Keith the student

I really didn't meet any of your teachers until you left. Mama used to tell me that all your teachers, from nursery to grade school were so fond of you. I managed to speak to Sir Jeff briefly at your wake, but we were both too emotional to talk about anything. But I could see from his face and could hear from his voice the regret of losing one of his students. A lot of the other teachers came up to me and told me how good you were as a student. They all admired you for being so prim and proper. Never did I hear once that you were naughty. One of them wondered why your uniform never get wrinkled after a whole day in school, while other students do. They all knew you as the boy who painted and drew so well. The very handsome boy. Very quiet in the class. Even Sister Enol was so fond of you. I found out that since you were in kindergarten (I think), she has been asking you to paint Jesus's face for her. But I don't think you managed to do that. It would be really nice to find out more about you as a student. Perhaps when I go home, I can spend time with Sir Jeff and Teacher Nhica so we can talk about you a little bit more.

At your send off, Sir Jeff couldn't contain his emotions. He was crying all the way even when he delivered his eulogy. And here's what he had to say:

" Sa pagkakakilala ko kay Keith, siya ay isang napakabait at tahimik na bata. Hindi siya marunong makipagaway. Ang kanyang pagpanaw ay wala sa hinagap nating lahat na ito ay mangyayari. Noong una kong malaman ang balita hindi ko maiwasang lumuha. Sino ba naman ang agad maniniwala na sa isang iglap lang ay wala na ang mabait mong estudyante. Inisip ko ang dami daming masasamang tao sa mundo bakit si Keith pa ang unang kinuha. Napakabata pa niya. Marami pa siyang mga pangarap sa buhay. Siguro ito ang misteryo ng buhay. Sa bawat pagluha ay may katumbas na ngiti. Sa bawat pait ay may katumbas na tamis. Sa bawat pagpanaw ay may katumbas na buhay. Hindi pa natin alam sa ngayon ang dahilan kung bakit maagang kinuha ng Diyos ang pinakamamahal nating si Keith pero darating din ang araw na malalaman natin ang kasagutan. Hindi natin hawak ang ating buhay. Tanging ang Diyos lang ang nakakaalam kung hanggang kailan tayo dito sa mundo. In behalf of Saint Columban's Montessori School Faculty and staff lubos kaming nakikiramay sa mga naulila ni Keith. Sana ang paglisan ni Keith ay hindi maging dahilan ng pagkawasak ng kanilang mundo kundi maging daan upang mas lalo pang tumatag ang kanilang pamilya. Sa iyo Keith, hindi ka namin malilimutan. Mahal na mahal ka namin sampu ng iyong mga kamag-aral. Alam namin na masaya ka na sa piling ng Lumikha. Katulad ng paborito mong awiting "Lighters", nawa ikaw ay magsilbing tala na gagabay sa aming lahat lalong lalo na sa iyong pamilya."

It gives me a really heavy heart going back to these eulogies, but they are so beautiful and very touching. And since it's going to be your first angel birthday soon, it would be nice to share but other people thought about and your passing.

I am missing you so much anak. I love you ha.

Mommy Tintin