A Eulogy for a Lost Love

"Never knew I could feel like this. Like I've never seen the sky before"
The first time I saw you, there's nothing extraordinary
But there's this spark that I saw in your eyes
We were not given a chance then
To know each other more

After two years I saw you again
Now the magic stayed
And became enchanted to your smile
We braved the rapids of Rio Grande
And dared to walk in Victoria Park and Brooklyn

We held our hands under the blue moon
And very grateful that at least
we're under it, at times that we're apart

"I want to vanish inside your kiss, everyday I love you more and more"

We learned to dream and soar high
We dreamed of a living in a place very far
Where lights never falter
We dreamed that we could explore the world together

We shared our thoughts on almost everything
We cared so much for Chinese Taipei
Even agreed that ASEAN should have a single currency
And argued on Ada's fate in a musical

Geography, the Arts and History are our passion
We went to museums on every occasion
We stared at works of art for hours
Even elaborated historical dioramas on top of our lungs
We argued on the differences of a country and a state
And agreed that Puerto Rico will never be a part of the United Nations parade
Even though it has a Miss Universe representative

"Listen to my heart can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change winter to spring, I love you, until the end of time
Suddenly the world seem such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
And all revolves around you"

Then tragedy struck
I kept my condition from you
as long as I can bear
You held me in your arms in my hospital bed
Valentine's was canceled that year
Instead I was brought to the cardio vascular unit

You made me live again
You've been so patient
Even though at times of self-pity
I shoo you away

You gave me a reason to live again
To fight for my life
To fight for you and my family
I embraced immortality
Just by having you by my side

When we're in each other's arms
Life seems so simple
I felt safe
I felt secure
I felt important
I felt like I'm the most beautiful person in the world
I felt like I'm irreplaceable

"And there's no mountain to high, no river too wide
Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide
I love you until the end of time
I will love you until my dying days"

But whatever happened to paradise?
You left me at the wake of my ultimate sadness
I gave you time to think
And became ready to any eventuality

In spite of that, I thank you for your honesty
I believe you have fulfilled your mission
I believe God sent an angel in your person
To wake me up and be closer to Him

Thanks for the memories
I will love you forever
So what happens now?
We better not ask anymore

I'll miss you

In memory of a lost love
(January 10, 2006 - February 6, 2007)


Belated Happy Valentine's to Everyone

A Eulogy for a Patriarch

"Ilang ulit mo nang itinatanong sa akin, kung haggang saan, hanggaang saan hanggang kailan, ang aking pagmamahal...."

You are simply undescribable,
I really can't imagine
How you managed to put all of us beneath your wings
after Inang and Tatang left us

"Hanggang may himig pa akong naririnig, dito sa ating daigdig, Hanggang may musika akong tinataglay, kita'y iniibig...."

You are incorruptible
You served your country well Even beyond your call of duty
You were most loved by your peers
Caring even to the lowliest personnel

"Giliw wag mo sanang isiping ikaw ay aking lilisanin, di ko magagawang lumayo sa yo piling...."

You were a disciplinarian
We may not understand you at times
Even thought you are overly protecting us
Now we understand

"At nais kong malaman mo, kung gano kita kamahal..."

You were the decision maker
In times of doubt, my Mom always tell me
to consult you, for you know best
You were instrumental in choosing my career
And I never regret it.

"Hanggang ang diwa ko, tanging sa yo laan, mamahalin kailanman. Hanggang pag-ibig ko'y hanggang walang hanggan, tanging ikaw lamang..."

You were a crazy person
Humor and laughter
fills the air when you're around
You saw things on their brighter side
And always reminded us to take it easy.

You were our strength
You were better than any
crisis management expert
You can deal with any problem and solve it
I reminisce that time, on my hospital bed
You told me "Go back to work....
.... I want you there"

You never judged anyone
You accepted us as we are
Although at times we kept things under your watch
In the end you'll know it
And you'll understand.

You are a great grandfather
The sight of children brings
twinkle in your eyes
You loved Bong and Louie so much
That it hurts when I remember

You were grateful to everyone
I remembered the look in your eyes last Christmas
You were so thankful of the card, I gave you
Never did I thought
That would be the last

You were so brave
Fighting for your dear life
Fighting for all of us
You never left us till the end
Even now that you're gone

You were a loving father
Father to all of us
I know you are watching upon us up there, proud of what you did
I believe you fulfilled your mission
Pero, pano na kami ngayon?

"Hanggang may puso akong maruong magmahal, na ang sinisigaw ay lagi nang ikaw, hanggang saan? hanggang kailan? hanggang kailan kita mahal? Hanggang ang buhay ko'y kunin ng Maykapal...."

Daddy Edgar, Thanks for everything
Mahal na mahal ka namin! We will miss you.
Hanggang sa muling pagkikita....

In Memory of
Edgardo B. Dela Torre (Oct 2, 1954 - Feb 2 2007)
Residencia Florencia's Patriarch
Engineer, Father, Friend
and now our Guiding Star in heaven

(photo credits courtesy of Mr. Francis Arvy Olarte, for more: see residencia florencia account / residencia_florencia@yahoo.com)

ASEAN Summit Cebuano Style

BRUNEICAMBODIAINDONESIALAOSMALAYSIAMYANMARPHILIPPINES
SINGAPORETHAILANDVIETNAMHANDINHANDASEAN
There nothing wrong with your computer monitor. The countries of Southeast Asia should’ve bonded like that a long time ago. From January 10 to 14, the leaders of ASEAN (the East Asian Leaders on the 15th ), gathered in Cebu to fulfill the dream of a One Caring, One sharing community (with emphasis on ONE). Ambitious as it may seem, ASEAN is now pondering on the idea of laying out the foundation of its constitution that the European Union have tried to perfect in the last few years. ASEAN officials now refer to each other in a candid and neighborly manner. They could discuss anything that sometimes it is misconstrued as breaching the “non-interference in internal affairs” policy. The Eminent Persons Group (the council of the elderly of ASEAN) even floated the initiative that ASEAN will not support non-democratic transition of governments among its member countries. I find this very nebulous, for it should define what is “non-democratic” in the first place. Is the monarchy-backed military-run government of Thailand democratic? Even the governments of Myanmar and Brunei do not seem to jive with this premise. The most significant highlight of the 12th ASEAN Summit is the adoption of the agreement on the protection of the rights of migrant workers in the region, which the Philippines led. But how do we patronize our ASEAN/East Asian brothers? How come the Singaporean band sensation Lizard’s Convention (the singer of the revived “Wooden Heart” in my high school years http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/backstage/2337/) is not as famous in the Philippines as Christian Bautista in Indonesia? Do we ever think of “ASEAN first” in our vacations? Do the goals of ASEAN unity incorporated in the curriculum of our students?
Anyways, after the serious matters, here comes fun>>> the CEBU experience. Cebu is my second home. I am there during the first half of 2006 for the Cebu Interfaith Dialogue. Cebuanos are very cooperative cheerful people. They get things done in a very “Sinulog” way. I am part of the Sub-committee on Airport Protocol at Mactan Cebu International Airport and I consider that as the highlight of my protocol career. 13 Chartered flights departing at almost the same time is a feat that is unequaled in Cebu’s history. Inspite of that, every leader was given a dose of the Cebuano hospitality. The Sinulog dancers were all smiles amidst the heat of the sun or pouring rain. Just watching them perform makes my tiredness go away. Cebu’s nightlife is also superb. I’ve been to Vudu and Yo Latino at Crossroads. You can’t find a place in the Philippines where in minutes you could be in a resort then in a cosmopolitan area afterwards. I love Cebu. I wish I stayed until the Sinulog festival. (This is a very late blog. For more: http://www.12thaseansummit.org/ )