To Adi, and his web of life.

Last Friday, we heard the news of a UP Film student's death, and this news shocked both the entire CMC and UP Diliman community, not only because the student's death was unexpected, but also because he took his own life. When we heard the news, it wasn't just shock that we felt, because that student was our friend.

I remember the night of August 29, 2006, when he was on our former boarding house for a visit. That was the first time we met. I remember us talking about movies, and their connection to the real life. Jologs, in particular, was his favorite at that time, because it tackled his so-called "web of life." And web of life it is, because on his death, I learned about the hundreds of connections we had--common friends, common people we knew, making me realize that the theory of six degrees of separation is actually true. The web of life is inescapable. We are bound to meet and get connected with each other in many ways unimaginable; some ways we'll only know of in their right time.

Suicide. It's such a big, scary, sinful word. The thought of it makes other people's stomach's churn. To them, it is and must never me an option. If you commit suicide, it would be most likely that you would be judged, words like "Tanga lang gumagawa niyan" or "Ang hina naman ng EQ"would come out of those people's mouths. But through our friend's death, I realized, there would be no judgement when you die, when you take your life. No one will tell you you are stupid, or emotionally challenged. Because people, even those who consider suicide a sin, will only remember the good things you did in your life. People will only think of you as someone who made a difference, even through the smallest of things you did. People who don't know you will empathize. People who you left will be closer, will be one, at least when remembering you, and your greatness.

*You will be missed, Adi. Happy trip.*