Reunion of Friends

A month ago, someone posted a “Reunion of Friends” on my Facebook page, where I was invited to describe in one word, how I first met the person who posted it. At first, I did not want to do it. What caught my attention, however, was the reason why there was such a post circulating on Facebook.

The first paragraph of the post explains it: “I’m well into the last half of my life on earth, and I have learned that dying is inevitable. No one can stop it. We have one life to live. The material things we invest in are left behind. Memories, therefore, are important. So, I am going to start a “Reunion of Friends.”

The premise was acknowledging that death is inevitable, and participants were invited to describe in a single word how they first met.

Since the premise was simple, harmless, yet profound, I responded and described in one word how I met the person who posted it.

Initially, I found the idea too sentimental, perhaps even more indulgent. But as someone who has lived long enough to witness the passing of so many people I once knew, I felt it might be meaningful to revisit the connections that shaped my life. With that in mind, I decided to copy and post the “Reunion of Friends” on my wall to see how the countless individuals I crossed paths with would respond and describe, in a single word, how we first met.

To my surprise, more than 235 friends and acquaintances began to respond -- friends from childhood and high school, former students from years back, seminary classmates, relatives, basketball playmates, activist friends during the martial law days, and even individuals I had not spoken to for years.

Their single-word description and sometimes straightforward phrases were simple, but each carried a weight of memory: “Sipocot,” “Sacred Heart Novitiate,” Loyola House of Studies,” “Life After Forty Basketball League,” “Alliance for Philippine Concerns, “My AdeN professor,” “Tacolod, 2/14 1966,” “My BFF for life,” “Roses and Lollipops,” “AdeD 1973 adviser,” SJS Hway 54,” “1966 H4 class at Ateneo,” “bank,” “playing basketball at Ateneo,” “Uncle,” and “Tatay.”

These words, though brief, stirred memories long forgotten, bringing back moments of recollection and shared experiences.

They remind me of how fortunate I am to have met so many people who have remained connected with me for a reason.

The circumstances that so often shape our first meetings were frequently simple and even accidental, but they provided the opportunity to turn casual encounters into lasting relationships.

All things considered, what began as a simple Facebook invitation became an unexpected reminder of the meaningful and enduring connections I am fortunate to share with others.