Chep. One of my first teammates under Mommy Dheng in HSBC. Particularly annoying when he does his corny jokes… Especially when he belts out a song inspired from the last word you mentioned. Darn, I got that annoying habit from being his seatmate for some months;p Annoying that he’s always cool and spiffy in his business casual wear - nary a hair out of place. Always in ironed polo, slacks and shiny leather shoes. Of course, the trademark black jacket. Never really took notice that they were all branded. Annoyingly nice guy who pokes fun at the most irritating and exasperating cardmembers you can hear from. I think I rarely saw him ask for a sup call… if he ever did. Mommy Dheng will have to remind me. The dude’s been married for around 3 or 4 years. Loyal, feeling macho husband who would not let his wife work. Telling me when I asked why, "Dun lang siya sa bahay. Nagpapaganda para sa ‘kin." Back then, I found it a bit too caveman-ish being the modern independent woman that I thought I was. I shrug my shoulders thinking that’s his own business - he didn’t have kids to support anyway. But, he was also a parent of sorts to his nephew left by his sister and her Japanese husband who were based in Japan. I remember him using SLs just to take care of the kid. Also a businessman at heart, he was taking care of the family business, a water station, while doing rackets as a seller of used cars and car parts. A particularly good reason why Chep and Niko, another teammate, hit it off apart from their being videoke kings. Can’t keep that smile off my face remembering how we’d end our shift singing the corniest love songs in history. "Reasons" of EWF comes to mind. Right, Tere? A quiet man that was my first impression. Next thing you know he’s spouting of jokes, songs and based on his stories, he was also a dancer ala Streetboys. Di mo aakalain especially with that knee problem he was getting therapy for during his last days in HDPP.
Why am I writing this? It’s just that I hate how he’s been annoying me since Saturday. I come to work Saturday 1AM after 3 hours of sleep because of school and MOA traffic. Next thing I know, Ponch is standing beside my workstation looking dead serious. Ponch always has a smile for me if not a bleary grin. I didn’t get to talk because I was in a call. Next thing I know, Daddy Berns is beside me telling me Chep died due to drowning two days ago. I could hardly believe it. I refused to believe till I see for myself. I had all these questions in my head. Chep was my age - just plain impossible! So after work, I go to Festi and buy a mass card at National still with that thought that somebody’s just pulling my leg. Four of us, Daddy Berns, Marlowe, Ponch and I went to Imus, Cavite where the wake was. When we got to Chep’s parents’ village, we got lost for around 30mins till we finally got it into our heads to ask for a sketch from the guard. Arrgh! What is bangag… Anyway, when we got there - I immediately identified Chep’s mom - it must be the eyes… They were kinda chinky but not too chinky - just like Chep’s. We went in and there he was lying in a casket - open for all to see. He looked like he was just sleeping - even had a smile on his face. I was expecting a closed casket because of all those bloated images I remember from drowning victims. We asked Chep’s mom the inevitable question - What happened? Apparently, it’s still a mystery. All she can tell is Chep and Ace, Chep’s wife, were together when it happened. Chep’s wife wasn’t there to recount it so we only had Chep’s mom as the source. Tita said Ace wasn’t consistent with her story which is quite understandable given the trauma of losing Chep. I could only speculate that it was an undertow due to the high tide that afternoon. Ace told Tita that they were in Bolinao, Pangasinan to celebrate a couple’s anniversary if I remember correctly. Chep led the whole group to a secluded area of the beach since he was familiar with the place. Later in the afternoon, Chep was being called back to land but said that he and Ace were going back in. Sigh, the foolishness of youth. Next thing they knew, they were being dragged out to sea. Chep was holding hands with Ace keeping her above water but he
stiffened and let go of Ace’s hands. Supposedly, Ace tried pulling him
up. Ace managed to stay afloat and was pulled to a rocky shore by a native. Ace said that she told the native that Chep was still in the water but rescue came after a long 20 mins. Ironic considering Chep was the only strong swimmer in the group. You can tell that Tita was really angry relaying this without directly pointing a finger. When they got him, he still had a pulse. A student nurse in the group attempted CPR but apparently there was too much water in his lungs. They rushed him to the hospital but lost him on the way. Despite the seeming bitterness, Tita said it was really an unfortunate accident and no matter what the results from the autopsy show, it is really pointless to put the blame on anyone knowing it won’t bring Chep back to life. She said at the very least, Chep died saving his wife’s life. It was at that point that I was about to cry but I managed to pull myself together. Isn’t that the greatest way to die? To sacrifice one’s self for another.
We didn’t stay long since all of us were going to HDPP’s GlamNation party that night. On the way home, Daddy Berns, Marlowe and I can’t help but reminisce how Chep was when we were all still in one team. The phrases - gone too soon, life is so short kept ringing in my ears as Marlowe got sentimental. Life really is a mystery. God gives and God takes. And as usual, I try to find meaning in what happened. Why Chep? There’s something to be said about this annoying dude. How he grabbed life and made the most of it. Married at 22 - asked him why again - he says, it was just time. His wife wasn’t pregnant or anything like that. A man unafraid of commitment. Taking in a job so he and his wife can have medical benefits. Then, resigning to start a new business. I take a look at my life and I haven’t done half of what he’s done. I’ve always been cautious picking the safe and guaranteed path. People tend to stay where they are because of this fear - not knowing that maybe the very next day, the good Lord will take us and we haven’t even begun to experience life yet. Oh, Chep, you pesky dude! I hope you’re having fun wherever you are. I’d rather keep you alive in my head and heart. Yeah, there are some people who will always be alive and healthy to us. And that doesn’t go for everyone I know who’s passed. I could only hope to be remembered as a person who’s made the best of it all. So here’s to you, Chep - may God give you a smashing good time up there!
