A Leave from work last March 19 was one of the best (if not the best) I've ever filed for, yet. I had to nurse my sick brother, Marco, in place of my mom who had to take care of the requirements for us to get a discount in hospital bill.

I was not feeling well that time but I'm glad I still gave my best to cater to him. It was probably the most difficult kind of service I have given him so far. Yet, I never imagined it would also be the last (which he's still aware of).

I've never thought he'd leave us just like that. Now that his burial is all done, I still can't believe he's gone... Too soon.

Marco was my idol ever since. I always looked up to him not only because he's older than me, but also because he was really, really good at so many things.

Marco and I went to school together at the same time as our age gap was only a year. We were classmates from Grade 1-6.

I remember back on our 6th Grade, I got first place in a poster making contest simply because I copied the entire concept of the poster he had made beforehand, like literally copied every single thing.

He was so creative and annoyingly good in drawing perspectives. He had so many ideas and I just wished I could take some of it from his head and put them into mine.

He was very smart. I think among our siblings, he's the smartest. His thinking was just different and odd sometimes.

He was our class' Salutatorian in grade school. We were no longer classmates in high school because he was already in the pilot section, and I, well, in a lower section. Despite that, I never became envious. I was actually very proud I have a brother like him, I always am.

He was one of the most generous people I've ever known. He'd give what you'll ask for with all his heart and with no reservations and without asking for anything in return.

He would just freely share whatever learning he would gain from college and even from his experiences outside school. I remember, he would teach me diction for English words as well as correct grammar which he'd learnt from his classes. He was really good in English.

He inspired me to finish school despite our family's financial limitations. When he graduated and had work, he financed my studies including my needs for the Board exam. I super admire the way he managed his finances.

He was my mentor in writing. I had some of my writeups (for work) edited by him during those times when no one else will have to do it for me. He would not only write his edits, but would also explain why he edited my writeups the way he did. He genuinely wanted me to learn.

He has taught me to KISS, that is, "Keep It Short and Simple" in writing.

He would teach me how to drive whenever he had time. He even allowed me to use his car while he was on his extensive training as a police newbie.

When I hit a car using his, I thought he was going to be angry with me. But instead, he called me up as soon as he found out about the accident, and told me "ok lang yan! Ibig sabihin, kailangan mong magdrive pa lalo para matuto ka". He was so encouraging.

He was a very passionate guy. When he wants something, he would do even impossible things to get it.

He loved to write and share his heart out through social media and in person. He's super good at it.

He loved to dance. He could dance by himself and not mind what others would say about it.

He loved to sing. He bought a magic sing and a large flat screen TV so that we could do karaoke anytime we wanted. And, he actually joined an amateur singing contest in our Barangay for fun and self-fulfillment.

He loved gadgets, so much. Back in college, he would buy some of it from his baon. When he graduated and started working, he began collecting Apple items, and then purchased other gadgets and appliances for himself and for the family.

His latest purchase, the most expensive, was his car Toby. My mom was sooo surprised when Marco brought his car home from BGC. He did not tell mom that he was going to buy a car because she would have, most probably, prevented him from doing so.

Yea, he became sort of pasaway in pursuit of his passion.

Mom totally disagreed his idea of becoming a police for reasons that mothers will naturally understand. Inspite of that, Marco still pushed for it.

He was inspired by the SAF 44. He said, like them, he wants to die with integrity, while protecting people's welfare and keeping peace and order. He said he has finally found his purpose through that kind of service.

Despite mom's disapproval, he took the NAPOLCOM exam and became his batch's top-notcher. Mom had goosebumps.

At the time I nursed him at RITM, Marco shared to me that he studied really hard for the NAPOLCOM exam simply because he got so depressed with his performance during the Career Service Examination which he took a few weeks before the former. He thought he would fail the CSE so he better, at least, pass the other one.

Turned out he also passed CSE and actually acquired a high rating.

He was an achiever. In just a year, he has already achieved a lot as a police officer, and his mates can tell. I am a witness of how much he's worked hard to fulfill his dream, and how passionate and dedicated he was in his job.

With everything that he was put through during his extensive training, I never, ever thought that he will lose his battle against his illness. Yet, I know he fought hard for his life but I guess that's about it.

What I admired most about him was his faith in the Lord. No matter how painful he experienced, he did not give up his faith until his last breath.

Marco had Pneumonia, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Drug-induced Hepatitis. He suffered so much, just imagine getting your whole body unskinned or full of wounds and sores externally and internally. He had to endure such pain for more than 2 weeks. My aunt used to hear him pray for the Lord to take him.

But my thought, he was so blessed. Last Holy Wednesday, he got the chance to be anointed by a priest, and avail the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It was 5 days before his death.

I believe his suffering served as purification for the sins he has committed, and his Confession and repentance was the affirmation of the grace and mercy of the Lord that already forgave his sins.

April 2, I prayed so hard for the Lord to heal Marco. T'was one of the hardest prayers I've ever had. I also asked for prayers for his recovery from more than a hundred people.

I had a strong gut feeling that he will survive because he used to say that he will witness to how great the Lord is when he gets better. However, after a few hours, he died.

I asked the Lord, why? I thought he was going to witness. I was doomed. I became confused about God's plan.

Until I realized that we actually got an answered prayer! He finally healed the moment he was relieved from his earthly pain and suffering through the death of his body!

I was sad, and I cried a lot, because I will not be seeing him anymore and I will miss him so much. But I know he's in a much better place now, a place where there is no more pain and suffering, the paradise of eternal life. He is now smiling down on us with Daddy and the Lord in Heaven.

He was gone too soon. But, he has lived a happy and fulfilled life.