A Tribute to EDGARDO TABONES Jr.

Yes, he is a real person and yes, he is not a make believe character made from my mind. Who is he? Well, he was a classmate of mine back in first year high school. Many or most of my batchmates in Marist might have already forgotten him. Even I, one of his close friends, before he left Marist, admit that there have been months or even years since I have last thought of him. This blog is dedicated in memory of him.

To give a brief background about him, based on my memory, the earliest I can remember of him was the accident (incident) that happened to him when we are in grade 5. He fell a flight of stairs and landed face first. I forgot if someone had pushed him and who. Anyway, I wasn't able to see the incident. When I arrived at the area, I found out that he was already sent (carried) to the clinic. The only mark recognizable is the pool of red blood on the floor. Later, we learned that he had lost most of his upper front permanent teeth. The only teeth left was his canine teeth.
In first year highschool, I was fortunate to be of close friend to him. He might be the laughing stock of our class, but he didn't care. He even made his misfortune to his side to make friends. Since he is lacking teeths, he would like to imitate Rene Requiestas; his laugh, his expressions, everything. Even though I pity him, he does not fail to make me smile. I'm not sure if he pretends to be slow, or he is really slow. Regarding academics, he was slow enough. He was kicked out of Marist due to his poor grades. Rumors has it that he transferred to Roosevelt College. Since then, I never heard of him.

One morning, during breakfast, out of the blue, I remembered him. Not sure why I come across of thinking of him, but later that day, I would find out. I wonder "musta na kya si Tabones?". Later that morning, during assembly time, our principal announced that a former Marist student passed away. His name was Edgardo Tabones Jr. I wonder if thinking of him earlier that moring was because he was making me feel of his presence or just a very unlikely coincidence.

I am now writing this because, after years of not thinking of him, my mind wondered far again and remembered him. Was I feeling his presence again? I write this so no one would forget him.

"Wishing you happiness in the presence of our Lord"

Buena Mano

"Death is a part of life. It is inevitable. All good things must come to an end"

Everytime I encounter a group or become a part of a group, I have this wierd thinking that would maybe freak others out. Since I was in Highschool, I would always think, "sino kaya ang buena mano sa amin?". Out of 214 that graduated in my batch in highschool, who would be the first one to bite the dust? (Well, I already got the answer, already two of us have died since graduation). Who among my group of friends in HighSchool would die first? Who in our batch in Comp Sci would be first to die? Who in the original S15 section would die first? Who in CS-ST would die first? Who among our team at work (Apollo & Metavante) would die first? Who among in my interact club would die first? Who among in my rotaract club would die first? Who among on my Leo Club would die first? Who among my fellow ADU would die first? Who among in my Toast masters club would die first? Who among my parents would die first? who among my grandparents would die first? Who among my cousins would die first? would I outlive my brother or would he outlive me?

Statistics shows that 65 is the average age of a human person. That means that 42 years from now (year 2046 - 2047), half of my fellow highschool mates would be dead. Maybe we cannot feel death approaching us from my (our) age but I bet the you would feel the same way when we are around 10 to 15 years from our death year, when the number of our batchmates dying would grow bigger and bigger (2031-2036).

Thoughts of death could be scary. Death has long lingered in my thoughts since I was in elementary. Maybe this is just a way for me to overcome my fear of death. Who knows what lies beyond death. No one has ever come back from the dead which could tell us what lies beyond (do not mention bullshits that others have experienced life after death. I just don't believe them. It's just the reaction of the brain when it experiences lack of oxygen.)

I long wondered how would I die. If I would die (of course I would, co'z I'm alive) I think that if not of a heart attack, I would die of brain cancer. Heart attack, if I do not change my way of eating and living. And brain cancer, because of staring hours upon hours on my computer everyday of my life (if not watching TV). Unless I die of an accident, I bet these two would be the most lucky candidate. Of course, this is not what I wish to die. If I would be given to chose the way that I die, I would prefer falling (or rather jumping) out of an airborne airplane and falling to solid concrete head first. I always wonder if it would hurt. I remember my teacher in highschool saying that when people die, a second before death, the soul would leave the body so that he/she would not feel the pain. "God loves us that much that he would send his angels to fetch our spirit a moment before death." I wanted to prove her wrong. And one way to find out is to put my experiment to action. Too bad I cannot tell you guys, if I ever had a chance to die the way I wanted to die, if it would hurt or not.

Please, don't be so depressed by my thoughts. For all you know, maybe, you too might be the next to be the lucky "Buena Mano".