7 December 2008
Trichet Learning Center
West Rembo, Makati City

This one goes out to Marky Cielo. Rest in peace, kid.

Three Sundays ago, I went with my sister, Faye, to a charity Christmas party for mentally handicapped kids. The event was something of an annual affair organized by Faye's barkada, the Tropang Noinois, a group of really avid Marky fanpeople.

Marky was supposed to grace the event to hand out the little gift bags that were prepared for the kids. But of course, by now, we all know what happened.

I joined my sister and her friends as they headed to Antipolo for Marky's wake right after the party.

* * *
Fixing up this set of pictures was quite an experience in itself, as seeing the smiles on these little kids' faces is, as it will always be, certainly a source of delight and an inspiration. But of course, it's impossible to ignore that little pinch brought about by the memories of the tragedy associated with this event (it was especially heavy to witness firsthand the twenty-plus hearts breaking all at the same time when the news of Marky's unexpected demise finally came out...).

To the Noinois, if you could read this, my apologies for taking so long to post these pictures. To Faye, thanks for asking me to tag along. It was unfortunate that things happened the way they did (an understatement, if I ever saw one). My heart goes out to all of you.