Just after my post on grief… A pillar of UP Diliman ROTC passed away at a surprisingly young age. He helped me with some of my college endeavors, and only raised an eyebrow if my projects ever wandered near the edge of trouble for some reason or another. But he provided much guidance. For one organization I was deeply involved with from its creation until long after I’d graduated from the University of the Philippines, he asked me once, what I would do to keep the organization running if I got married and had a family. Surely, I’d get distracted eventually, be unable to micromanage and mentor the current students who were involved in that organization…
And true enough, I got distracted – with work and with my teenage child (my novel, now at 15 years since I started it). But I do my best to keep the organization moving with the next generation of cadet alumni, when I have the time and energy…
He gave us space to start our own student organization, and guidance on how to keep it running over the years. Rest in Peace, Administrative Officer and Atty. John S. Baroña. You will be missed, sir.