We are all humans.. we die. In memoriam to our neighbor and to Atty. Noel Archival

The death of the known lawyer was the headline in the
newspaper and in the television

It was around 7 PM when I reached home. Although it was a little bit tiring and a stressful day for me, but still, I thanked God for the day well done by doing the sign of a cross in the nearby chapel. As I opened the gate and headed towards the door, I noticed silence filled the atmosphere. I heard no loud screams from the karaoke station, no children playing inside the chapel, some street lights were off and our dogs not barking. I think that was one of the peaceful nights in Purok 2 that I've observed.

Now, as I clutched the knob opening the main door, I saw the skeptical faces of my family members telling me to get inside as they have something to tell me. Look, I'm not used to this strangeness because if they act something like this then I presume they will be telling me a bad news. I can see all of them wanted to break the silence as my heart was pounding already thinking what happened or was anything wrong since I left. Unimaginable things started to pour out in my mind as I waited for them to tell me... until kuya Raprap initiated.

Then there it was, someone died. Not in the family (thank heavens!) but it is the neighbor.... the neighbor we had a spite for a long time... being ambushed.

Upon hearing the news, my jaw dropped. I just can't believe to what I just heard. Him? Well, that's unlikely to happen because I do believe in the saying that 'Weeds don't die easily'. At first, I really don't believe in them but my sister, Cherry confirmed that they saw it on a local news program (Balitang Bisdak on GMA7) with his name recognized.

I uttered in disbelief to what happened to him. His death was sudden and I was really shocked, I really am because first and foremost, we considered him as the 'kontrabido'.. He was the one that caused us so much trouble since we settled in the place because he claimed our land as his own despite of the legal documents and other sufficient evidence we presented just to prove that we own the land. I remembered he's always sending us subpoena calling the presence of my mother to attend the hearing. For me, he's the superior and pompous neighbor that we have because he's taking lands not his own and he generated money by using them but despite of his wrong doings we remained silent just to have a peaceful life and acted like we don't care. We know he keeps on stoning us but we just laughed at him secretly.

When I heard he was ambushed, his death is no joke. It was brutal. Since he's one of the bodyguards of a well-known lawyer here in Cebu, they should have been given protection. The story was that they were from a trial case when the crime happened. While driving back to Cebu City, they happened to pass a quiet barangay in Dalaguete when suddenly armed men got near to their car then started shooting them. It was a tragic one to look upon them as pictures in the news and in the net started to flash in. The lawyer, the driver and him were killed in an instant with one survived but his arm has to be amputated. 

The tragic incident 

Right now, I do realize that his time is up. Fate has to cut his string and he has to embark into a new life in which only God knows what will happen. Although he was that hostile neighbor I've known ever since my world began but I pity his family. He left his five children with a housewife doing sideline. How will they suppose to live then? I can feel the pain of his wife regretting since they had a misunderstanding the night before it happened.

Rest in peace Atty. Noel Archival

Then my premonitions were proved wrong and I was drawn into a conclusion that people, no matter how good or bad will have to face the end. Death will put verdict into our lives and it is in death we will come to realize that we are just humans whose body will perish and all of us will be subjected to trial  with God as the judge. 

Despite of all the things, I will still pray for you Sir, to attorney and the driver... May you Rest in peace

Take time to reflect our lives by listening this song entitled Hoy Tawo