Circle of life
A little over four decades ago, I was a stubborn kid who refused to go my first day of nursery school. I can still recall vividly that I was shouting and crying at the top of my lungs, refusing to get in and off the school bus. I was afraid and scared of my first day of school. Moving on to Sacred Heart School for Boys in Mango Avenue, I eventually graduated from high school in 1988 with an average passing grade of 75. At 16 years young, I started my college life at the University of San Carlos where I took up Industrial Engineering before shifting to Architecture the next semester. In my first 2 or 3 years, I get excited whenever I get a phone call at home, most likely it is an invitation for a birthday party or debut. I got invitation left and right, then after a few years I finally completed my college degree. Then again you get an invitation for graduation party, balls etc… Then one by one your friends get married and I got married. Baptism celebration comes next, you hang out with friends while your kids enjoy the magic trick or the traditonal 'pabitin'.
Everything becomes like a ritual. One gets an invitation because your friend's kids either graduate from college or get married.Then the topics during parties slowly shift from favorite bikes, sports and bars, party place and eventually towards the question regarding what medication or maintenance one is taking. Slowly, old friends who have not called you for years give you a ring. Until today, I dread every time my phone rings especially from these two friends. That is because every time Philip Lim or Jaime Sainz call me up, it is usually bad news.
Then the feeling goes back what I felt during my first day in school 42 years ago when I refuse to accept the reality that your good friends have passed away. Visiting them in their wake was like me going to my first day of school, I was shouting and crying inside. This year alone, some good friends have moved on the next chapter of life. I would like to bid goodbye to some of my friends, to SPO4 Elvin Beato Wenceslao, my protector with one of the harshest (pagaw) voices in Cebu, and Cris Gopuco, the dude with shiniest hair in the world. Here hoping that justice will prevail in the end. Then most recently, my basketball buddy and teammate in the recent SHAABAA tournament, Alan “Strong” Bacus. Together we set a ecord for being the first SHAABAA team with a perfect record in one season. We even discussed plans to upgrade our team and make it stronger in 2019. I know you love basketball so much that you suddenly showed up this morning in the basketball court we last played in Ateneo de Cebu in a form of a small butterfly. Till we meet again ngay Alan, Elvin, and Cris. I am comforted by the thought that all of you are now in good hands.
Death is inevitable. It is the number one killer, and it will come whether you like it or not. What we are doing is simply prolonging our borrowed lives and make it better to you and everybody. Spend time with your family and friends, do what you love, have fun and Love them while you still can before it is too late.
Remember time flies, health is wealth. It's the circle of life, what goes around comes aroun. Avoid doing too much, too soon, live a healthy lifestyle, eat healthy, exercise regularly, avoid energy drink and processed food. Your future is a blank paper, it is not yet written so make the most out of it.