AFTER life's journey, we all come to the end of our journey as we die, in different ways, in different manner.
Death, as someone wrote, like taxes, is inevitable. We just don't know the exact time, the exact date when we breathe our last.
This topic is timely, as we have just observed All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day in November. But the authorities put a stop to their observance as they forbade us from going to places where our dearly departed have their resting places. For whatever reasons, they should have known better.
Death puts a stop to all our plans, projects and activities. While the moneyed ones leave their wills and testaments bequeathing their fortunes and properties, the ordinary mortals end their journeys familiar places -- the cemeteries and memorial parks -- with engraved markers and epitaphs.
Even in death, however, disparity in wealth is demonstrated: huge, painted mausoleums dominate the landscape in the exclusive and expensive memorial parks for the rich. The poor and disadvantaged ones are buried in an apartment-type structures and nondescript death markers.
Death may come suddenly, so unexpectedly. It may result from long, lingering illness or from accidents and disasters or it may be self-inflicted such as suicide or through the use of a gun. Ouch!
No amount of preparations can assuage the pain caused by death in the family. The vacuum left by any member who suddenly dies is hard to fill up and, like a puzzle, it may take time to find the answer.
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The family of the late RICARDO S. DELOS REYES or RS DELOS REYES or Don Ricardo to friends and classmates who died last week mourn the death of the patriarch and head of the firm Don Ricardo built from modest investments to a large electric contracting enterprise.
Starting at R. D. Policarpio and Company based at Samsonville Subdivision, Dau, he parlayed his firm into a large and well-known enterprise which caters mainly to the requirements of Pelco II and Angeles Electric Corporation and other NGCP-affiliated cooperatives. At the time of his death, RS DELOS REYES Company is enjoying brisk business by installing/replacing Pelco-installed electric posts. Even LGUs like Mabalacat and Angeles cities and Porac are clients and through Don Ricardo's smart manueverings, more business deals were sealed and about to be implemented.
Don Ricardo had many friends, clients and acquaintances. Last time I had the chance to talk to him, he was entertaining the idea of entering Mabalacat City's politics following son's venture as Councilor who won a seat in the city's Sangguniang Panlungsod in 2019. Of course, Don Ricardo bankrolled Councilor Nino Renan's successful campaign drive.
Don Ricardo will be sorely missed by his high school batchmates, including my brother Perry. Goodbye and rest in God's peace, insan!