Exit of an OFW: Erwin Herrera

 Exit of an OFW: 

ERWIN HERRERA                                      

 Julius Berger Nig (Plc), Abuja, FCT Nigeria

D: January 11, 2012  8:15pm

Athletic. Vibrant. Feisty. Zestful.

One of the first young, bright-faced OFWs to grace Abuja’s JBN professional network. The boy-next-door type.  Armed with a guitar, tennis racket AND basketball paraphernalia plus a camera. The type every teen- aged girl would have loved to escort them around.

...Erwin with pal Nino

...just a ssssslllllosssshhhh with Gel and Nino

Erwin, the musician, helping Rosa out belting a high note with Lito and Sherwin; Here, with brothers Niel and Nino, Noel, Anjo

In short, a very lovable kid. Not a nerd nor a book-bound delicacy. Down to earth.

He designed the logo of The Filipino Migrants. An avid photographer, he captured the best shots of all our activities whether an ordinary gathering, club-house lunch or dinner parties mostly at The Nunciature.

...clowning around at The Nunciature ala Rafael Nadal...with Jay R

Erwin, the photographer...taking a shot and being shot at.....

...one of the many candid shots he took....

...welcoming new faces: Alan, Noel, Donald, Sherwin and Nino, his brother and pal Nino

...very much in: whether his age group (John, Renz, Ric) or the elders Nonits, Bernie and Benjie...

This is the guy who was devastated at the death of the rapper Francis Magalona.  (The day he shared his grief with me, I searched the rapper in the web – of course I only know Pancho and Tita Magalona, age-gap you know!)

His endearment - “ Tita has a picture in a bathing suit. I know it’s just somewhere here,” with his conspiratorial wink, while browsing at the books in the shelf, bragging to guests.

Saturday mass wouldn’t be complete without him strumming his guitar to accompany the world-renowned soprano Cecilia Toledo de Schmillen.  

He was passionate in what he believed in. He lobbied alongside with OFWS towards the lifting of the travel/deployment ban in Nigeria.

Why did it take me 47 days after Jan. 11 to write these? 

Simple. No one can/could believe it happened.

Not a bed-ridden sickness nor a debilitating one. Not the body-wrecking accident.Nor the dreaded malaria and yellow fever.

But... the love of his life – sports.

Erwin, the Tennis player

The Black Mambas Captain receiving the trophy; with team mates Sherwin and John against the White Team during the first-ever Ambassador Basketball League held in Abuja.

...the championship game

 

Basketball was his FIRST and LAST LOVE.

At the last Ambassador Basketball League held in Abuja, Erwin Herrera was the captain of The Black Mambas.

He left Abuja for Christmas break to celebrate the festivities with his family and for the baptism of his 2^nd boy.

In January 11, 2012, while playing basketball with friends in his hometown in Cabanatuan, he collapsed. At 8:15 pm. he was pronounced dead at the age of 34. Massive heart failure.

He left behind his wife Jenny, 4-year old Nathaniel and 4-month old Edward. He left his brothers Neil, Nino and sister Ness, brother-in-law Efren Lim and his friends and colleagues in Julius Berger Nig. (PLC).

‘Who will now play the guitar during our Kartini day?’ Rosa Ilic, the Indonesian, lamented.

To our dear Erwin, may your soul have the peace and the blessings you so richly deserved. You will always be a part of us.  With all your virtues and failings, we love you.