Arnel Villanueva's Last Letter To Our Batch (July 11, 2007)

Dear Classmates,

Dakal a dakal a salamat kareng pangadi yu at kareng cards a pepadala yu matula ku at pasalamatan da kayu at eyu ku pa akalingwan. Tutu pin itang amanuan mu Bong na God is good. Maragul ku pasalamat king Guinu tamung Jesus Christ at alampasan ke itang surgery at successful ya. Ing Guinu tamung tagapagligtas ing bibie lakas ngeni kaku at king pamilya mi uling balu mi alang imposible kaya basta magbalik kamu lub kaya at manyad tawad at dinan na kang kapayapan at sikanan, anya pin ngeni manibat anyang mika personal relationship kami kaya ena kami magworry at ing takot mi king isip at puso milaku. E pala sapat itang kakilala mya mu at maniwala kamu kaya kailangan tanggapan me king pusu mu at eganagana maging mayan. Ngening kasalukuyan 5weeks na ku king bale after the surgery magpalakas ku pa ketang surgery ku actually eko pa mag chemo, makipag appoinment ku pa mu ketang oncologist at sabyan da kanaku ku nung makananu ing susunod a treatment ing gawan da kanaku nung magchemo ku at nanung klaseng chemo ing gawan da. Although sabi na ning Doktor kailangan kung magchemo, pangadi mi pa murin ena ku dumalan kaniti uling balu mi alang imposible kaya ( It is His will and not our will) maniwala kami na pepagaling na naku ning Guinu tamu anya ena kami magworry kaya ena kayu naman magworry basta magtiwala ta na mu kaya. Bista man king kasakitan masaya ku at aganaka yu ku dakal a dakal a salamat kareng pangadi yu e maglambat makauli kami naman kanyan at mikit ikit tamu. Sana manatili yang malakas ing Batch tamu at sana dakal ya pa asaupan ing Batch tamu. Kareng kumpare ku quits ta pa kareng aginaldo, karetang sinulat karetang cards eko migaganaka kakilala da kayu ngan malakas ku pa memorya adyang menga anestiya na ku.
God Bless to all of you take care and you are always in my prayers.

Thanks,

Arnel

Arnel Villanueva (Atty. Loi Sicat)

August 10, 2007


To: All our batchmates

I was in tears reading the message of Pareng Bok (Herrie) and I can't but reminisce also the good old days (sometimes "bad" days) also with our good friend ARNEL. His untimely demise is definitely a great loss not only to his family but to all of us his classmates, friends, kumpare and acquaintances.

Last Sunday (Aug. 5, 2007) we, together with Bok, Benjie and Dominic had scheduled for a badminton play and we were shocked and we felt bad when we learned of the untimely demise of our good friend ARNEL. We played for 1 hour and thereafter we proceeded to Madapdap Area to console with the family of our friend. There we were met by Tang Pepe, Dang Peng, Apung Asiang and Arnel's sister Jenny. They were all in tears as they saw us coming. We consoled them and we re-assured them that it is God's will and we told them that ARNEL is now peacefully re-united with His Creator. Thy Will Be Done. We never questioned God's Will but we can only be assured that he is now happily re-united with the Good Lord and he feels no more pain, suffering, anxiety and sadness.

As I had just said, I can still reminisce the good as well as the naughty days we had with pareng ARNEL. Just like Bok, ARNEL is also a childhood friend since our Nursery days. We were classmates from Nursery til Highschool. We got close to each other especially during our Third Year High School Days when we were eased out of the Honor Roll by MIss Paladin in English Class. We got the same grade of 79.9, the only line of 7 we got, thus, we were taken out of the Honor List. We did not feel angst over it but made sure that we can avenge and get back someday. Comes Fourth Year Highschool, our friendship strengthen and the final verdict came when our grades were higher than those in the listed Honorees. We cannot be included in the Honor List since the requirement is no line of 7 from 3rd year to 4th year. But since our grades are higher, the school was in dilemma to relax their policy and include us in the honor list. I was summoned together with ARNEL before the Office of the Principal and the Directress and told us their predicament. They asked us if we are willing to go up the stage to receive medal as honor students. ARNEL just left the decision-making to me. How noble and kind-hearted our firend who leaves his fate in my hand. But given the pride I exude, I told him that we will not accept their medaland told them, "enake man pu after keng medal, after kami pu keng karangalan at kabiyasnan a abalu mi". (kalalam na kabaldugan balamu mo balu mi pero penindigan mi na rin). The sad story is we did not receive medals as honor students and stood by our decision. That's how good bossom buddies hold on to each other.
\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> After graduation, we, together with Bok went to Manila to take our College Entrance Test. We took almost the entrance exams from all distinguished colleges and universities.\u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\>We stayed in our apartment in Manila and we were designated a small room with only one bed. We thus decided to pick on who will get the bed by lottery. Alas, it is our friend Bok who got the bed, I dont know if he tricked us, but Arnel and I contended ourselves lying in the flooring. See, how kind-hearted we are to give way to our friend Bok. "Lintik lang and walang ganti", but as karma works on as we went headed home from taking exams in\n UP Diliman, our friend Bok is having a stomach trouble. The bad timing is we were lost home. (melili kami pauli) Of course, what do you expect ? Atin mengapatakla. I and ARNEL are laughing our way home. (Sori, pareng Bok, I just cant forget this one)\u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> As the result of the exams were released, we went separate ways. Bok went to UP Baguio, I went to La Salle and Arnel went to MAPUA. Aliwa ya ing byasa keng math. During our college days when it is either Sem Break or Bakasyon, we see to it that we get to see and meet each other for different escapades. At one time, we were invited in St, Mary's to teach NCEE to 4th year students. Memye kaming review andyang pamola mi lamu. We also had different occasions to go mountain hiking in Arayat, Bird-Hunting in San Antun Baculud, Bowling in Gerifel Guagua andyang lakaran miya mu,\n Tennis king LM Park Guagua, etc. We also had our usual boys night out starting from Barangay Baculud andyang ambula mung nasi then til Angeles City and on our way home manakut kaming signboard at pag lipat mila. ARNEL is the quiet and kind type na emu pweding pag isipan gawang marok. That's why when I will borrow the car from Erpats, I'l tell him i ARNEL ing magmanehu because he knows that ARNEL is a disciplined driver. I got around four (4) different vehicles (old and new) and ARNEL is always the designated driver. Most of the times in our escapades, pa andam miya jeep ng Tatang na at dakal na malyari kanita andyang kargan miya mu beinte pesus gasolina. At one time awala miya takap itang keng laru ning saken at ne kamwa tatang na pero uling kaluguran de i ARNEL me absweltu kami kagad. ",1]
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After graduation, we, together with Bok went to Manila to take our College Entrance Test. We took almost the entrance exams from all distinguished colleges and universities.
We stayed in our apartment in Manila and we were designated a small room with only one bed. We thus decided to pick on who will get the bed by lottery. Alas, it is our friend Bok who got the bed, I dont know if he tricked us, but Arnel and I contended ourselves lying in the flooring. See, how kind-hearted we are to give way to our friend Bok. "Lintik lang and walang ganti", but as karma works on as we went headed home from taking exams in UP Diliman, our friend Bok is having a stomach trouble. The bad timing is we were lost home. (melili kami pauli) Of course, what do you expect ? Atin mengapatakla. I and ARNEL are laughing our way home. (Sori, pareng Bok, I just cant forget this one)


As the result of the exams were released, we went separate ways. Bok went to UP Baguio, I went to La Salle and Arnel went to MAPUA. Aliwa ya ing byasa keng math. During our college days when it is either Sem Break or Bakasyon, we see to it that we get to see and meet each other for different escapades. At one time, we were invited in St, Mary's to teach NCEE to 4th year students. Memye kaming review andyang pamola mi lamu. We also had different occasions to go mountain hiking in Arayat, Bird-Hunting in San Antun Baculud, Bowling in Gerifel Guagua andyang lakaran miya mu, Tennis king LM Park Guagua, etc. We also had our usual boys night out starting from Barangay Baculud andyang ambula mung nasi then til Angeles City and on our way home manakut kaming signboard at pag lipat mila. ARNEL is the quiet and kind type na emu pweding pag isipan gawang marok. That's why when I will borrow the car from Erpats, I'l tell him i ARNEL ing magmanehu because he knows that ARNEL is a disciplined driver. I got around four (4) different vehicles (old and new) and ARNEL is always the designated driver. Most of the times in our escapades, pa andam miya jeep ng Tatang na at dakal na malyari kanita andyang kargan miya mu beinte pesus gasolina. At one time awala miya takap itang keng laru ning saken at ne kamwa tatang na pero uling kaluguran de i ARNEL me absweltu kami kagad.
\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> We have so many escapades with our good friend ARNEL, but we can only remember that during those times, he\n really has a good and kind heart. Eke ni misan ikit mimwa i ARNEL. He is indeed a good person and a trusting friend. When he got married, mebawas ing pami-ikit mi uling mas dakal na ing oras keng pamilya. I know and I can attest that he really is a devoted husband and father to his family. I can also recall when I went to Singapore at atyu ya karin. Ken pamung airport selubungan na naku at iya ing meging tour guide ku. After keng office na puntalan naku hotel at mamasyal na kami. Anyang abalu ku munta ne Canada sinabi ku na puntalan ke at mag tour guide ya pasibayu kaku, but ena siguro posible uling king milyari. I was looking forward visiting them. I have so many plans and want to do the good old days with ARNEL but life as it is cannot be the same again.\u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> To my good friend ARNEL, I know that your are peacefully joined by our Good Lord and Creator, Thank you for all\n the times you had spent your life with us, your friends and we will surely miss all the good memories, experiences and other escapades we went through.\u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> To his beleved wife, Mareng Jen, his two kids and my inaanak, his mother Dang Peng, father Tang Pepe, Apung Asiang, his siblings Pau, Jen and Julie, you are all blessed with a good person by the name of ARNEL.\u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> Lastly, I and my family would like to extend to you our deepest and sincerest condolences and let us be thankful to the Good Lord that at one time or another He has lent to us a good person and be felt of his kindness, goodness and benevolence of heart.\u003cbr\>\u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> Loi (Aselo)\u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\> \u003cdiv\> P.S. This is not a eulogy, but a tribute to our good friend ARNEL.\u003c/div\>",1]
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We have so many escapades with our good friend ARNEL, but we can only remember that during those times, he really has a good and kind heart. Eke ni misan ikit mimwa i ARNEL. He is indeed a good person and a trusting friend. When he got married, mebawas ing pami-ikit mi uling mas dakal na ing oras keng pamilya. I know and I can attest that he really is a devoted husband and father to his family. I can also recall when I went to Singapore at atyu ya karin. Ken pamung airport selubungan na naku at iya ing meging tour guide ku. After keng office na puntalan naku hotel at mamasyal na kami. Anyang abalu ku munta ne Canada sinabi ku na puntalan ke at mag tour guide ya pasibayu kaku, but ena siguro posible uling king milyari. I was looking forward visiting them. I have so many plans and want to do the good old days with ARNEL but life as it is cannot be the same again.

To my good friend ARNEL, I know that your are peacefully joined by our Good Lord and Creator, Thank you for all the times you had spent your life with us, your friends and we will surely miss all the good memories, experiences and other escapades we went through.

To his beleved wife, Mareng Jen, his two kids and my inaanak, his mother Dang Peng, father Tang Pepe, Apung Asiang, his siblings Pau, Jen and Julie, you are all blessed with a good person by the name of ARNEL.

Lastly, I and my family would like to extend to you our deepest and sincerest condolences and let us be thankful to the Good Lord that at one time or another He has lent to us a good person and be felt of his kindness, goodness and benevolence of heart.

Loi (Aselo)

P.S. This is not a eulogy, but a tribute to our good friend ARNEL.

Arnel R. Villanueva (Herrie Rivera)

ARNEL R. VILLANUEVA

I am almost in shock by the sudden demise of my good friend Arnel. He was my childhood chum, by teenage buddy and the brother that I never had. When I last talked to him, though he tried to show me that he was doing fine & was in high spirits, I felt that somehow he was hurting, not physically but emotionally. Though I knew that he had found the strength from his renewed faith & love for God, I knew he was missing something. I knew that at the back of his mind, he was worried about his wife, his Mom & Dad, his Lola Asyang, his sisters and I am 100% sure, us his good friends.

Days before he left for Canada, he brought his family to my office to say goodbye. He was in high spirits because he knew that he had a great future ahead of him in his new adoptive country. He told me to process my papers immediately so that I’ll have the chance to horse around with him & another good friend Bernard who went there years ahead. Though he knew I am eyeing Vancouver, & he was going to be based in Toronto, he made it appear so easy for us to meet up. I guess that is how friends are, no distance or barriers can really split you apart.

From time to time, Arnel would call me to say hi & give his regards to our other close friends Loy, Benjie & Glen. When I would ask about his job, he would normally say he is doing fine but I did not realize that actually, he was doing GREAT! He had a good paying job, a pioneering status & trusted & respected by his peers. In fact, he was able to buy his own house & car within four years time, a fete that even oldtimers in Canada would take decades to achieve. That is Arnel, ever humble & low profile. He is not the type who would talk about his accomplishments or his achievements. The only time that you would hear him brag is about his kids. He said his boy is quite naughty (pilyo) & brave (matapang) while his girl is bright. I would always remind him that the chromosomes from being brave actually came from my Kumare who is “matapang”. To that we would have a hearty laugh. Indeed we love making fools of ourselves when we talk about our wives!

One time, he called to thank me when he heard that I hired his cousin Claire in our company. I told him there is really no need to be thankful because Claire was qualified & smart. Though it just so happened that Claire was her cousin & it was to her own merit that I hired her, he still believed that his being my good friend was a factor. I realize that the reason why he insisted is because that was how he would have acted if he had the same opportunity that I had. I have heard that he helped our dear friend Bernard transfer to his company. Somehow, he always wanted to help others. I remember when I was with another Japanese company, after arriving from Singapore, he would visit me in Clark. When he heard that I will be sending trainees to Japan, he was back the next day & brought along two (2) resumes. One was his cousin who eventually went to Japan & trained for 3 years & his brother in law. He wanted me to give Jen’s husband a break. That is the kind of brother that Arnel was to his sisters, very caring & compassionate. To him, his success is not complete if not everybody in the family is equally successful.

Since he was my friend from kindergarten, I could remember that we had our share of misunderstandings. The first one was when we elementary varsity players for our basketball team. We were second stringers. We were the type who were taken into the team not because we were athletically gifted but because we were tall though. When the game against Don Bosco Academy was developing into a blow-out & a picnic for the Bosconians, our coach, Joy Nuqui brought us in as a way of throwing in the towel. Arnel was the point guard & I acted as a center/forward. In the dying seconds of the game, he passed the ball to me, but I passed it back to him because I knew he was a better shooter. When I was preparing to cut in for a rebound, he instinctly passed the ball back to me smack into my face. No it did not hurt much but boy was I embarrassed…”liklak ne ing bola ngada pin”. I covered my face I tears started drifting from my eyes. I was taken out of the game & Arnel profusely apologized because he thought I lost my front teeth. No it did not hurt much but boy was I embarrassed…”liklak ne ing bola ngada pin”.

The second misunderstanding that we had was in 3rd year highschool, when we were both monitors (tagalinis). Well, he wanted the “bunot” & I wanted it too. So, words were exchanged and a shouting match ensued. Our class adviser then, Ms. Ann Angeles mediated. I was furious & so was Arnel. “Mapali ke pu buntuk”…A makanyan, Ms. Angeles got a glass of water & poured it over our head. She literally de-steamed us. After that, we shook hands & laughed at the manner on how things were patched up between us. I guess it is always quite simple to fix things with friends.

Just like any teenage boys, we had our own crushes. We had our share of hormonal overload too. Arnel was always secretive. He did not want others know who his crush was. But I knew her. She was Blanca Blanco. This is one thing that we also had in common, somehow we always felt that our crushes did not like us back. We always felt that we were ugly ducklings, unattractive & awkward. As the years passed, with all due fairness, we turned out to be very good family men…. Sorry na lang kayo di niyo kami natikman….that we would always say!

Yes we also had our swashbuckling & wild days. We literally drank like pigs. We started out with ambula in Barangay, then we would consume bottles of beer. The funny thing is we would always make sure that we all went home in good & safe condition. We always had a designated driver, Benjie, who was allergic to alcohol. The problem is, somehow, we always brought Benjie home first; talk about safety! So one day, the expected happened, I tore my tendon of Achilles when the car or was it a van…I guess it was a semi truck of Loy hit the wall infront of Benjioe’s house. Thank God our drunken days were over!

When we were busy charting our young careers, we would check on one another. Arnel spent his early professional years working for government while I resorted to having my own business. From time to time, he lent me his jeep when I had deliveries. When I joined PAGCOR, he went to Singapore. When I joined a Japanese company, he was on his way to Canada. Come to think of it, we almost always had opposite career paths but we always found ways to see each other, call or say regards to each other….Well that is friendship.

Arnel is always generous. I remember he gave me his sandals when he came from Singapore in exchange for my old sandals. One time when he visited me, he gave me a Singapore dollar because he forgot to buy me pasalubong. He always wanted to please his friends. He always wanted to share his blessings. When our town Bacolor was devastated by lahar, being the only boy in the family, I had the gargantuan task of extracating all our salvageable belongings. Since all my cousins were likewise busy evacuating, I had nobody to help me out. I brought along my girlfriend & her sister and that was it. I was all alone. I saw Arnel in the town proper. Though htheir house was also devastated, he gladly heeded my request for help when I told him about my predicament. He helped me the whole day. It just shows that he would always think of others before himself.

When I got married, I made sure that he was in my entourage together with my close buddies, Loy, Benjie & Glen. And when he got married, he got my son as a ring bearer. We are also Godfathers of our children. One day, he brought his son to my house. We always hoped that our children would continue our friendship, the same way we continued the friendship of our parents. Alas….our kids were fighting each other after only five (5) minutes. We could only shake our heads.

Our wives are also close to each other. Maybe they have heard about our escapades, adventures & misadventures. I am sure they have heard about our trek to Arayat…..how we re-arranged traffic signs in Bacolor, Octagon, Odeum etc…etc… These are but some of the happy moments that we spent with each other. We could go on and on laughing about our adventures & misadventures. I am sure Arnel carries these memories with him in the great beyond.

The last time I talked to him, he was about to undergo chemotherapy. He apologized for not informing me immediately. When I encouraged him to hang on and it is “chicken feeds or just a pulled hamstring” he was frank enough to say that it might not be good because they spotted lumps in his liver. When I told him to stay bad because “bad grass never dies”, he said he has accepted God’s will & is happy to be part of his plan. When I encouraged him to stay healthy, he advised me to maintain my annual check-up. The funny thing is he kept comparing himself to Saul & he kept saying if he makes it, he will testify on the greatness of God. Now, he can testify no more. I am. This is not my eulogy for him but my testimony on the benevolence & kindness of Arnel. He doesn’t need to compare himself to Saul….he himself is a hard act to follow.

Goodbye old friend…. We will miss you and your amiable demeanor. To my kumara, you are very lucky to have had such a wonderful and caring husband. To his children, make the dreams of your Dad happen….he is watching over you. To Indang Peng & Tang Jose, you brought up a very good man that will be remembered by all the people he had touched with his grace. To his sisters, help his family & children.

To Pareng Arnel, the great beyond becomes vibrant when you finally enter HIS kingdom. Pare….watch over me. Whisper to me when I can no longer hear the shouts of the Binggo Master….Lubricate my knees when I cannot go ballroom dancing with Irene due to Arthritis….Knock some sense into my brain when I keep forgetting the names of my children or grand children due to Alzheimer’s….. Let me remind you though…..DON’T EVER NEGOTIATE in my behalf with the Almighty for renewed LIBIDO …..let VIAGRA do the work!!!

It was a pleasure writing this…..

HERRIE RAYMOND H. RIVERA “BOK”
07 August 2007