mike

This post is being written with a heavy hand and with an even heavier heart.

Very good friend, barkada, partner-in-crime and kumpare, Michael Perea, passed away last Tuesday morning.

And everyone who knew him are in mourning for we have lost a very, very good friend. And yet, despite the sadness, there is also a smile and a sigh of relief that Mike is now free of the worries and the pains that have plagued him these past few months. We would like to believe he is now somewhere better.

Mike exemplified "carpe diem" -- living life to the fullest. He loved good food, loved having a good time, loved joking around, and loved being who he was -- being Mike. While I profess and admit a love affair with coffee, Mike's preferred cup was one laiden with alcohol. He loved to party, loved to be friends and have a darn, jolly, good time.

While I have met and worked with many "Mikes" in this travel of life, the one Mike that will always come to mind when I hear the name will be that guy who I grew close with in my elementary and high school years.

We were always partners-in-crime. We were partners in our HE cooking and baking classes and in one such incident our half-baked cinnamon rolls became instant hits. When we needed to do the fireman's carry for a PE class, our almost similar bulks allowed us to be buhat-buddies. We loved to hang around on weekends with other barkadas on our BMX's, roaming the streets and fields of San Pedro and Binan in Laguna.

We both loved singing and found ourselves as part of a musical chorale, most often, winning in the process. Two such wins were a Christmas chorale contest where we one with our rendition of "Misa de Gallo" and another one was when we dressed in our PMT uniforms, sang a filked version of The Cure's "In Between Days" for Nutrition Month. One memorable musical trip that involved just Mike and myself was when we had the school gym to ourselves and we belted our hearts out singing "Our Lord's Prayer" and other church faves. The echoing acoustics in the vacant gym that day rendered those songs Mike and I sung as if ala Gregorian chant-styled.

Mike was a popular character -- able to fit with any group and flexible to be able to hold conversations with anyone as opposed to my snobby and anti-social attitude. He however became tongue-tied when talking to a girl that captured his fancy and his heart. He was an admitted "torpe" but that was never evident because Mike was always loud, boisterous and joking. He was fun personified. Wherever there was a gimmick, expect Mike to be there present.

Though he had no medals to prove it, everyone knew Mike to be smart -- truly smart and a smart Aleck. He knew his Math and Science and Physics and Algebra -- subjects which I struggled through in high school. He often debated with our acknowledged mathematicians, Ronald, Oliver and Glenn, and had the time of his life when he proved them wrong. His penmanship was awful, that I can remember, but he did write one beautiful piece of music dedicated to a young lady he loved, that too I can remember.

We drifted apart a bit in our college days owing to a self-imposed exile due to circumstances and to the fact that we went to different universities - he to La Salle, I to Peyups. But we never lost the friendship despite months and even years of not being in touch. Whenever we met again, the friendship was always renewed and the fun and laughter rekindled. We went back to our usual roles in the barkada as Mike the joker, and Ram the quiet and serious fella.

I wasn't always there but I heard and learned that Mike continued to live life to the fullest after college and as he started his career in IT and savored every moment that was given to him. When we met, there were no awkward moments because it was just as easy as picking up on our last conversation.

Mike had his battles and always managed to overcame them with a smile and hope in his heart. He never lost the positive attitude that sparked his personality. Those who know Mike can't recall times when the fellow wasn't smiling or joking. It seemed like he was one friend who couldn't be let down. He will always be remembered for that.

Mike did not lose his latest battle. In fact, by letting go, he won. It's us who are left behind who lost the battle. We lost a dear friend.

Godspeed Mike.