By Rex Catubig

 

FOR some time in the past, I didn’t know I was on a most wanted list. “Artlets Most Wanted” was the title of a group email that announced I had been found. Artlets is the acronym of our college in UST–the College of Arts and Letters, and the sleuth who found the prodigal me and wrote about it was William “Billy” Esposo, erstwhile bigger-than-life stage actor of our University theater guild, who had by then become a bigger figure following the EDSA People Power. In fact, he was one of Cory’s closest allies and served under her government.

I was on my way back to Los Angeles where I was based when I got this call in my hotel room. Lo and behold, it was Billy Boy and it was like we were college students all over again.

We didn’t see each other that time but I promised I’d be around to reconnect with our college group on my next vacation.

And it happened that way. Each year, I would take time off from my hotel work and spend the holidays in the Philippines. I always came home during the Thanksgiving week and every time, Billy with the logistical support especially of Philippine Advertising scholar Marylocke Sardalla (who gave up career in favor of family), would organize a reunion among our closely knit group.

And on one Thanksgiving week, Marylocke documented as nine years ago, we gathered for lunch at the trendy and uppity Bulgogi Brothers Korean Restaurant in Greenbelt.

Billy, had by then, become sicker as days went by. But he held on and stood his ground. He wouldn’t go gently into the good night.

I gave him as present that day, his favorite Raspberry flavor Life Savers. Though he was diabetic, he had a sweet tooth and wouldn’t think twice of having the leche plan I gave the year before. In fact, he bugged me to get him a couple more.

As usual when we got together, we were all in celebratory mood but really got the surprise of our life when Billy announced he was footing the bill. We had always adhered to the practice of sharing the cost of our food, but that day, the norm was broken.

Well, it was Thanksgiving, so we accepted the kind gesture with gratitude and appreciation.

Little did we know that that Thanksgiving lunch would be our last with Billy. Always generous in friendship, that Thanksgiving turned out to be his way to say goodbye.

There is much to thank for in this life. But I reserve my most heartfelt to the persons who have been beside me, and behind me, and before me, and above and below me,  as I ferried through the waves and riptides of the wild river of my life.

Billy is one of them. Thank you for the friendship, and the lasting memories.

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