2. Gerwin Capili
Jose Gerwin Capili was my friend, my kumpare
and a brother in Freemasonry.
Last Monday, God called him home.
It was late in the afternoon, just around that
time before the darkness set in and when the last beam of the glistening sun was
fading... Gerwin breathe his last.
My heart broke into a million tiny pieces upon
learning about his death, there were long gaps between my breaths and the
throbs inside my chest turned into short and hollow pulsations…
First Meeting
It was in 2006 when I first met Gerwin. I was
in the second degree of my travels in Freemasonry, and I was asked to render
service in the fellowship for his third-degree conferral and raising which was
practically the graduation rites for aspiring members of Freemasonry. Two weeks
after that, we met again but this time it was my conferral and raising. He was
already a Mason at that time, and he went there as a guest and as a witness to
the rituals I had to go through.
The Mango Tree
In 2011 we started to see each other more
often. I have a very small circle of close friends and we all bonded under a
mango tree near his office for a considerable period. Every day for several
years, we meet under that great old tree. Sometimes for only a few minutes and in
some days, for hours and hours. Gerwin belonged there under that tree just like
the rest of us. And even though we came from different walks of life, from
different fields and from different backgrounds, that mango tree kept us
together and cemented our bonds with stories we shared and the laughter that
came with them.
Of all my friends under the mango tree, Gerwin
was the level-headed one. He was the calmest of the lot and his counsel was
sought by many including myself. He represented the best in all of us. He was
the kindest and most gentle among us.
Clean, Squared and Upright
Other people, those who have no clue how kind
and gentle Gerwin was, might have a different set of opinions about him. But
that’s only because they were never given the privilege of spending time with
him, of talking to him about life and witnessing how much he loved life, his
wife Joy and his two sons. And obviously, Gerwin certainly has so much love to
give. He overflows with love, and I was fortunate enough to be his friend… his
brother.
In Masonic terms, Gerwin have always kept his
lambskin apron clean, that his actions were always square, in society - he
stood firm and upright, and he always spoke from his heart – as it is in the
heart that we were all made Freemasons for the first time.
The Dreaded Sickness
He has been sick for quite some time now.
Diabetes, that dreaded sickness.
In the past few years, he’s been in and out of
the hospital. A couple of months ago, the doctors amputated his left leg just
below the knee. It was devastating for us, and we can only imagine how it was
for Gerwin because other than his relentless passion for good food, he loves to
travel. Just two weeks ago, we were excited to hear that Gerwin finally got his
prosthetic leg. It was a perfect fit. So perfect in fact, that some of other
close friends started to make informal plans of trips and weekend vacations like
we used to before the Covid Pandemic came. We went to Thailand and Vietnam and
other local areas together with other friends and our spouses. A new leg meant
a renewed opportunity to create more memories together. But now, all of that seemed
impossible.
Without Gerwin
I know that life will never be the same without
Gerwin. Never again will I ever have the chance to talk to him and hear his
laughter. For this handful of friends, our lives will never be the same knowing
that in the next vacation, the next trip, and the next time we hang out under
the mango tree or in any other place – Gerwin won’t be there to join us. And
because he is gone; the grass will be less green; the lights will be less bright
and the laughter – less loud.
I will miss Gerwin for as long I live. I’ve
always looked forward to growing old with all my friends and experience the grace
of aging with them around me but now there is this deep sorrow knowing that
Gerwin left our circle early… much too early. My heart will always long for his
voice.
In this lifetime, I will never see my friend
again and I will grieve this loss forever.
