Joeseg: beyond online friendship

Joeseg and his idol,Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Joeseg and his idol,Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.


I have been blogging since October 2005 and one of gifts I’ve gained is friendship of people from different parts of the globe.

One of them was Jose Seguerra who logs in my blog as “Joeseg.”

Joeseg was one of the pioneer visitors in my blog way back 2005. His sober views even in the most heated exchanges bring rationality in the discussions.

Our online friendship (together with that of five others) expanded to include members of our family.

We (Joeseg and Chi) accompany Sen. Trillanes to the Senate session hall.

We (Joeseg and Chi) accompanied Sen. Trillanes to the Senate session hall.

In 2007, Joeseg helped in the campaign of detained Navy Officer Antonio Trillanes IV. He got boxes of Trillanes’ campaign posters and distributed them in his province in Bicol. When Trillanes won, we visited Trillanes in his detention cell in the Marine Brig in Fort Bonifacio.

Joeseg was not in town but his son Noli, who was a classmate of Trillanes in Angelicum School, came with us.

About three years ago, Joeseg and another blog friend, Chi, were both in the Philippines. We met with Trillanes in the latter’s Senate office.

Joeseg, I noticed, was a gentleman of the old school. He was so protective of the very independent Chi. He made sure that she goes home safe.

Last week (March 20), we learned that Joeseg passed away in Canada.

Needless to say, we felt sad. The makata in our blog group, Magno Rivera, composed a poem which expresses our love and affection for Joeseg.

It was a privilege sharing ideas with you, Joeseg. We won’t despair because we will see each other again. Where you are, do you have an internet?

Here’s Magno’s poem for Joeseg:

Salamat, Kaibigan

J – oeseg siyang ating nakilala sa bahay ni Ellen
O – ver sa pakumbabang umaapaw sa talinong angkin
S – obra ang kabaitang hindi mo na hahanapin
E – very line ng komento’y may aral kang pupulutin.

S – a bawat pagniniig sa Ellenville hanggang sa
tsampuraduhan ni Cocoy
E – xceptional na palagi ang kanyang sobrang pagiging cool
G – entleman ang kanyang approach kung may
isyung tinuturol
U – maapaw sa comedy kapag merong tag-lish na translation.
E – bobots man o kelots ay walang hindi sa kanya ay bumibilib
R – umble na halo halo ang saya kapag siya ay nag-translate
R – record breaker na single thread na umabot sa sobrang five hundred
A – ba’y meron pa kayang sa Ellenville ay magagawang maka-break?

Salamat, sa iyo Pareng Joeseg, ika’y aming nakilala
Asahan mong pagyayamanin ang mga iniwang alaala
Hindi namin iisiping kami’y iyong nilisan na
Bagkus aming aasamin ang muli nating pagkikita!

Pawiin ang inyong lungkot, iwaksi ang inyong lumbay
Huwag hayaang ang pighati ay manaig sa bawat araw
Humayo tayo’t samasamang buhay niya’y ipagdiwang
Mapalad tayong nagkaroon ng isang katulad niyang kaibigan!

This is one of the items forwarded by Joeseg which shows his sense of humor.

This is one of the items forwarded by Joeseg which shows his sense of humor.