the red and blue of me

I sometimes think of my life in pinas as a very, very long dream. Most of the emotions that accompany the memories of the past are gone that I feel like I skipped childhood and started life here in the US when I was 17. But when I get email messages from my relatives and old school mates like the one below, I am reminded of the life I used to have and people I used to know. Its too bad that I haven't been with them for the past 9 years and will continue to miss most of the most important parts of their lives.

My sister is having her first baby this December and an old friend Alex Patacsil (Par) is very ill...

While I cannot be physically with you, my prayers are with you, Ate and Par.
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Email from Dennis
we went to see alex last wednesday, jade, mayflor, marian, alex r., duane, info officer astrid, and me. i didn't recognize him when i saw him. except for the fiery eyes that's oh-so par, his body has become so cachectic. he's so weak that duane has to support him when he has to shift from sitting on the sofa to lying down.

i tried asking some details about his illness, alex himself told me he has cancer. of what type, he doesn't know. what's devastating is that he's gone totally blind. when i asked him how he was, he simply said, "it's dark, dennise". what a sad thing for someone whose life is, ironically, with the visual arts. apparently, there's no more option for surgery and he isn't having chemotherapy. but the spirit is still there, our dear old alex, hanging in there and fighting.

so if you can't visit him in no. 5 magiting street, teacher's village, please say a prayer for him.

i hope everybody's doing well, happy, and in good health.

i miss you, batchmates :)

-dennise