Why so many deaths this Christmas season?

A day after Christmas Day, I woke up to sad news of two close friends who passed on to eternal life. On Christmas Day, my dear friend, Mr. Hernando "Hernan" Streegan left us for a better life. He was 83 years old and is survived by his wife, Flor. I couldn't put any of his photos in my Facebook page as my last photo with him was years ago. I recall Hernan as a scoutmaster in the late 1950s as they were sent to the 10th World Jamboree in Mt. Makiling and my brother Rene was one of the scouts who had the privilege to take the presidential yacht "Ang Pangulo" to Manila.

Through the years, Streegan turned his company, Rhine Marketing, into one of Cebu's most innovative companies. He even sold personal computers. I became close to him during our days as directors of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. Hernan was also on top of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Cebu Chapter. It was a lifelong commitment.

Early yesterday morning, I got a text from the cellphone of my good friend, Prof. Ricky Rama Poca, the message came from his companion Gin who told me Ricky passed away while sitting down. They sent for ERUF to bring him to the Chong Hua Hospital but he was dead on arrival. Ricky was the main host of our 888 News Weekly Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza. He also hosted a talk show called My Politics with columnist Eddie Barrita and was also a columnist himself.

Ricky was very interested when I had my kidney transplant last year because apparently his kidneys were also failing. He went to Manila to see Dr. Enrique Ona, but he could not avail of a transplant because his heart was very weak. So he came home doing a peritoneal dialysis. But then it was his weak heart that gave up on him. His wake is in the Rama ancestral home. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. May I request the pious reader to pray for the repose of the souls of Hernan Streegan and Ricky Rama Poca. May perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in God's peace.