the world alone.
I also hope community spaces and public establishments become more mindful of seniors—their safety, their vulnerability, and the need for clear emergency response, visible safety awareness, and compassion when something happens.
Now, we ask the question every family should ask before it is too late: Are we doing enough to keep our seniors safe?