Story of how the loss of my friend changed the way I live.

Wayback 2007,Naaalala ko ang di makabasag pinggan na katahimikan ni Raprap. We were in the same section when we was kindergarten, And yung bahay nila ay sa likod lang namin, then yung school namin sa harap naman ng bahay namin. My father and his father (Kuya Mon) known each other since their childhood.

Bata pa lang ako, I was inclined to smell things, Palagi ko napapansin ang mga pabango, si Raprap palagi ko naamoy ang halimuyak ng pabango niyan haha, Bata palang si Raprap, Sinasabi sakin ng mama ko, Alagang alaga yan ng Mama niya, kaya palaging malinis at mabango. That’s what I always notice about Raprap. Malinis talaga si Raprap bata palang, Naaalala ko din parehas din kaming may buntot sa batok ni raprap dati haha, paboritong hawiin ng teacher namin.

When we were Elementary, We are no longer the same school, Nag-aral si Raprap sa Makati and dito ako sa Manila, We have a different school that has caused us to gradually lose our friendship. Naging mahiyain kami na pansinin isa’t isa. Pag magkakasalubong kami, angatan lang ng kilay, Minsan di na nagpapansinan haha dahil parehas kaming mahiyain.

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Hanggang sa mag-High School na kami, Nag-aral na kami sa parehas na eskwelahan, That time rin, Sacristan na siya dito sa aming Parokya, mas dumami kaibigan niya.

Nang mag grade 9 kami, Naging magkaklase kami, Napunta kami sa iisang section, masasabi kong sobrang solid ng section, A few months passed, August 2016, Unti unti bumabalik pagkakaibigan namin ni Raprap na nawala din ng ilang taon. Doon rin nagsimula na araw-araw na kaming sabay pumasok, Everytime na pupunta na ako sa bahay nila, tatawagin ko na yan “Raprap, Raprap!” Sasagot Mama niya “wait lang, nandyan na”, Paglalabas na yan ng bahay nila, aasarin ko yan, “Naligo ka na naman ng pabango” Tutugon siya ng tawa sabay mura. Then while walking, Napagkukwentuhan na namin about nung Kinder pa kami haha, na kapag nagsasalubong kami di kami nagpapansinan, Nagsisishan pa nga kami. at kung ano-ano pa. Palagi niya ako pinipilit magsimba pero kahit isang yaya niya di ko sinipot. Doon ko rin nalaman, how he value and prioritise the Church and the people there. May yabang si Raprap but what I said, He knows how to value, love and appreciate things and people especially his family and friends , Ito yung naghi-higlight everytime na makakasama ko siya palagi

Hanggang sa araw-araw na yun,Palagi na, sabay kaming papasok, kung minsan sabay naring uuwi. Kung minsan hindi kami sabay dahil mga may importante din kaming mga ginagawa like group works, projects. I can’t say that He’s my Best friend that time kasi may kanya kanya rin kaming kaibigan, Pero karamihan naman ng kaibigan niya, kaibigan ko na rin. Pero between us, Masasabi kong SOLID. He knows how to value and appreciate a friend,Alam niya yung nararamdaman ng isang tao. Marunong siya maki-bagay.

Buwan pa ang dumaan, Mas naging matibay pa pagkakaibigan namin which caused me to gradually know him better at ng mga kaibigan rin namin, Madalas na tumambay si Raprap at iba pa naming kaibigan dito sa bahay kaya naging firm lalo yung friendship na meron ang bawat isa.

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GRADE 10 (JUNE TO AUGUST 2017)

Brigada Eskwela noon, May 2017, Then saktong nilabas na yung list ng sections para sa mga incoming Grade 10,Nakita ko hiwalay na kami ng section ni Raprap, Agad ko siya chinat “Pre sabay parin tayo pasok?” then, he replied, “Kailangan paba imemorize yan haha” Lakas makaDJ no? Haha

Nang mag-grade 10 kami, Morning session na kami, 5:20AM kailangan nasa likod na ako (Bahay nila) 5:30AM kailangan nakaalis na kami,Ayan ang usapan. Minsan 6am wala pa ko sa tapat nila o di pa ako online, Dalawa ginagawa niyan ni Raprap haha, madalas pupunta na yan sa tapat ng bahay namin, pero nakasimangot haha, Minsan iniiwan nako hahaha. Magchachat na lang siya na nakaalis na siya. That’s just the way we lived then. Haha.

INTRAMURALS DAY AUGUST 18 2017

August 18, 4:30 AM, Nagbukas ako messenger, then nakita ko si Raprap online na, Bigla siya nagchat, “Russ sabay tayo” Pero sabi ko di ako makakasabay dahil 6am pa ako aalis, Tumugon siya “Sige lang, 6am tayo” Pero pinapauna ko na siya, That time makulit siya, 5:30AM na non, Bibili ako almusal, then nakita ko siya na papasok na tapos pinipilit niya parin na sabay kaming pumasok ng umagang yon pero pinapauna ko na siya “Ingat Russel” yan ang huling sinabi niya sakin.

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Hindi ko alam na ng umagang yon ay huling beses ko ng maaamoy ang halimuyak ng pabango niya, Mapapalitan na pala ng halimuyak ng mga bulaklak at kandila.

AUGUST 18, 5PM “TAPOS NA ANG MASAYANG INTRAMS”

Hindi kami sabay sabay umuwi dahil kasabay ko kaibigan namin at kasabay niya mga kaklase niya. Nakauwi na ako bandang 5:15PM, Nahiga ako ng biglang may nagchat sakin via Messenger.

“Russ, kilala mo ba yung Joseph Munar ?” Oo ang reply ko. at nagtanong ako ng bakit. “Nasagasaan kase” But I ignored it because I thought I was being prank.

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Lumipas ang 15 mins, Muling nagchat yung babae “Kuya patay na.” Para akong binuhusan ng tubig. Agad akong umakyat at umiyak sa Mama. I was restless, Raprap ako ng raprap. Tumakbo akong naka-paa papunta sa bahay nila at, Napaluhod ako sa sobrang panghihina, Sinundo ko ang lolo niya at sabay kaming pumunta sa pinangyarihan.

“Mom why do the best people die early?

” When your in a garden, which flower do you pick? “The most beautiful ones”

Dumating kami sa riles, Napakaraming tao, Habang papalapit kami ng Lolo niya, Nasalubong ako ng kaibigan namin, Agad kong tinanong “Si raprap nga?” Tumungo siya at nanginginig ang kamay. I ran and approached. He is, Raprap indeed, Kitang kita ko ang kaibigan ko, I sat down beside his body, bowed my head and closed my eyes while calling his name, At that time, Ang bango bango. Tinanong ko sarili ko “Bakit nangyari kay Raprap ‘to?” As time went on, Sobrang lakas ng ulan, Dumarami ang tao, at isa isa ng nagdadatingan ang mga kaibigan nya, Both in Church and School.

Habang pauwi ako, Tulala ako at balisa. Naririnig ko sa paligid ko ang mga balita at mga taong nagtatanong kung si Raprap nga. Tumutungo lang ako,

Kinaumagahan, Habang nagaayos ako papuntang burol niya, Everything flashbacked since we were kindergarten, Habang naluha ako, Nagbagsakan lahat ng pabango na nasa likod ko. Siya agad ang naalala ko. Ang araw-araw na halimuyak ng pabango niya ay nagparamdam sakin.

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He’s gone. Wala na yung kasabay ko palagi pumasok haha💔. Wala ng mamimilit sakin magsimba! Wala na yung nagtuturo sakin magpataba haha. Pilit kong hinahanap ang sagot sa mga tanong na, Bakit? Bakit sa ganoong paraan?

THE LOSS OF MY FRIEND WAS THE WAY I GOT TO KNOW GOD.

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Lumipas ang ilang linggo, Sakristan na rin ako :>, Masaya ako. Somehow, I was able to continue what he started in Church , Sabi nga nila replacement. Kaibigan ko na rin ang mga kaibigan niya, Nawala man siya, Nagkaron naman ako ng mas marami pang kaibigan.

Magmula ng namatay si Raprap, Napakadami kong tanong sa sarili ko at sa Diyos, Pero habang tumatagal, Nasasagot.

Sabi ko noon sa sarili ko, Kumpleto na buhay ko, Perfect na, Masaya na. May pamilya ako, Masaya ako sa sarili ko at kumpleto mga kaibigan ko. I realized that life should not be perfect, Because once you get everything you want. You will lose time to know God better. Even in Raprap ‘s second life, he still introduces me to God :>

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Raprap has reached a place that we can no longer follow, rather di kami makakasunod pa dahil hindi pa namin oras. Raprap is already in a place where I can never pick him up again,Di ko na siya masusundo,Wala na akong susunduin :<. There is still pain until now because we can no longer hear his loud voices, laughs or jokes. Namimiss ko kaibigan ko.

“Greater love has no one than to lay down your own life for your friends”

JOHN 15:13

The loss of our friend brought another opportunity, hope and another chance. As long as I live, aalalahanin ko ang mga alaala, ang halimuyak ng kahapon at magpapasalamat sayo Pre!, I will be grateful for the rest of my life because I had a friend like you :>. Ikaw ang naging dahilan kung bakit nakilala ko ang Diyos. Ang pagkawala mo ang naging daan ko papunta sa Diyos. Salamat! Hanggang sa muling maamoy ko ulit ang Halimuyak ng pagkakaibigan natin Pre. Mahal ka namin.

Bros abbreviation for brothers; a male sibling or  male comrade or friend; one who shares one’s ideals.

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Sabi ng nakararami kapag nabarkada ka daw, it will ruin your life,and may possibility na masira pati pagaaral mo.

Greater love has no one than to lay down your own life for one’s friend

John 15:13

Being an altar server is a great honor to deepen our faith and love. Una akala ko, ang pagseserve are only to know the flow of the mass, on how and why to give honor to God, on how to wear an alb or cassock. Pero may nabubuo rin pala habang binubuo mo yung mga yan. That thing called “Barkada “

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BARKADA

One time, I looked at them and I ask myself, Why i am belong to this kind of gang? But then i realized, What would I do without them?

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Minsan napaisip ako, Life without them would be the worst adventure at all. Iba yung nakasanayan mo, Iba yung palaging andyan para sayo. Iba yung totoo, Hahanap-hanapin mo. :), Despite of our every beliefs, wants or will, trips? We all choose to be one. Ang kaaway ng isa ay kaaway ng lahat, One’s trip is everyone’s trip. Ang gala ng isa ay gala ng lahat, Ang laro ng isa ay laro ng lahat. The one thing I’ve learnt in this group is the quality of friendship, Its to understand and to be understood. Hangga’t kaya mo sila intindihin, mabubuo at mabubuo parin, Because we are one

CHRIST-CENTERED

As long as we have Christ in our lives, we’re still brothers 🙂 And as long the moon gives light and till the water runs dry. We still brothers, Hanggat kumukuha kami ng litrato sa likod ng dambana, Magkakaibigan kami. Kaya naming suportahan lahat ng bagay na ginagawa namin. Hangga’t tama.

A brother is also having the power to turn your frown into a smile

BROTHERS FROM DIFFERENT MOTHER💯

That thing called “Barkada” We have not ruined our own education and lives. Instead, We take our friendship into inspiration and motivation to hold on. There is no such things as a coincidence. People met for a special reason. And I know because of God’s will and plan. Naging magkakaibigan kami.

We’re not like other circle of friends na perfect. Hindi kami perfect group. May misunderstanding rin sa grupo kung minsan but as long as we have God in our hearts,Hanggat nirerespeto namin ang desisyon ng bawat isa, As long as kaya naming suportahan ang bawat isa, As long as may oras kami para tulungan ang bawat isa. Magpapatuloy kami 🙂

BROS (MAX, MARC, RUSS, CLONG JES)

Ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay hindi mabubuwag nino man.

“Boks” when it comes to military, that means is bunchmate, roommate or buddy 🙂 . But to us, that also means “boss” because our parents are boss. and “Marites” mother of Joemar, A Mother that full of care to each one of us, we choose his mother‘s name because we always often stand by in there house where everything started, Yes we are firm. We are firm to face every trials,every challenge outside. Basta kaya namin lahat harapin pagdating sa ibang bagay. But we are weak when it comes to ourselves.

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People met for a special reason, ika nga nila “Everything happens for a reason” Hindi lang basta basta nabuo ang grupo na ‘to. May kanya kanya ring grupo na kinabibilangan ang bawat isa but because of God’s plan. Yes, we believe that because of God’s will and plan. We are now one. , Justine, Johnrenz, Joemar, Regina, Aubrey, Ericka, Keatle and Me. We have our own perspectives in life but we respect each other. Despite of our every beliefs, religion, trips, wants. We all choose to be one. I admit that we’re not a perfect group like other circle of friends. We all have our own weaknesses. Mahihina kami pagdating sa sarili namin, Mahina kami pagdating sa grupo. Kapag yung sa grupo na yung may problema? Di namin kaagad masolusyunan. There is a misunderstanding, pride or anger in our group sometimes because we are not perfect.

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I remember the day that we are there at naguusap usap kami tungkol sa realidad ng buhay. Thereafter,we embraced, we hug each other and prayed, Humiling kami sa Diyos na sana huling grupo na ‘to, we ask God to help us in every trials that come in the group. and md44as maging solid pa at pinakahiniling namin ay yung maging center Siya ng grupo na’ to at pang lifetime na yung circle of friends namin.

MY TRIBE…

A few weeks ago, Lord immediately heard our wish for the group to be more solid. We can’t imagine that in the picture above, Yung nasa likod pala namin na nakisali lang sa likod ay magiging kabilang na pala sa grupo namin, And finally were now officially BOKS 9/9✨These are the people I can call “This is my tribe” , because they are truly one of a kind and words can’t describe the kind of bond and connection we share to each one of us. Kapag may movement or steps akong ihahakbang sila pa yung unang magiisip, Kasi naniniwala silang kaya ko 🙂

Yung grupo na’to masasabing solid, Very solid, so much fun, so many stories,Maraming kwela sa buhay, so many laughs and tears, Lahat na yata? But there are things that we really dont understand why it happen, Nakalimutan namin hilingin kay Lord na patatagin kami kapag andyan na yung trial. Mapapaisip ka nalang bigla, Is this a test for us? Ito naba yung trial ni Lord? Or it is our own faults why it happened?

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Maraming magagandang bagay ang nangyari na sa grupo. Pero marami ding hindi magagandang pangyayari. Na noon hindi ko /namin maintindihan kung bakit nangyayari? Humihingi ako ng key kay Lord kung paano namin malalampasan yung mga hindi magagandang bagay na nangyayari sa grupo namin. Pero nasa harap na pala namin yung susi para maayos yung pagsubok Niya, Hindi pa namin makita kita. That’s because we are full of selfishness, Pride and anger in our heart.

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Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain, It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.

-Muhammad Ali

There are things we really do not expect to happen, Hindi pala palagi dapat na masaya, Hindi palaging kwela ang usapan. Hindi pala pwedeng mangyari palagi yung mga bagay na nakasanayan mo sa pang-araw-araw. Because of Love? Because of Jealousy? Because of Priorities? Because of Time? Because of Pride and Anger? Nagkawatak-watak kami.

There are many things that anger and pride can do. Lots of hurtful words can come out of our mouth, which we dont even want to say. Pero dahil sa galit mabibitawan talaga natin. Ultimo yung pinagsamahan niyo, di mo na maiisip or maaalala dahil sa anger. We came to the point na di na talaga nagusap usap as if we had never known each other. Kasi nga may galit sa mga puso namin. Durog ang puso ng bawat isa sa amin. The group was divided into two.

FORGIVENESS

A few months ago. Na-open ulit ang issue. Nalaman ng bawat isa na nagaantayan nalang kami ng sari sariling desisyon, Decision to forgive, Decision to rebuild our group somehow. And Yes, Somehow, we rebuilded our group. Although its not the same as before. But we still believe that God is at our center. Maniniwala akonh Mabubuo at mabubuo ulit kami. It takes time.

In our experience, I have realized a lot, that a friend is someone that can tell you the bitter or embrassing truth about yourself and call you out of all your wrong doings and Im so blessed to have this kind of people

I think Ive learned everything to this group, Its to hang on, stay connected, fight for each other, (hindi yung kami yung magaway away haha) Dont take this for granted

I believe and I will always believe that this group is part of the glue that holds life and faith together. ❤️

Kung may dapat man akong ipagyabang, ipagmalaki bukod sa pamilya ko? Sila yun.💯 Kaya ko ipagsigawan sa buong mundo kung ano kami.

As long as stars twinkle little stars how i wonder what you are, Dejoke haha, As long as stars twinkle in the sky, As long the moon gives us light, Till the water runs dry, and till the day I die. I will always treasure every seconds, every minutes, every day, every months and years the memories that we have.

FINAL STAGE

A friend is also having the power to turn your frown into a smile and to lenf a shoulder for you to cry on.

Congratulations mga BOKS haha, pagtapos natin sa college aantayin ko kayo sa wall :). God bless sa new journey ng buhay natin and always remember that you are boks! And boks is Christ-centered. Diba, si God center natin 🙂 At lahat ng boks palaban haha. . And sa pagbabalik dapat natin sa wall mga Professionals na dapat tayoo. Sir and Ma’am na ang tawag satin para hindi tayo pababain ng guard doon haha, Kung maka-meet man kayo ng new circle of friends. Always remember parin na may Russel na nagiintay sainyo sa wall. GOODLUCK AND GODBLESS MGA BOKS. FLY HIGH BOKS! MAHAL KO KAYO! 🙏🏼 ✈️💯

MAGING MATAGUMPAY SANA LAHAT NG BOKS✨SA PAGLAKAD NATIN SA KANYA KANYA NATING LANDAS AT DAAN, WAG KAKALIMUTAN ANG FACE MASK HAHA. DJK, 

You can't win               at everything       but you can try🎶