While checking all the comments to which I haven't responded yet, I realized that there was a comment to which I have not replied, and I cannot never respond to. Sorrowfully I read just now what Jay Lorenzo of PALMC, thirteen days before his tragic accident, had written in the Highest Mountains in the Philippines post:
Hi Sir Gideon!
Im Jay Lorenzo Of PALMC. Remember the Presidents' Summit? Sir Bambi And I are going to climb Mt. calauit in Sabang,Mt.Province and the reading on the topo map is 2714 mtrs. If that is so then it will be the 10th highest next only to Mt. Sinagkalsa in Kabayan,Benguet.
FYI. Hope you can join us this October or November. God Bless !
Seeing this message just now -- after hearing all the tales about this man's kindred spirit, remembering his friendly cheerfulness, and the camaraderie he displayed to all the mountaineers -- gives me a pang of sorrow. Until the end of his life he was constantly seeking for new places to explore, new frontiers to discover.
MY REPLY: Sir Jay, sorry for the late reply. Yes I remember you very well and the mountaineering community will always treasure your memory. Although that climb of ours will never happen the way we planned it, we will do our best to live up the ideals that you so magnificently upheld through your life. Mt. Calauit will eventually be summited, and we will reach higher summits; for you we will realize your dreams and keep the flame of adventure burning in our hearts.
Picture of Sir Jay Lorenzo courtesy of Mayan Gutierrez of PALMC.
Picture of Sir Jay Lorenzo courtesy of Mayan Gutierrez of PALMC.
10 comments:
We miss Jay. Thanks for writing this, Gid.
~Yanma
Jay was a cousin of our friends from Bataraza, Palawan. Heard about his penchant for mountaineering from them. Watched the memorial services for him live from St Peter-Quezon Ave. Such a short life for a man who had conquered great heights and slopes but wasnt able to conquer death in that tragic accident. His family and fellow mountaineers are definitely missing him. RIP, Jay Lorenzo.
-Jerome
I just woke up and finished praying, I grabbed my phone and supposed to post a new status on facebook to tell the world that I am thanking God for finally giving me a very satisfying sleep after weeks of having a hard time sleeping.
It was Mayan's post of this link that got my attention first.
...Again, I started to cry! I'm terribly missing Jay, my husband. Six days to go and the kids and I are going to face the #1 in the list of the FIRSTS without our Dear DaddyYo...Our FIRST CHRISTMAS!
As long as "There's always gonna be another MOUNTAIN"...I know that Jay is just there, always watching us!
Thank you guys for being a part of Jay's life!
Keep Climbing!
MA. ROMINA ANCOG-LORENZO
Kuya Jay is the BEST cousin I ever had. He never fails to extend his helping hands to me and my family. Learning his tragic accident is a total shock, but i know that he is resting now peacefully and that i will see him again when the LORD comes. That hope gives me an assurance that soon we can share joy again in a place where sorrow is never heard of. we can climb the highest mountain on the new earth, together. When Kuya Jay told me that he planned to visit me here in California, I immediately make an itinerary, and one thing but one thing excites him - to hike the Yosemite Half Dome and I promised him that not only we are going to climb it together but we will do the cross country hike of the most beautiful water falls in Northern America at Yosemite National Park... I don't lose hope...someday...when I see you again. I love you Kuya Jay and your legacy lives on.
Marlaw Lorenzo Umambong
Madera, California, USA
I was supposed to be with Jay and the rest of his PALMC friends during the 2009 Holy Week Guiting-Guiting hike. Personal circumstances had forbidden me from going with them... Thus, I will never be able to enjoy the trails with Mr. Jay Lorenzo.
I was in Balingkilat with his buddies when we learned of his tragic accident. Looking back at our pictures, I wondered if I would've laughed and even smiled if I actually met Jay...
I guess I would, all of us ever so wanting to be at more than 5,000 feet would never want frowns, guilt, or tears of sadness on top of earth, rock, and sand we hold so dear.
Farewell Jake.
You beat us all to the highest peak there is. But we, sure as summer, winter and fall, will camp there with you in due time.
-Carlo Pasaol
Farewell my friend, Mr.Jay Lorenzo..
A short but memorable climb indeed.Miss ur joke dude..
Thanks Gid for remembering this Man.
Thanks for writing this one Gideon.
Be strong Mina for the first year is always the most difficult.
We'll see you in the morning Jay!
RIP Sir Jay
mga SIR.. kung gusto nyo mag swimming after mag mt. marami.. meron resort malapit dun. mura alng 50 whole day at 80 over night.. just txt me for more information.. thanks. (....09054300698....)
Jay had encouraged me to join mountaineering. This was for him an antidote to rising medical stats for cholesterol, triglyceride, hypertension, etc. when I was working in PAL with him as Med Tech at the PAL Lab extracting blood specimen for blood chemistry. My last climb with him was in Amuyao in Feb 2009 where I was finally inducted as PALMC member. Now more than ever, whenever there is opportunity, I climb/trek with the family. I thank Jay for that invitation long time ago that I still enjoy and cherish to this day with the family. You will never be forgotten Jay. May you rest in peace.
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