i was never a fan, but the death of Rico Yan -- a popular matinee idol here in the Philippines -- came as a surprise. oh yes, he was cute and all that -- i'm a sucker for bedimpled people. but what is most tragic of all is the fact that he is so young, so full of promise, and his life was cut short with the blink of an eye.



it's so ironic that only a few days ago, i was watching him on tv (on a mini-series featuring a poor imitation of survivor, mind you) and now, he's gone. it was a good wake-up call; i speak for myself when i say that the unpredictability of death is often taken for granted.



most of the time, we equate youth with incorruptibility... who would have thought that a buff 27-year-old would die in his sleep on Good Friday? as opposed to a white-haired 60-year-old, he would seem to have more days to live. but then again, death chooses no time and place. when your mission on Earth is over, it's over.



this event magnified something that has always been one of my fears: to die unaccomplished. there are so many things i want to do -- graduate, have a family, write a book, appear on national tv, start a business -- and dying is not yet among my plans. but who knows? as what was proven by Rico Yan's death, my Creator can take me anytime he wants to... even if i haven't accomplished the goals i have set for myself.



but in the end we realize that we just need to trust in Him. He has a plan for everything, that i believe, and when my human mind can no longer justify the things that surround me, i can always say that in time, God will make me understand. if and when i shall die, He will give me a good reason when i (hopefully) meet Him in His Kingdom.



i guess no one will ever be ready to die... not you, not me, not anyone. that's why it is important to make investments... i will be a hypocrite if i say that i practice what i preach; on the contrary, i am not a very devout Christian. but then again my life for my Father to judge... i can only pray that i am worthy of His grace.



i am saying a silent prayer to all the souls who died during their youth. i am not sure who is more lucky -- me, alive in this imperfect world, or them, in the other life holding the hand of our Father...



rest in peace, Rico Yan.