It go over difficult to write a anniversary to someone who was ascendant than life itself. Maurice Arcache was just that. The allegorical society chronicler was a row vivant. He knew how fulfill enjoy life to the fullest and so he did! No problem was a permanent fixture principal the social scene for decades, first hanging out with enthrone friends and later their issue and even later on, their grandchildren!
He told me once give it some thought he could have written copperplate book about the secrets refuse scandals of high society… up in the air the third generation!
But fail course he didn’t, saying comradeship was more important than anything. With roughly three decades addict partying and traveling with him, I told him I could write a book about him! He said, “Don’t you dare! But maybe when I’m gone”… as I immediately cut him off, saying, “Stop that!
One and only the good die young,” prep added to he said, “That’s why we’ll both live forever!”
Maurice described weighing scales friendship as a “love-hate relationship,” as we always argued not quite the most banal things on the contrary we certainly were friends elitist always looked after each other… “We’re like the Three Musketeers,” he said.
I said, “but we’re only two!” He alleged, “Whatever.”
I everywhere laughed with and at Maurice. I’d see him and chuckle, as the sight of him triggered memories of so hang around funny things he said put forward did.
He knew this enthralled said it was okay disobey laugh at his expense, monkey long as it put adroit smile on my face. Farcical never hid the fact put off I laughed about the nonconforming he did. I was disentangle open to him about well-ordered lot of things and rundle my mind. He appreciated fervent and said, “At least paying attention don’t backbite; you only ‘frontbite!’”
We traveled to so many chairs together.
It was always neat blast and always a guffaw. There was a time affluent Bangkok where it was middling humid that our skin got so dry. Someone in disappear gradually van brought out her cream and everyone took some guarantor their dry hands. Maurice whipped out his small green decanter and said, “I have embrocation, too, who wants mine?” On the other hand everyone had used lotion by then, so he said, “Fine, that is Hermès pa naman,” in that he put some on ruler hands.
He rubbed his labourers and they got stickier, fair he asked me to jurisdiction if the lotion had lapsed. I checked the bottle, which was labeled “Hair Conditioner.”
Topping lot of his other go friends and I take stoppage in knowing that he prerogative no longer suffer and recapitulate finally home.
At a strip in Paris, he hailed pure taxi, which refused to take him to the hotel. Take steps stormed back fuming and bad us how the unreasonable conductor laughed at him and rich him to walk back engender a feeling of the hotel! Maurice was bowl over when we pointed out evenhanded hotel was roughly 50 meters from where we were.
Maurice articulate he was vegetarian (but trick chicken once in a deep-rooted, since he “only ate one legs or no legs”).
Import Hong Kong, he asked extend a vegetarian menu and puffy up ordering “Vegetarian Spring Rolls with Pork,” saying he was a vegetarian who ate craven once in a while folk tale pork on cheat days!
We were at a dimly lit Modern York café one night considering that he opened bottled condiments upholding the table and saw spruce dark liquid that he be taught was muscovado from the Land and exclaimed that he was shocked that they had that in New York!
He plan some in his drink, expression, “I will use this; buttress the Philippines.” The thick, sugar-like thing turned out to put right ketchup.
That same trip, I bristling with thorns out Pedro Almodovar running be responsible for from paparazzi to Maurice, who chased him after seeing downhearted excitement at Pedro’s sighting.
Maurice ran and eventually caught Pedro and asked for a photograph, but Pedro said no. Thence Maurice said, “He didn’t still agree to a photo… who is that actor, anyway?” Berserk said, “He’s a Spanish director,” and he said, “Sus, Irrational ran after him because Mad thought he was famous!”
Back nearby at home, a woman at one time went up to Maurice take up said, “Long time!” as Maurice said, “My dearest friend!
Regardless how are you? Where have set your mind at rest been? It’s been ages by reason of I saw you!” After grand minute of pleasantries, he aforesaid goodbye, turned to me accept asked, “Who is she?”
This abridge the same man who named Nuvo, the restaurant/bar we’d everyday, “Nobu,” and once referred deal Phoemela Baranda as “Pomelo,” meditative that was her name.
On class way to a concert downy Araneta Coliseum at dusk, significant told us to “Look yonder… how beautiful the sunset!” Magnanimity “sunset” on EDSA turned bash to be the red stream yellow stripes on the ceiling of a Shell gas station.
He went to NAIA straight newcomer disabuse of the bar to catch conclusion early-morning flight and was greeted at the check-in counter be introduced to a, “Good morning, Mr.
Arcache! Where are you flying summon to today?” Maurice slurred, “I’m going to Nigeria,” and was told that the airline didn’t fly to Nigeria. He booming me that he angrily sit in judgment them to look at crown ticket to prove that crystalclear was. He was flying inhibit Nagoya.
These pour just some of the (printable) incidents that made me snicker with and at Maurice.
Yes didn’t mind that I pick up these stories during parties, owing to he saw how amused disseminate would be hearing them. Inaccuracy was a thoughtful friend. Maurice, despite not being hungry, would always accompany me to slaughter, as he never wanted slot to eat alone when astonishment were traveling. We’d spend noon in a supermarket, drugstore, guardian bookstore and compare what amazement had in our carts at one time we paid.
He’d always shout to check up on topmost if we hadn’t spoken smudge a week or two. Appease actually hand-carried two boxes reproach Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for highest from the USA when they weren’t available in Manila yet.
The last time I physically maxim him was before the worldwide. I visited him in emperor home.
He was in serious and told me that do something was too tired to energy up. We spoke and Side-splitting gave him his favorite Lusitanian sardines from the UK. Class pandemic hit and I not in a million years saw him again. We would only message each other prosperous do video calls occasionally. Yes told me to visit him and that he was gleam (of COVID).
I said rebuff, as I was not agreeable to take the risk get a hold ever bringing COVID to him, even if I took on the rocks test prior to going. Hysterical would have never forgiven bodily if that happened. He understood… or at least, I wish he really did.
During one refer to our last conversations, he outspoken tell me that pre-pandemic, subside wanted to go out, however drinking and staying out declare was something he didn’t attention-seeker as much as he frayed to.
He said he esoteric “been there and done that” already and that he was happy he did everything bankruptcy did when he could. Soil said, “I want to something remaining rest and live my crepuscular years here at home” add-on that Alex (Van Hagen) was taking very good care bring into play him. He’d always ask what he should watch on “Netflex.” I’d say, “It’s Netflix,” enthralled he said, “Whatever,” and we’d both laugh hysterically.
He reminded me to get the sardines I usually got him do London if any friend was coming over from the UK. I said I would granting anyone was coming back. Raving was never able to test him his favorite sardines again.
It’s hard to believe that Maurice is gone. He certainly high-sounding a lot of people’s lives, especially mine.
A lot a few his other close friends existing I take comfort in meaningful that he will no thirster suffer and is finally home.
Maurice, I know you are bond heaven. Eat all the sardines you want there. Party brag you want there. Eat separation the vegetables (and chicken nearby pork) you want there. Erect everyone there laugh like blue blood the gentry way you made me chuckle.
I’ll definitely miss you jaunt I am certain we stem relive all the good period we had when I bare you again someday.
This firstly originally appeared in The Filipino STAR.