Of Dad Jokes, Basketball, And Seeds

“Uyy, kayo na no?”

It was a constant greeting from Josef every time he saw Che and me around campus together 18 years ago. Ever since he learned that I liked Che, he would make it a point to tease us as his way of getting us together.

One day, he asked again, and we confirmed that we were indeed together. It was the first time that I saw a face that showed both happiness and sadness at the same time. He was excited that we were finally together, but he was sad that he couldn’t tease us anymore.

“Corny nyo.”

That was how he would greet us for the next few months after that.

We weren’t classmates, and we weren’t super close, but whenever we’re together, we always create a bubble between us where we get immersed talking about basketball and forget everyone else around us. It’s only when we get called out for not socializing with everyone else that we realize it’s been an hour or so already.

He had these stupid dad jokes that I would laugh at or try not to laugh at just to mess with him.

We had different circles, but when our cirlces overlapped, it was always a good time.

A few years removed from graduation, I watched Food Truck Wars and connected with Romeo, Josef’s classmate back in college. I knew him because of his venture with Vier, another common friend of ours. “Meo” was looking for investors for a food truck business he was thinking of starting, and since I had no experience in putting up a business, I was mildly interested.

When Meo told me that Josef and Inna were two other investors he got, I got more confidence to join in. A chance meeting with my good friend Mina helped me jump in to the business, which led to the birth of Hungry Rover.

The Hungry Rover team

At the time, Josef was a bit too busy with other things, but the business became an opportunity for me to get to know Meo better. It built strong friendships, helped me meet a lot of people, allowed. meto learn through experience, and though it was Josef’s presence in the group that really pushed me to take that step, we didn’t have many opportunities to get together during that time.

I moved out of the country in 2015 and since then, Josef and I have been limited to chatting randomly about basketball and random things, catching up any way that we can. We’ve always planned on organizing a basketball game with all our common friends, but we never got around to doing it. Damn pandemic didn’t help.

He reached out a few years back to ask if I wanted to make a podcast because he said I’m one of the few people he knew who could ramble on about basketball and make sense. I didn’t have the confidence to do it myself, but it planted a seed in my head that I could be part of a podcast.

Today, his business, Podcast Network Asia, is the biggest podcast network in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, I’ve been part of three podcasts with different people and different goals. None of these have made it as big as PNA, but I know that what Josef planted in my brain is what drove me to try my hand at podcasting.

He greeted me on my birthday, and we planned yet again to meet. I knew he was going through a lot, and he was really busy, but I asked if he and Ate I could be part of Vino’s birthday celebration once we finalized our plans. He graciously accepted, and we were just waiting for a definite date and venue.

Last night, I learned that he had joined our Creator.

I’m still stunned by what happened.

Even at his last moment, Josef touched many lives by reminding us of the fragility of life and how it can be taken away at any moment.

He was a visionary and a man who took action. He was a loving and devoted husband. To me, he was a good friend who he probably unknowingly pushed to step out of my comfort zones because of his infectious drive to succeed.

“Corny mo.”

I know that’s how I’m gonna greet you in the afterlife for leaving us all behind so suddenly.

Until then, I hope you know that you have lived a full life and touched countless lives with your passions and being the person that you are.

Thank you for the seeds, the stories, the laughter, and the friendship. You will always be in our hearts.

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