Today, I remember Reb.
October 9, 2022 — this was just a regular Sunday for me. I was so enthralled with what I watched on Netflix that I didn’t see a message from Charm. Charm, Chiela, and I were Reb’s Angels. The message references Charlie’s Angels since our group had three girls and one boy.
Like most groups of friends, we had a group chat. We call it “OPPA Squad”. We posted our daily updates on that chat group — career talk, oppa talk, travel talk, Hallyu talk, internet jokes, etc. In 2022, our conversations turned into health updates, mostly about Reb’s condition.
That Sunday was the worst Sunday of my life. I have known Reb since 2009. One thing that tied the two of us together was that we were both going through a breakup in 2009. We joked about that story often. He called me “Cyclops” (X-Men) because my eyes were puffy and red every time I went to work. Lol. This is just one of the many Reb jokes in my memories since we started as friends in 2011.
It’s hard to lose a friend. Reb was never that friend whom I shared a lot of moments with only during our term as officemates but eventually lost touch with after my resignation. Reb was that friend who genuinely took care of me from my early 20s until my early 30s. He was generous, patient, consistent, and the life of the crowd.
It’s really hard to lose a friend. But you have no choice but to move forward. Pray for comfort and healing because God knows what He is doing. Even if it’s painful, the Lord, for sure, knows what He is doing. I seek comfort in remembering how good of a person Reb was. And with that, I praise God for even knowing him. More than that, I wanted everyone to know how thankful I am for his life. In big moments and small moments, Reb was there.
When I learned about Reb’s death on October 9 last year, I was lost for words. I didn’t know what to say. I had regrets. I missed Reb’s call because I was tired after taking my vaccine shots. That was his last call and we never heard from him ever since.
Maybe it ended just the way it is. Because our last conversation was full of laughter. He told me that his body didn’t accept hospital food but only Subway sandwiches. Social di ba. And that’s how I will remember you, kap. You and your sense of humor.
But I never said thank you. And I had a hard time expressing it. Reb, you deserve a lot of thank you’s. And on your first death anniversary, allow me to say some of the thank-you’s that I owe you:
Thank you for dropping me off at the MOA terminal every after-office shift. You never even asked us to chip in for gas; what’s important for you was we went home safe.
Thank you for always nagging me whenever I was late at work. With that, I learned how important being a role model is as a leader.
Thank you for being our cupid, supporting our OPPA pursuits since day 1 even if it meant traveling far north late at night. Lol. Oh, my twenties. Tehee.
Thank you for introducing us to great experiences from food to music. I didn’t know Recipes (restaurant in Greenbelt 3) and Shangrila before I met you. Right now, whenever I go to high-end restaurants, I remember you.
Thank you for encouraging me, and standing with me when I feel discouraged, bullied, or aggravated. You would always tell me, “Hayaan mo sila, kapatid. Pag binuksan naman yung puso mo, ginto yan, pwede mo na isanla!” And I would just laugh and suddenly, my day was better.
Thank you for your generosity. When I was a working student, you even offered to pay for my phone bills just because I couldn’t reply to your messages. Lol. “Ano, Ordiales, nag-abroad ka na ba??!”
Thank you for always boosting my confidence, sending me random messages on IG: “Walang kasing banayad naman, kap. Kawangis ng kagandahan. Napakanipis!” HAHAHAHA.😂
Thank you for always pushing me to go after my dreams, first off: my dream destination. I remember you when I was traveling in South Korea. I looked back at your messages and you even told me: “Baka hindi ka na umuwi kapatid, baka makapangasawa ka na ng BTS.” And then I answered, “Ayaw mo non, half Filipino, half Korean yung angkan ko.” And you jokingly replied, “Half Filipino, half bubuli!” HAHA. 😂😂😂
Thank you for the laughter. Because that’s everything that you’ve given us for the last decade you’re with us. You made sure we were always happy. And we will continue to be happy.
The list goes on. I sighed a lot today just remembering Reb. I’ve lost a great friend. A real one. But I will find comfort in knowing how blessed we all were for the time we were with you... Forever grateful to you, kapatid. We will always leave one vacant chair whenever Charm, Chiela, and I meet. Promise.
