For Manong James

James Nestryl

July 16, 1981- June 18, 2007

Hide and seek is a game we used to play when we were small. You were always good in hiding. Sometimes, we would just give up looking for you and wait for you to go out in your hiding place. You always got angry with us because we’re supposed to play Hide and Seek not Hide and Give UP. We threatened you that we’ll not let you play with us again if you’ll continue to be the perfect “hider”. But the next time we played, well…

I never thought that you’ll carry this hiding habit of yours to your death.

Your sudden passing leaves us all in shock and pain. And I am angry at you because of this. You didn’t even gave us a single opportunity to say goodbye. Why do you have to hide?!

But despite what you’ve done, I’ll always love and remember you. You’re my irreplaceable Manong James. I hope you’re comfortable wherever you are now.

Eric’s Song- Vienna Teng 

Strange how you know inside me
I measure the time and I stand amazed
Strange how I know inside you
My hand is outstretched toward the damp of the haze

And of course I forgive
I’ve seen how you live
Like a phoenix you rise from the ashes
You pick up the pieces
And the ghosts in the attic
They never quite leave
And of course I forgive
You’ve seen how I live
I’ve got darkness and fears to appease
My voices and analogies
Ambitions like ribbons
Worn bright on my sleeve

Strange how we know each other

Strange how I fit into you
There’s a distance erased with the greatest of ease
Strange how you fit into me
A gentle warmth filling the deepest of needs

And with each passing day
The stories we say
Draw us tighter into our addiction
Confirm our conviction
That some kind of miracle
Passed on our heads
And how I am sure
Like never before
Of my reasons for defying reason
Embracing the seasons
We dance through the colors
Both followed and led

Strange how we fit each other

Strange how certain the journey
Time unfolds the petals
For our eyes to see
Strange how this journey’s hurting
In ways we accept as part of fate’s decree

So we just hold on fast
Acknowledge the past
As lessons exquisitely crafted
Painstakingly drafted
To carve ourselves instruments
That play the music of life
For we don’t realize
Our faith in the prize
Unless it’s been somehow elusive
How swiftly we choose it
The sacred simplicity
Of you at my side