My cousin, Andrew, passed away on August 22, 2005. He was 28 years old and was having the time of his life. Honestly, I still don't know why that had to happen. He's got so many things going for him. He had a good life. He was living out his passion for music, with the love of his life and his ever supportive family behind his back.Andrew, Wolfmann to most, is a musician, a very passionate and nationalistic musician. He lived and breathed music. Even when we were young, Andrew was always the one who would provide the music when we wanted to sing. No onle else can do what he does. He was big in the industry and I never knew it until I witnessed the throngs of people coming to see him at his wake. Fans, musicians, old classmates, friends, family... I would have thought I was in a rock gig if not for the venue and if not for the sight of rockstars weeping. The night he collapsed, the last gig he saw was the Rockestra and he was elated, awestruck by it. He was reeling, raving and even excited to do his own version. A few hours later, he collapsed... and nobody ever got to talk to him.
His passing away pains me so much. Andrew was my F1 buddy. Ka-text ko yan every F1 Sunday. Favorite namin si Raikkonen. He even wrote me a testimonial on Friendster and it says that I'm his favorite cousin dahil favorite namin si Kimi Raikkonen. He was also my Wednesday morning buddy. Parehong coding yung mga cars kaya alam ko he's up early na and when I've got no one to chat with, I'd text him about whatever... NU countdowns, ano nang bagong songs, saan ang gigs...
Minsan nagkita kami sa Starbucks. Akala ko dati coincidence lang but now I know it happened for a reason. The time we spent at Starbucks Greenbelt that day were the most memorable two hours we spent together. Super dami naming napagkuwentuhan about our lives, family. I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me the chance to spend that precious morning with him. This happened 2 months before his death. My friends would attest that I am quite a forgetful person but I remember everything that was said between Andrew and I that Wednesday morning.
Ang daming revelations, plans for the future...manonood kami ng F1 live when we get richer... madami ring advices... he told me not to fight back my parents and to just keep the peace wherever I am. He also kept pushing me to do the things I want to do no matter what people around us would say. Sabi nga niya, buhay natin to eh. Live it the way you want it. And that's what he did - short and sweet.
I miss him terribly. Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian Grand Prix the same day he passed away and I kept thinking, shet. Ang daya niya. He watched live without me... :(
