5 years ago, Bataan was struck by news that Bishop Soc is coming. Si Bishop Soc daw ang bagong Obispo ng Bataan. Kasabay ng balita na iyon ang bulungan na, “sikat daw yun, celebrity!”

When I heard those things, naisip kong baka mahirap ngang lapitan si Bishop Soc. Dahil sabi nila, celebrity daw. Pero July 2, 2004 ng gabi – habang busy ang lahat na nag-aayos para sa installation nya kinabukasan, nagbago ang pananaw na iyon. Nagkasalubong kami sa rectory.

Tinanong nya ko, “Anong pangalan mo?”
“Jay po”, sagot ko.
Seminarista ka ba? Tanong nya ulit
“Hindi po!”
“Sakristan?”
“hindi din po. Sa PYC po ako”
Bigla nalang nya akong nilagyan ng KRUS sa noo sabay sabi, “ahh, Si Jay magpapari ha!”

5 years ago, tuwang tuwa ang Bataan. isang araw, magigising nalang tayo, 5 years later, umiiyak na ang bataan. Sigurado akong babaha ngayung araw sa Bataan, hindi dahil sa Bagyong Santi, malamang luha ang babaha.

Kung mababasa nyo lang po Father ang mga post ng mga kabataan sa Facebook mula nung gabing inanaounce na malilipat po kayo ng Lingayen-Dagupan, hanggang kagabi habang hindi po namin malaman kung ma eexcite po ba kami, o malulungkot dahil ngayon nga po ang inyong despidida mass. Malamang sobra po kayong ma totouch. Makikita nyo po doon kung pano po ipagsigawan ng mga kabataan sa internet, na mahal na mahal po namin kayo!

Mula pos a Kabataan ng Bataan, Maraming Maraming Salamat Father Soc! Maraming salamat po sa 2nd Saturday formation, maraming salamat po sa Pope John Paull II youth camp. Hindi na po namin ma-imagine ang susunod na summer youth camp next yea na wala kaming kasamang Bishop Soc. Maraming salamat sa importansya, empowerment at pagmamahal na ibinigay po ninyo sa amin. Ano man pong bagay na sinimulan nyo para sa amin, Pangako, itutuloy po namin! Ano man pong bagay ang naituro po ninyo sa amin, pangako, ibabahagi namin!

If by chance we meet again
May it be full of blessings in the rain
Yet for now all that I can say
Is to God for you I'll pray.
THE YOUTH OF BATAAN LOVES YOU SO MUCH FATHER SOC!

- Jay Quicho
Oct. 30, 2009
Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Balanga City

LAST DAYS

Sadness creeps in and heart full of sorrow
As I sat with clouded eyes, still crying.
Nothing will be lost, I thought.
All's well. I'll look forward to tomorrow.

All of these are foolish things to say.
Foolish...fooling myself is what I'm doing.
All the memories that I've known
Cannot be replaced in any way.

Sure, new experiences will come.
But will these outshine the old ones?
Love and understanding have grown for five years.
Hard to comprehend why it's all ending.

Life goes on, they say.
But now all I want is life to be as it is.
Joy fills my heart in this place.
Nothing more to ask for, I prayed.

Goodbye...goodbye...final goodbye
In these last few days of woe and sorrow.
Tears mixed with laughter echoes in the halls
As the cover closes in the final days of this chapter.

And If by chance we meet again
May it be full of blessings in the rain
Yet for now all that I can say
Is to God for you I'll pray.

...the youth of Bataan loves you!