ON JUNE 4, 2010, the tallest sportswriter in Negros (at 6'1?) wrote 30. He was 61.
Henry V as he is fondly called or the Chief to those closest to him, chose the day to rest, finally, when the Boston Celtics lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals to Los Angeles Lakers.
Without me knowing it, my tokayo was already at Doctors Hospital as we, Rev. Henry Guanzon of G-Boxing Stable, James Toga of Negros Daily Bulletine and friends were having coffee at 3 p.m. at Gaisano City.
By 4:30, TT was already watching the Chiang Kai Shek-St. John's Institute junior basketball invitational game at Po Hang gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
At a Libertad billiard pool, got a call from an unlisted number which turned out to be his Sun.Star Bacolod editorial buddy Jerome Galunan, current SCOOP Bacolod president.
Holding back his tears, Jerome said that "pre... your tokayo is gone." It was almost 5:30. Can't remember what I said to the other line. "Just make others know of your tokayo", was the last I heard.
The Others was a title of Nicole Kidman's movie. In our case, the others are members of SCOOP-Bacolod who since January failed to work as one, like other organizations do.
Since 1989, Bacolod sportswriters come and go. The better ones seek greener pastures and end up successful in their fields, if not here, some other places, some other posts.
Maestro Allen del Carmen. Eric Loretizo. Cedelf Tupas. Earl Tan. Atty. Imelda Gerangaya. Tony Oquindo. Cyrus Garde. George Liza. Buddy Ferrer. Elsie Jolingan. Nida Buenafe. Boy Duran. Mitch Lipa. Harold Limbo. Nestor Padesio.
There are other still unmentioned SCOOPers who we hope to see before HCV is laid to rest on Friday after the 9 a.m. mass at the chapel of Bacolod Memorial Park on Saturday.
If I know Tokayo, he will say. "Ti man. Ari man sila tanan." He could have made the group recover again. But at his condition, with the pressing load at his editorial desk and other assignment in sports associations, HCV is overloaded.
That article written late last year urging back SCOOPers to revive the group did not even make a dent. One line says something like "don't wait for the day when we meet if someone is inside the penalty box".
Well, that day has come for a gathering around that white and beautiful box where a tall guy is resting.
At least, Tokayo heard the revival of the group he founded and started in 1989.
Early this year, when the 50th anniversary of NDB is being celebrated at the top floor of the Negros Press Club building, down below Galunan and Toga have accepted the challenge to spearhead SCOOP-Bacolod again.
So long, Chief. Be happy in your new place with beautiful mansions where there are no heartaches, no sorrows, no tears, no pain.
If you decide to come back, them first.