Who likes Despedidas?

I’m leaving the Philippines in 4 days for the US and I have tons of work to do, friends to see, despedidas with officemates, team mates, friends and families. Sometimes I wonder if despedidas are the last time friends and families want to have the last free food and drinks before somebody leaves. But I guess that’s ok, I mean we wont be seeing each other in a long time and the truth is I will be buying the booze when I come back!

I haven’t had a despedida before but I think of it as a happy goodbye with free drinks. It’s sort of a joke just so they can hackle some freebies from you but it is only true to non-friends. With true friends It’s a celebration to mask the loneliness that one is leaving and no amount of twits, facebooking will ever be enough to fill the void. Funny thing about life is that it continues to move and everybody else move on with it. I just hope you all remember me. If not, well at least Im hoping that you all be well.

My Best Friend

I cannot count how many times we got drunk and how many things we’ve done together. I remember the first booze (The Bar) and I won’t mention the other firsts because our wives have access to this blog. Funny thing about best friends is that you don’t need to see each other that often and still when you see each other it seems likes you are updated. Its like a cosmic interconnection of sort. Weird sometimes but comforting.

Katips at Katipunan with my childhood friends

Clockwise: Boi Hatol my best friend, Boojie Basilio and Jordan Del Rosario

My close friends

What can I say. These friends I see almost everyday and as impatient as I am, these people I tolerate the most. Well  I really don’t  have much of a choice. They’re there pestering you most when work is over your head and its seems ok to me. They’re there most of the time even if you needed to be alone. They are great for parties and to talk to and they are the best people to ask questions to. 

My officemates

I actually enjoy work because of these people. Sure they are people at the different end of the spectrum but that’s probably what I enjoy about them. Working and making fun of work are best expressed with these guys. Funniest of the group and probably the hippest. These are the people I stay in touch with after departing with them from this office. Good luck to y’all!

 

 My Team

Greatest people that shed sweat, blood and tears with me. Has been there through thick and thin with me. Understands my mood in the office and empathize because we share the same sentiments. I will work with these peeps in a heartbeat. I hope that it will be soon. I miss you and will continue to miss working with you. Keep the faith! 

 

My Family

The weirdest of them all! After all these years I still don’t understand you. It’s a complex mesh of different personalities, conflicts and sheer fun. Different Uncles and Aunts, Cousins from all over the world making great and silly things. Whatever the conflicts and shocking news it seems blood truly is a bond that one cannot deny. After all the conflicts, the tears, we find a venue and time to just laugh it off and renew our love for each other. So to my Mom and Dad wherever they are, I have to congratulate you for making a really odd family with different kicks and Love and God in the center of it all. I love you family and I do know you love me.

So who likes despedidas? I for one loved it! I wish it doesn’t need to happen because all the peeps you see here I will miss with all my heart but this is temporary and for a reason. Whatever happens you have left a footprint in my being and I will always remember the good times and laugh at the bad. Whoever we are after the despedidas lay in the mercy of the wind. We may land somewhere else, some will not land at all but when you touch base on the ground we are what breed we are and we will blossom and continue to share the sheer beauty, oddness and complexity of who we are. Wherever you are, I will remember you…..because Love never forgets. I will miss you all! ‘til then.