Yesterday was the 40th day anniversary of my very dear friend Ronald Mendez who met his tragic death after a parachuting accident in Cebu...Your wife once said that blue skies was her greatest rival and yes indeed she was exactly right. You've been taken from us by the exact passion you've loved doing so much....jumping, gliding with blue skies.
Have you heard what happened to Ron?, he's gone due to parachuting accident. was the first message that greeted me a month ago.
I paused, shocked...and a deafening silent ensued for I wasn't sure where to put my footings since I was caught off guard and though that has been your passion, yet I never even once thought the possibility that your own best friend will take you away from US without signs nor warnings.
The loneliness of thinking that I'll be physically losing you forever still lingers and send shivers down my spine. May be because although it's beyond my control but as much as possible we don't want you to be gone. Or may be you might have done enough already and the undertaker call it's your "times up". Yet HE could have done it better and not so tragic that after losing you for 2 days in the waters you're no longer unrecognizable.
The news was heart wrenching to everyone who knew RON who was known for his kindness, smiling face and charisma that never failed to attracts. I've been with him since Asian Spirit, Singapore Airlines, and Marshall Aerospace days in Cambridge, UK. We've been on the same companies most of the time, same condo in Singapore and though different houses in UK but still we seemed inseparable. I've been visiting him most of the time and Oh boy...I've missed your special cooking my friend.
He resigned from his job in UK as preparation for his upcoming wedding and to continue his pilot training. He was almost at the zenith of his dream, successfully flown and co-piloted a helicopter....I'm so sorry.....I don't know what else to say...maybe I just really missed you so much.....
I was supposed to be on your wedding day...sorry I didn't showed up for personal reasons. I knew you'd understand but if only had I known that your wedding day will be our last meeting I could have done something to attend.
The thought of never seeing you again still hurts and although I'll be visiting you in Bohol in 2 months time as promised yet this is the least situation I wanted to see you at. Because I won't bee seeing your undying smiles again, the laughter we used to have and the unspoken bond that although none of us dared to utter in words but deep inside we treated each other "brother". To me he was a brother I never had. Later on I found out madalas nya ako ikwento sa asawa nya....ganun din ako, I talked about him most of the time to my wife. And ironically we both hated the same person and almost fought with the same person at different situation in our life in Singapore.
I know you're still here, smiling on everyone of US but it's no longer like what it used to be....I know you're here but you seemed too far as if an unseen force is separating us from one another.
Life is really unpredictable...I wasn't there when you pass away but the feeling is the same when I lost my tito while holding him in my arm, pulling his last breathe...P***ng ina.....wala na si uncle....yan lng nasabi ko noon at sabi nila tulala na raw ako afterwards. This time I was again speechless because the emotional impact was the same. I felt like I chartered an old and familiar feelings at a different time frame that no one would ever dare venturing again.
I will always treasure the friendship we had my friend though it was brief but I'll make sure that in my lifetime...I will always remember that for once I've crossed path with a very special person named Ronald Mendez.
I want to say Thank you for being such a very good friend, and a brother. Salamat sa mga pautang mo dati without interest, sa pahiram mong bag nang minsang nagbakasyon ako from UK, sa mahal na mahal mong videocam na pinahiram mo talaga sakin on my holiday, sa ulam na may take out pa pag dinadalaw kita sa UK, sa pagtatakip sakin sa singapore flight simulator pag inaantok na ako sa gabi (matutulog ako at ikaw ang gising), sa pagtatakip mo ulit sakin sa UK sa gabi pag inaantok na naman ako (papaspasan ko ang trouble at matutulog na at ikaw gising)(di ko kasi talaga kaya night shift at naintindihan mo yon), for trying hard to help noong time na gusto ko makilala ang babaeng napangasawa ko ngayon, sa fruit shake na araw araw mong inaalok samin sa singapore, sa magandang bike na binigay mo sakin sa UK after ikaw itransfer ng company to SURREY while I stayed in CAMBRIDGE.
Lastly, I want to say sorry noong nasira mo ang mamahalin kong test probe sa tester.....not totally sira pero alam mo naman ako perfectionist daw at strict pero di pa kasi kita kilala nun....sorry I doubted you that time. nabawasan na ang tatawag sakin ng master ngayon....we're not a gang, infact I've been rejecting your offer to join in your Akhro fraternity but you kept calling me master, mamimimissed ko un.
Thanks for the memory, I'll treasure them.
Rest well my friend. You're in our prayers.
Blue skies indeed but this time you don't have to worry about the heights, the free fall.....this time you have to float my friend.....and please keep floating higher than any shadows.
