the angels grew sad and called him to play

don reden's tres lokas --- me, koryn and pat :)

a big burly guy (about 5'8 in height) appears in the hallway connecting the news department and the infamous gma smoking area --- the gazebo. like clockwork, three screaming lady "fans" who the big burly guy affectionately calls "tres lokas" would run to him for an exhausting round of photo-ops.

then it's all business. he will ask us about our gripes, listen patiently while loka #1 narrates how "stupid asshole" is not worth her time, comfort loka # 2 that fatal attractions are not that bad, admonish loka # 3 for eating another chocolate and finally, tell us about his unbelievable capacity to feel. deeply.

that's when the tables turn. we have always been his attentive audience. after all, he was a good storyteller (loka # 1 swears she can actually hear the psycho theme after he narrated a horror/love story).

but today, it's not gonna happen. not tomorrow, not EVER. there will be no more photo-ops. the big burly guy just left --- for good...

********

this morning, i got a call from a stranger. apparently, a good friend figured in a very bad accident. can i call his family and tell them what happened? it took every ounce of energy left in me to croak the word "yes". of course, REDEN would be ok. probably just a few minor scratches but definitely not dead.

i managed to call ate joy (our AP) and asked her to inform kuya randy, reden's brother about what happened. she was calm, as always. i found comfort in the manner she spoke. nope, ate joy was not hysterical.things would be okay, after all.

in less than ten minutes, reden's doctor called. i wondered why i was the one getting all this information. as it turns out, my name was the first in his phonebook. that made me the bearer of good --- or bad news.

the doctor sounded young. ha! i knew it! a prankster! he was going to tell me it was a late april fool's day surprise. and then he said, "i'm sorry miss. ginawa na namin ang lahat. we tried to revive him pero...".

i broke down. i tearfully called the imbestigador family. please let's verify. it might be mistaken identity, just like in the movies.

it was a movie, all right. a b-rate horror movie.

there are so many things i will miss about reden. to some, they might only be mourning the loss of a great editor. but i am mourning the loss of a great friend. he who loved sponge bob (an obssession he shares with me and pat), good food, big bikes, celebrity sex videos :), and LIFE.

this very minute, i am waiting for the ambulance that will pick up his lifeless body from batangas. i will give the ambulance driver the money from tita kelly. i will give them the hospital address koryn wrote on a piece of paper. i will cry for a great friend.

but now i'm smiling. i just realized that the angels simply grew sad and called him to play... :)


happily posing with the love of his life... i know this is how reden wants to be remembered.

reden's last christmas with his imb family...