Sombre Reunion...

March 1, 2007...

Somewhere in Valenzuela, Bulacan...

At the wake of Rolly's wife who passed away just recently.

Met up with Winnie and Ken over at Metrowalk first before we took the hour long drive to Valenzuela. Ken brought the kids with him. All bubbly and funny! Paupau now is a bit more on the mature side playing the role of "Big Ate" while Zach, Keanne, and Tyler are very much enjoying being kids. They're a handful, Meir told me, and Winnie and I had fun helping out in watching over them during the trip.

It's been ages since I was here, it was Rolly's birthday some ten years ago I think... Immediately, we recognized a lot of people we haven't seen in a while. Met up with some of the office "alumni", as well as contractors and friends. The construction industry is small, and when we don't work in the same project, it sometimes takes events like these to get the people together. We shook hands, clapped each other on the shoulder like we were some odd fraternity. A sense of brotherhood albeit a sombre one, was in the air. We didn't talk much about work, we all got together to show support and share in Rolly's and his family's hour of grief.