Last Updated on August 10, 2021 by Tina
Sorry if this post is not a travel guide. I am mourning right now for the passing of two friends and I just thought of writing about them here instead of posting it on Facebook because this space is mine.
Three days ago my officemate who is also a college classmate messaged me that our classmate Bernard died. I was shocked because he is too young. Then this morning I received another sad news from one of my college friends. He told me that our classmate Joby passed away. I got goosebumps after reading the message. Just last night, I saw a picture of me and Joby with our former boss’ daughter when we were in Puerto Princesa for a holiday. I saw the picture out of the blue. I haven’t seen that picture in a long time and I wasn’t checking my gallery for pictures to post. It just appeared. Could that be Joby’s way of saying goodbye to me?
Bernard
I haven’t heard from Bernard since I graduated from college, but we used to be close friends way back. We became classmates in Structural Geology and other major subjects. I used to help him with our lab exercises. He was a nice guy, easy going and very fun to be with. My friend April and I used to hang out with him a lot. We would review together in the NIGS (National Institute of Geological Sciences) library before an exam and he was actually the one who gave us an idea that we could start another student organization in our institute. The “rebirth” of UP GEMS (University of the Philippines Geology Majors’ Society) was actually because of him.
I’ll never forget that time we had fieldwork in Real, Quezon. Bernard skips class most of the time and the day before the fieldwork, he was absent again. He texted me to ask what time are we leaving, and what to bring. So I told him to bring clothes, money, field notebook and other things that we’re going to need for the fieldwork. In the resort where we stayed, my friends April, Jeda, and I shared a hut with Bernard. Sharing a bed with guys is normal (no malice) for us Geology students. Also, Bernard is very gentleman. The huts were small, it’s supposed to fit three people only but we managed to fit in that hut. It wasn’t very comfortable though.
Anyway, the funny thing is that Bernard didn’t bring a towel and extra underwear during the fieldwork. And he blamed me for it (but he was just trying to be funny as always). He said when I texted him what to bring, I didn’t include underwear and a towel in the list. So he had to borrow a face towel from one of our classmates, and he washed his underwear after every shower. He’s so funny and I feel like I am his mom in that I had to tell him everything that he needs to bring. It’s just sad that he’s gone too soon. According to April, Bernard had a heart attack.
Joby
The last time I saw Joby was in June 2019, a week before I went on my backpacking trip. I was one of the trainers in the software training for Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) employees. Some of the attendees in that training were former employees of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation. I had my first job at Lepanto. We thought of having a mini-reunion and so we texted other former geologists of Lepanto who were in Quezon City at that time. Joby also worked in Lepanto but she worked there after I left the company. She was also in Quezon City that night so she joined us. It was a really good catch-up. She was still the same bubbly girl. I haven’t seen Joby prior to that meeting because she left for Europe after working in Lepanto.
Joby and I weren’t super close friends but we still got in touch even after college. I used to visit her when she was working in Lepanto because we were both in Benguet, and we traveled together to Puerto Princesa, Palawan many years ago. It was supposed to be a solo trip but when she found out about my trip, she asked if she could join me. Violet was working in Palawan at that time so she joined us when we visited the Underground River and when we went to Dos Palmas. We’ve had so much fun during that trip.
It’s very sad that I won’t get to see Joby again. She was planning on visiting me in La Union in December 2019, but it was canceled because her friend that was supposed to go with her had an anxiety attack.
Joby succumbed to Covid 19, along with her grandmother and uncle. Some of her relatives tested positive as well. Our classmates are trying to raise funds to help with the expenses. If you would like to extend help to her family, you can send through her sister’s Gcash: 09174641187 or BDO savings account: 004450153572. The account name is Rhodora R. Talla.
Bernard was only 38 and Joby, 36. They were still so young. Their passing was truly heartbreaking and made me realize that we really don’t know what might happen to us, so we must not waste a single day. Live your life to the fullest. Follow your heart and do what makes you happy. Live your life without regrets.
Things are getting worse in the Philippines again because of the Delta variant. Just when I thought things are getting better, we are again faced with this. But I pray that this nightmare will end soon. Let’s be extra careful. Get vaccinated if you have the opportunity. Any vaccine available out there is better than not having anything at all. Also, stay alert even if you’re already vaccinated. Always practice social distancing, sanitize, and wear your mask properly.
And if this current situation is affecting your mental health, reach out to your friends. Don’t keep things to yourself. Or you can reach out to me. I’m not really good at saying the right words, but I’m a good listener.
Stay safe everyone! And to Joby and Bernard, may you both rest in peace. I will miss you both.
