A bosom friend farewell

DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
12/17/2004



The following is a translation of a farewell Pilipino poem written to the tune of “Doon Lang” by President Joseph E. Estrada for his bosom friend FPJ. The song was Ronnie Poe’s favorite, and whenever the two had a singing session Poe would start with this song and Erap would follow with “Kahit na Magtiis”. My translation cannot do justice to the original Pilipino verse of Estrada, and it cannot be sung to the tune. It was done under time pressure from my deadline, but I think it is important to have this read by English-reading audiences here and the world over to depict the depths of despair Estrada feels over the loss:


Farewell...beloved friend.

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My tried and true friend:
Comradeship without end;
Our goals for our nation,
Bind us in inseparable union.

Wealth and fame,
Are worthless and in vain:
The hope of the masses
Is what matters.

Aspirations and vision
We shared in unison;
Now, in a sudden moment
I find myself forlorn.

You’ve left us who love you,
A nation orphaned too;
As you left, to myself I told:
Keep the spinning world on hold,
By your side to be,
For all eternity.

Farewell my friend,
Thank you for your virtues;
Our memories of you have no end,
Our bond knows no bounds.

Farewell to you and again,
Beloved friend:
Our prayers we send
And the nation, the masa’s remembrance.
My tried and true friend,
While we live, only you...only you.
(December 15, 2004)


Nationalist Alejandro “Ding” Lichauco and former Senator Ernesto Maceda have both written about how the passing of FPJ opens the way to the consolidation of political opposition leadership under President Joseph E. Estrada. Yet, there never was an issue there. FPJ and Estrada were always one and during the election campaign, though the ASO group tried to insulate and alienate Poe from Estrada the latter had always given full support to Poe. The deliberate alienation by the ASO group of Poe from Estrada pained

the latter tremendously, but he suffered in silence and mobilized the PMP for Poe.

Poe was supposed to visit his bosom friend Erap at Tanay November 15 to bid him a Bon Voyage to Hong Kong for the knee surgery, but he never made it because he passed away November 14. Close confidants of Erap says he has not been able to sleep well for several nights since Ronnie’s crossover. The sense of loneliness permeates Erap’s poem. A consistent theme is the unity of Ronnie and Erap for the hopes and aspirations of the nation and the masa whom they both loved and served, and are loved and adored in return. The relationship of these three friends is indeed remarkable.

Looming in the background as a Gabriela Silang of a higher order now is Susan Roces who has been giving superb statements on the issues arising from the emotional outpouring for FPJ and the political reactions of Malacañang. A compedium of these statements should be published, such as her reaction to the issue of having “half mast” at for FPJ which she said wasn’t a matter of importance for her because their flag at the FPJ compound is what is important and that has been at half mast. Likewise the verbal comeuppance she gave to Malacañang for offering medals and heroes burials which were never asked for and smacked of politicking to appease the angry masa.

The masa’s trampling on the flowers sent by GMA and Joe de Venecia is a genuine and legitimate reaction to the oppression these political pretenders have committed against the people. Susan Roces’ reaction will be a classic that will go down in the annals of Philippine quotations: “I do not agree to what happened because those who sent the flowers were condoling; but people who are robbed of money can earn it back, however, the people were robbed of their aspirations and that can never be returned.” That remark from Susan Roces will forever be imbedded in the nation’s consciousness and haunt Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Da King is dead. Long live Da King.”

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