Salamat, Oktubre!

Alam mong espesyal ka. Ibang klase rin ang pinasubok at pinaranas mo saakin. Lahat ng tuwa at luha, pagtataya, pagkadapa at tagumpay, kasabay ang musika, serbesa at indak ng buhay - buong yinayakap at yayakapin pa.

Kung saan-saan mo ako pinapunta, kung sinu-sino ang pinakilala. Saan man ako dalhin ng tsinelas na ito, alalahanin mong lahat ng aral na tinuro mo ay palaging nasa puso. Salamat Oktubre. Galak kong sinasalubong ang buwan ng aking kapanganakan, Nobyembre! :)

Ako Para Sa Pilipino Music Video

Really proud and honored to be part of this wonderful project.

This music video was made to continue the fight of Sec. Jesse Robredo.

Tuloy ang laban! 

The AMAZING Pullout Productions. 

EG Largoza

The brain behind this awesome project. 

Thanks to all the Bicolano Artists who made this project meaningful.

Dios an magbalos!

Enjoy and be inspired.

Don't hesitate to share!

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas: Ako Para Sa Pilipino!

1 Wish. 100 Bags. 1 Goal

One Wish.

One Hundred Lives.

One Goal.

November 11 is my 22nd birthday. 22 years of friendship, love and happiness. Here's the game plan to make my special day extra meaningful. Friends: instead of fancy gifts and birthday parties, can I just ask a BAG from you? Yes, a BAG (preferably a school bag), this will be donated to the scholars of Hero Foundation, Inc. Hero Foundation has been helping kids of our late and incapacitated members of the Armed Forces, our heroes.

Donors will be honored in a very special way.

(No EPAL Bags, please!)

How to help?

 1. Tweet me, (# of bags and name of donor/s) 

@raffymagno

2. Text me at 09214107755 / 09179520244

3. For cash donations, please follow the steps bellow.

(taken from www.herofoundation.com.ph)

Direct Deposits

• Over-the-Counter

  Bank of the Philippines
  Account Name: HERO Foundation, Inc.
  Account Number: SA # 000013-6263-32
  Reference No.: Donors name or write ANONYMOUS

• Via Phone

  (Enrollment is needed before making a donation)
  1. Dial 89-100
  2. Follow the usual phone procedure
  3. Make the desired donation amount

• Via Internet / BPI Express Online

  (Must be a BPI account holder and enrollment is needed before making a donation)
  1. Log on to www.bpiexpressonline.com for all account holders.
  2. Choose options
  a) Payments and Reloading then,
  b) Bills Payment and,
  c.) Pay Bills Today.
  3. Enter the desired donation amount

• Via ATM

  (Enrollment is needed before making a donation)
  Follow the usual procedure then go to BILLS PAYMENTS – choose HERO Foundation

• Other Direct Deposit

  LANDBANK OF THE PHILS.
  Account Name: HERO Foundation, Inc.
  Account No: CA# 1672-1001-23

Are you ready to be a hero too? Tulong na! :)

http://herofoundation.com.ph/scholarship/our-scholars

Sec. Jesse, mabuting Pilipino.

Nanood kami ng pinsan ko ng Modern Dance Competition sa school ng narecieve namin yung text na nag crash daw ang plane ni Sec. Jesse. Hindi ako naniniwala at first pero noong tinawagan na ako ng isang news group, doon na nagimbal ang mundo ko. Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari, nakita ko ang aking sarili na nasa bahay na nila sa Dayangdang, hanggang ngayon, nagsasalita sainyong unahan.

Di ko matapos-tapos ang speech na ito, sinimulan ko noong nasa biyahe ako papuntang Manila, habang nasa Ateneo, habang papunta ng Malacanan, habang pauwi ng Naga. Actually po, hindi ko alam kung paano sisimulan at tatapusin. Sabi nga ni VM Bordado sa kanyang facebook status (okay na po siguro ito para hindi ako masabing nag plagiarize), kulang siguro ang 5 mins para mapasalamatan si Sec. Jesse.

Sabi daw saakin, gawin ko daw na light ang i-sshare ko. I-ttry ko po.

      Hindi siya EPAL.

Hindi katulad noon na puro matatandang pulitiko lang ang makikita natin o mga epal na tao na namimigay ng bigas, bag, tsinelas at ano pa. Pinatunayan ni Sec. Jesse na ang pagtulong sa kapwa ay di dapat ilagay sa tarpaulin, tsinelas o plastic ng bigas. Hindi lamang hanggang tarpaulin ang pamumuno ni Sec. Jesse. Makikita natin siyang kinakalkal ang drainage kapag baha, nagbubuhat ng timba kapag may sunog.

COOL ang pagiging leader.

Sino ba naman ang kabataang maeenganyo na magtrabaho sa bayan kung ang snack ninyo ay palagi na lang maruya (baduya) o maliit na siopao? Ang tipid naman ni Sir, palaging comment namin, pero hindi ito nagging sagabal para ipagpatuloy naming ang pagsisilbi sa Naga. Uuwi man kaming gutom, palagi naman siyang may pabaon. Ngiti na napaka sweet at isang nakakataba sa pusong Thank you! Oks na oks na yon.

   Ibang klase siyang magtaya at mag-aruga. Extraordinaryo niyang minahal ang Naga at Pilipinas. Ang bongga ng buhay kasi nakasama natin si Sec. Jesse.

Panalangin ko nga, sana maging katulad din ako ni Sec. Jesse. Alam ko magiging mahirap yun, una, kasi mahirap ng makahanap ng isang Atty. Leni at pangalawa mukhang malabo pa na magkaroon ako ng legal na asawa (kasi hindi pa pwede sa batas). Seryoso, noon, pinagarap kong maging mabuting Pilipino, ngayon lang mas nagging concrete ang aking pangarap, ang gusto ko ay maging isang Jesse Robredo. Sana dumating ang araw na mayayakap ko ng buong buo ang tsinelas leadership, matagal na rin na panahon ang ginugol ko sa iba’t ibangkumunidad pero hindi nito matutumbasan ang ginawa ni Sec. Jesse. Kilala niya ang pinaka simpleng tao sa Naga, tinuturing niya itong kapantay ng lahat – hindi mababa kasi isa lang siyang fruit vendor sa plaza. Alam niya na lahat ng tao ay may pantay-pantay na karapatan.

Habang nasa labas nga ako, tinanong ko ang aking sarili, kalian kaya mangyayari na kahit isang dignitary o mayaman sa Pilipinas, pulitiko at may kaya ay matututong maghintay, pumila ng matagal kasabay ng mga ordinaryong tao. At saaking sarili, sinabi ko, malayo pa rin talaga ang ibang pulitiko kay Sec. Jesse. Siguro, kung hindi lang si Jesse ang andiyan sa kabaong, makikita natin siyang nakapila at naghihintay sa likod. Ganoon niya kami pinalaki ditto sa Naga, wala sa rangya ng pusisyon o titulo – alam niya ang bawat pintig ng puso ng mga mamayan, kaya siya nirerespeto at naiintindihan ng mga tao.            

        

                                    

Atty. Leni, ibang klase ang pinakita ninyong katatagan at katibayan ng loob. Alam ko pong kinukulit kayo ng marami na tumakbo o pumasok sa pulitika, pero kung ano man ang maging desisyon mo, tandaan mo po na suportado ka naming. Naging mabuti kang halimbawa ng katatagan, kababang loob at walang hanggang pagmamahal.

Aika, Tricia and Jilian. Thank you very much for being so generous. Shinare ninyo si Sec. Jess saaming lahat. Ang swerte ninyo kasi ama ninyo si Sec. Jesse. Marami sa mga kabataan ngayon ang pinangarap na maging tatay nila si Sec. Jesse, hindi lang dahil sa pogi si Sec, dahil siya ay tatay na alam kung paano magpahalaga sa pamilya, hindi siya nagsawa sa paggabay at hindi nauubos ang kanyang pagmamahal.

Alam ng marami na nagging tatay saamin si Sec. Jesse. Sabi ko nga, Sec. Jesse is among the few who believed that we can do positive changes for our country. Naniwala siya sa mga kabataan, nagtiwala siya ng buong buo saamin. Napakaraming pulitiko na ang naka trabaho ko, pero konti lang sila na naniwala ng buong-buo, hindi nagpapababa sakanya ang mag text sa isang ordinaryong tao, hindi rin siya napapagod mag reply saamin, at kung nakukulitan na siya, tatawag na lang yan at mageexplain. Kahit nagsawa na ako sa maruya at maliit na siopao na palagi niyang pinapabili kapag may meeting, okay lang, naiintindihan naming yun kasi simple rin siyang tao.         

   

Naniniwala akong hindi nasayang ang buhay ni Sec. Jesse sa mundo. Palaging sinasabi ng mga tao, bakit yung mabubuting tao ang nauuna, dapat yung mga walang kwenta, trapo at epal. Sana si toot na lang daw ang nauna. How I wish ganito ang buhay no? Ang pagkawala ni Sec. Jesse ay magiging hamon sa lahat sa atin na maging mabubuting tao rin. Napaka unfair naman siguro para kay Sec. Jesse kung sakanya lang iaasa ang pangarap ng Pinas na yakapin ng buo ang good governance. Lahat tayo, may responsibilidad saating bansa. Kung nasaan man tayo ngayon, kung ano man tayo. Presidente, Cabinet Member, Executive Assistant, Chief Justice, Fishball Vendor, Youth Leader, Pari, Madre, Janitor, Principal o Estudyante – kailangan nating magsipag at kailangan nating ibigay ang best natin. Tandaan: hindi rin po natin kailangan ng confirmation para mas maging mabuting tao. Sapat na po ang pagiging Pilipino natin para maging mabuting kawani ng gobyerno, anak, asawa, kapatid at kaibigan.         

     Kung isasamarize ko ang lahat = Si Sec. Jesse ay nagging mabuting Pilipino.      

                                                                         

             

                                       

Sec. Jesse – dahil po sainyo may mga kabataan na nangagrap na baguhin ang mundo, may mga kabataan na baliw na baliw na iahon ang Pilipinas sa kahirapan, may mga kabataan na naniniwala na may pag-asa ang Pilipinas. Salamat po sa lahat, ipagpapatuloy po namin ang laban na nasimulan. Mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal ka po naming, Sec.       

Pahingalo ka na po ta kami naman, Sec! Dios mabalos! 

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia

August 27, 2012

Photos: Different supporters, friends, relatives of Sec. Jesse. Salamat po! 

Struggles of a "Gay" Missionary.

Hi friends, been writing my thesis for the past months and geeeee, it ain't easy. Together with this academic stressor, it's a public knowledge that I've been trying my best to be a good citizen of this country by engaging my self to different volunteer works. I know that I don't need to prove my worth to all of you. Despite my gender preference, you (true friends) still loved and accepted me wholeheartedly. I just want to vent out that this me "trying-to-be-a-good-model/inspiration/Filipino-nation-builder" is kinda hard. When I embraced this work, I know that I'll be challenged physically, mentally, psychologically and emotionally - I'm always ready and prepared. What makes this work harder is my gender. The challenges that I've mentioned above are nothing to prejudice, stereotypes, discrimination and abuse. Yah. I just want to let you know that I'm having a hard time proving my self to people (politicians, elders, leaders, Filipinos) but rest assured that I ain't quitting. To know that you love me is more than enough. Thank you. ♥

Been watching this very empowering movie. Please, I'm asking 1.5 hours of your valuable time. Maybe after the movie, you'll understand and feel how hard it is become a "gay missionary".

Pro-LIFE. Pro Reproductive Health Bill

Ateneans all over the country, unite! 

Here's Ateneans for RH joint petition to pass the RH Bill.

Click the photo, sign the petition and share.  

 

August 7, 2012, our legislators will put an end to all our debate. 

It's a personal struggle to really forward the RH Bill. To see the church and the people clash brings pain to my soul. In my personal discernment, I believe my stand is not immoral nor sinful. I've felt the same struggle when a priest told me that I'm not loved by God because of my gender identity and orientation - at the end of the day, I realized that the priest is damn so wrong. 

Today, I'll once again oppose the church's stand. I'll fight for the immediate passage of the Reproductive Health Bill. Laban ko 'to, hindi para saakin kundi para sa mga Nanay at mga batang Pilipino na may karapatang mamili at mabuhay ng marangal, wala sa dikta ng mga namumuno ng simbahan kundi sa konsensyang yakap ang taimtim na pananampalataya.

 

Video from BBC. 

Redefine Ateneo's Social Involvement

(c) Apple Thea

“Go forth and set the world on fire.”  San Ignacio

I still remember the time when I, together with other student leaders, would really have to exert effort (to shout) 

to point out our opinion in redefining 

Ateneo's community involvement.

For the past years, I've been engaging myself to different outreach activities - most of the time feeling good

because I thought I did something great for my country already. I would even organize the same

and encourage students to participate so that they too could feel the "high" in helping others.

All my thoughts on redefining Ateneo's community involvement were kept until last night. 

ANO BA TALAGA ANG GUSTO NATING MANGYARI?

Are we really changing lives?

Are we really making a difference?

Are we really ending poverty?

I believe this is the right time to take the challenge. 

In Ateneo de Naga, we have 4 adopted barangays.

 Are we evaluating our programs there? What are our tools so that we could 

quantify and qualify the impact of our programs to the lives of people in our adopted barangays?

We always look for tangible improvements.

I guess, Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, SJ really got my attention in his speech "Depth, Universality and Learned Ministry: Challenges to Jesuit Higher Education Today". 

 Fr. Nicolas challenges us to really think out of the box, to use our imagination. According to him, “People lose the ability to engage with reality; that is a process of dehumanization that may be gradual and silent, but very real.” I guess, this is very much true with the current social involvement programs of Ateneo. 

We limit ourselves to immersion programs that really don't make any significant difference in the lives of people in the barangay. To feeding programs that only satisfy their hungry stomach for a day. 

What they need are sustainable and holistic programs.

Suggestions:

College of Nursing

1. Quality community health teaching and basic life support training to 

volunteer health workers in the barangay.

College of Education

2. Training of volunteer teachers to the bario/ volunteer-friendly manuals containing

different activities which could be facilitated by volunteers in the barangays. 

College of Engineering

3. Eco-friendly infrastructures (toilet bowls, alternative lighting source, etc). 

College of Arts and Sciences

4. Holistic spiritual, psychological, socio-political formation programs for the beneficiaries of our

 adopted barangay.

College of Computer Studies

5. Information Technology training. Web development to help market the livelihood of the adopted barangay.

College of Business and Accountancy

6. Social Entrepreneurship. Combined initiative from Accountancy,
Legal Management, Marketing, etc.

Let's design our outreach activities depending on the expertise of teachers and students. In this way, we could give quality 

and holistic programs to our adopted barangays. Now, we have 

programs for Infrastructure, Health, Education,

Formation activities and Livelihood. These are some of the vital

ingredients to build a community.

Difficult? Yes! But that is really part of our work

in alleviating poverty in Bicol. 

“Depth of thought and imagination in the Ignatian tradition involves a profound engagement with the real.” 

I'm not saying that what we are doing now is useless, I just want to remind everyone that Ateneo could offer more, could be more. Di ba? Magis nga!

 

Don't make decisions when you're angry.

I guess it's already part of the "boy thing" to blame the youngest sibling who happens to be a girl whenever there are tragic events happening in the house - tragic event - busted computer.

Who could ever stand a day without playing Dota or (what's the latest online game now? please insert here) which entails a lot of shouting, loud music, and flying keyboard and mouse. My brothers will surely be bored. And syempre, a day without playing Barbie, Dora the Explorer and other cute girly games on the web. Oh. This is the only thing that I can tolerate to prevent my sister from mani and pedi-ing me all day long. 

The other day, a very tragic event happened in our humble house. Yes. The computer got busted because of

too much monsters from dota and too much stuff from Dora's bag. 

And so, my brothers instantaneously blamed my little sister. 

(Di ba? Gender issue 'to!) 

Hahaha. Pissed, my litter sister texted my mother...

O di ba? Hahaha. Nakatipid si mother. 

Natanggal lang pala ang wire na nagcconnect ng monitor at CPU.

Moral lesson:

1. Don't make decisions when you're still on the climax of an extreme emotion.

Most of the time, pagsisisihan mo 'to.

2. Don't bully a little sister. You'll be banned from playing dota for a month!

Geeee. Torture 'to sa mga kapatid ko. 

Atenista, sino ka?

150 years - Ateneo de Manila. 

100 years - Ateneo de Zamboanga. 

79 years - Ateneo de Cagayan. 

76 years - Ateneo de Naga. 

64 years - Ateneo de Davao. 

Matagal na rin nga talagang namamayagpag ang Ateneo sa buong bansa. Sikat ito hindi lang dahil sa magagaling, magaganda at pogi ang mga nag-aaral dito, kundi lahat ng Atenista ay tinatawag na "men and women for others" at hindi lang yan, lahat rin sila ay buong-buong yinayakap ang "cura personalis". Bago ako magsulat nito, tinangka ko pang mag-compute kung ilang libong tao na ang nakatapos ng pagsusunog ng kilay sa Ateneo, ngunit nung nakita ko ang mga taon simula ng naipanganak si Ateneo sa buong bansa, isa lang ang pumasok sa isip ko - marami na kaming men and women for others - dapat. 

Marami nga ba?

Hindi na trivia sa lahat ng tao na ang ilan sa mga namumuno o namuno ng bansa ay mga Atenista. Marami rin naman talagang nagtagumpay ngunit marami rin ang bumigo sa mga kanya-kanyang tungkulin. At ito yung pinaka-masaklap, mukhang mas marami yung bumibigo. 

Sa daang taon ng Ateneo sa bansa, ilang Atenista na nga ba ang tunay na nag-alay ng sarili sa bayan? Ilang Atenista na nga ba ang naging tunay sa misyong maging "men and women for others"? 

Naging saksi at parte ako ng gigil ng Ateneo na makatulong sa ibang tao, noon, high na high rin ako kapag nasa mahihirap akong lugar at nagtuturo ng kung ano-ano sa mga bata, nagbibigay ng training sa mga nanay at tatay, o naglilinis ng mga maduduming dalampasigan. High na high rin ako kapag namumuno ako ng mga activities na feeling ko babago sa ikot ng mundo. Akala ko noon, yun na yung pagiging "man for others" ko. Mali pala ako.

Totoong buhay.

Hindi joke time ang pagiging Atenista. Mahirap talagang i-balance ang academics at lovelife - ooopppsss, I mean, extra-curricular activities, kasabay na rin ang expectation ng mga magulang at friends. Hindi rin madaling magmukha at magpanggap na mayaman kahit 7 pesos na lang ang nasa bulsa mo. Totoong totoo ang buhay sa loob ng Ateneo, totoong totoo ang Buhay Atenista, pero ang Buhay Atenista ay napakalayo sa Buhay Pilipino. 

Akala ko noon, pwede na akong hiranging National Hero dahil sa mga kalokohang pinaggagawa ko bilang isang student leader, ang alam ko lang noon, kailangang tulungan ang Bicol kasi, nasa contract yun sa scholarship namin at according sa mga studies, isa raw ang Bicol sa pinaka mahirap na rehiyon sa bansa. Oha!

Bagong Buhay.

Pero nagbago ang lahat ng unti-unti akong bumalik sa mga lugar na dati kong pinupuntahan, hindi bilang isang Atenistang Turista at feeling-magaling-na-magbabago-ng-bansa kundi bilang isang Atenistang Misionaryo. 

Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ma gets ng mga magulang ko kung bakit kailangan kong talikuran ang mga offers ng malalaking kumpanya sa Maynila at mas piliing bumyahe sa kung saan-saan sa Bicol, walang dalang pera ngunit may isang bote ng tubig naman. Hindi rin nila ma gets kung bakit pag-uwi ko ng bahay, kadalasan mas amoy lupa ako o amoy putik, dati kasi, mas madalas ang amoy alak at yosi. 

Ito ang buhay na aking pinili. Malayo man sa expectation ng mga magulang at friends, malayo man sa expectation ng mga tao bilang Atenista ako, malayo man sa rangya ng opisina sa Makati pero masaya ako - sobrang saya ko. 

 

Challenge!

Hindi ko sinasabing ito ang noblest job in the world kasi hindi naman trabaho ang mahalin ang bayan - para saakin, responsibilidad ng bawat Pilipino na gawin ito, ngunit gusto kong i-challenge ang lahat ng Atenista sa mundo na pagisipan at dasalan ang misyon ng bawa't isa para sa Pilipinas. Hindi lang pagiging community organizer ang cool, cool rin ang mga social entrepreneurs, doctors sa baryo, lawyers na hindi nagsisingil ng bongga, tourism specialist na nag popromote ng ganda Pinas, nurses sa community, pulitikong tapat, at Atenistang patuloy na hinuhubog at nagpapahubog para maging tunay na "man/woman for others". 

Daang taon na ang lumipas. Marami ng Atenista ang grumadweyt ng Ateneo ngunit mahirap pa rin ang Pilipinas. Ilang taon pa ang kailangan nating hintayin? Sinong martir pa ba ang kailangan patayin? Ikaw? Handa ka na bang baguhin ang Pilipinas? Handa ka na bang isabuhay ang pagiging man o woman for others?

 

 

Gawad Kalinga - Bicol Online Campaign

 

 

Did you know that behind these beautiful bags are stories that would touch your heart?

Did you know that behind these bags are struggling lives who want to move out of poverty?

Did you know that behind these bags are Filipino mothers who have a lot of dreams for their own family?

Advancement of Social Media brings the youth to a higher level of communication and interaction.

With this, Gawad Kalinga - Bicol challenges the youth to mobilize so that we could

1. Enhance, market, and promote the products of our Nanays.

2. Tell the stories of the people behind the bags.
3. Inspire more youth to realize that being with fellow Filipinos (be it onsite or online) is the "NEW COOL".

4. Touch more lives so that they could become more for others.

5. Bring more people, more young people to continue fighting for the Philippines and most especially for the Filipinos. 

How can you help us?

We'll conduct a bloggers forum on July 19, 2012, 7:00PM, Bubble Town Tea House, Panganiban, Naga City so that we could contextualize everything. Handa ka na ba?
Handa ka na bang magtaya para sa Bayan gamit ang Social Media? 

Handa ka na bang ibahagi ang iyong sarili para sa iba?

Be a GK ONLINE VOLUNTEER! 

Contact us:

Raffy Magno

09179520244/09214107755

raffymagno_11@yahoo.com

Dhang Tecson

09175863878

dhang.tecson@gmail.com

The Philippines is worth LOVING for.

Living a life filled with unpredictable challenges both from my own family and my chosen vocation isn't easy. From all the physical pains being a buttered child, emotional drama for I'm in a broken family, and a societal stigma, that despite all the stuff I'm doing I'm still discriminated because of my gender - how could I profess love? I guess, I could not be considered as a legit love prophet but I tell you - these challenges are my fuel why I continue to trust love and to trust life.

Falling in love.

Falling in love is the easiest while falling out of love is the hardest. Crazy? Yes. I think I am, especially when it comes to love. For me, when you say you're falling out of love it's as good as saying that "I don't care about my mother" or "Being a Filipino sucks!" I guess in these times, people are so preoccupied with a lot of stuff that they tend to easily lose hope, lose faith and lose love. 

 

Staying in love.

You may be wondering with my posts in facebook, tweets in twitter or articles in blogspot - most of them are positive, full of hope and (of course) love. But you know, behind it are my frustrations, sadness, emptiness and doubt. Yes, even if it seems that I'm so sure that I am offering my self for our country - my wholeness is still filled with questions of doubt. However, the heart which is filled with hope overpowers these dark moments. Behind the smiles are also my struggles. So many times that I wasn't able to attend my mother's birthday because I need to meet a mother who's in pain, so many times that I have to miss my sibling's recognition day because I need to go to a kid who is deprived of education. Staying in love is a struggle but you have to face it. That "hurting" moment is an assurance that you are truly loving.

 

 

Sino nga naman ang mangangahas ma-inlove sa isang bansa na puno ng kahirapan, puno ng pighati. I believe this is where the biggest challenge will come in. Are you ready to fall in love with the Philippines?

 

This is the Philippines according to your lenses.

 

 

I know I will still encounter problems, difficulties, and struggles. Being in Gawad Kalinga doesn't give me the assurance that I will be able to fulfill my dreams for the Philippines while I'm still alive. But one thing is clear, I'm not the only one who is madly and deeply in love with our country. Wherever this craziness leads me, what matters most is that I truly loved. And yes, forever I will shout:

THE PHILIPPINES IS WORTH LOVING for! 

Everything will be okay.

Dave Andrew Referiza

Dave

It was all too sudden.

Thursday night was still fresh and vivid,

we were all happy, sharing stories, laughing at corny jokes,

we were all hopeful that the following day, 

everything will be okay.

 

 

 

 

Left your room with a light heart,

no worries, no hesitations

 

Morning came and suddenly we were all shocked;

You were rushed to the Intensive Care Unit

Everything crumbled.

All our hopes turned into a prayerful call.

 

Suddenly, we found ourselves helpless

No one knows what to do.

All of us prayed.

Lifted everything to God,

praying that you'll soon be okay.

 

Hours run as if it's being chased.

Every moment turns into a very vital second,

Everything went very fast.

 

Never bothering the time spent for sleep,

All of us stayed by your side.

 

Faith remained to be the ultimate source strength,

Love never bent,

Prayers still consistent.

 

In those short days spent in the ICU,

you remained jolly, happy and strong.

You've fought so hard and never gave up.

You've braved your illness and tried to stand up.

You've embraced all the possibilities,

even though you're scared, even though you're in pain,

just to make sure that everything will be okay.

All of us, not knowing what to do;

lifted you entirely to God,

Prayed that your pain will soon be gone. 

 

Few hours after our Taize,

We got a text saying your heart rate is already palpatory,

we all rushed again to the hospital,

seconds passed,

medicines still remains to drop,

 

suddenly

 

 

...............................................

everyone remains still,

tears free flowing.

 

Dave passed away, 12:37am.

 

 

 

I remember tears streaming down on our face
When you said you'll never let go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, Don't leave me here alone
But all that's said and done, passed tonight

Dave, our dear friend...

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You are now safe and sound

Thanks for the years of friendship, Dave.

Thank you for staying with our family 

when we were all down and heavily burdened.

Your love and friendship will forever be treasured.

Salamat sa gabos, pahingalo ka na.