In Memory of Neil

Our lives touched one brief moment of time. Seven days to be exact. He joined the Palawan Youth Build my friend Davy and I organized in 2004. One week. That was it. After that we never really got together again, except during accidental meetings exchanging simple hi’s and hello’s–that sort of thing. 

Last Saturday morning, Davy gave me a call. “Neil is dead,” he said. He died of leukemia. Wow. And I didn’t even know he was sick. I guess we weren’t close enough to know the details of each other’s lives. Regardless of that one little detail, it still felt weird hearing that someone so young and so vibrant has died. He was full of the vigor of young manhood during our Youth Build days.

Davy asked me if I would attend his funeral today. I told him I can’t since I have an appointment and Neil’s place in Quezon Province is too far away. Honestly, I don’t think I would’ve gone even if I didn’t have my appointment at UPFI this afternoon. It’s not that I don’t want to pay my last respects. It’s that I just don’t want to see him in that lifeless state. I have the photos we took during our Palawan trip. I think I prefer to remember him that way–young, energetic, naughty but nice–alive. 

Goodbye, Neil. See you when Jesus comes again . . . .

 (Neil is the one with the rising sun bandana on his head.)

 (Neil is the shirtless guy wearing the sunglasses.)

 (Neil is on the bottom right in this photo.)

  (Neil is at the center wearing the red shorts.)

 (Neil is once again shirtless and with sunglasses on.)

(Neil is the guy in yellow t-shirt.)

  (Neil is up front wearing a yellow t-shirt and red shorts.)

 (Neil is shirtless sitting in front of the banner–in front of the word BUILD.)

 (Neil is behind the first letter E of the word WELCOME in this photo; still shirtless with his sunglasses on his head.)

 (Neil is the shirtless guy with his yellow t-shirt on his shoulder.)

(Neil is fifth from the right.)

 (Neil is the one wearing a red cap.)

 (Neil is in a squatting-sitting position up front wearing the white t-shirt.)

 (A photo of Neil with his wife and child. Copied it from his Friendster account.)