Cesar Apolinario's UST friends pay tribute to the award-winning journalist

The news of GMA-7 reporter, host and director Cesar Apolinario passing away on Friday certainly took many people by surprise.

Apart from his I-Juander family and his GMA-7 colleagues, Cesar's comrades from the University of Sto. Tomas also paid tribute to the award-winning journalist.

At his wake on Sunday, Cesar's best friend Khristine Gabriel gave a captivating eulogy, detailing Cesar's never-ending love and support for her since the beginning of their friendship in June 1994.

"Walang pagiging handa na magpaalam sa isang best friend na naging bahagi ng buhay ko for 25 years," she said.

"Ni minsan, hindi sumagi sa isip ko na darating ang oras na 'to."

Khristine, who was classmates with Cesar in the communication arts program of the University of Santo Tomas, shared how they met.

"Nakaupo siya sa armchair and nagbibusy-busyhan and sabi ko 'Hello, I'm Kite,' na-shock siya and he stood and shook my hand sabi niya, 'Hi, I'm Cesar' and from our first conversation, I knew he would become my best friend, and I wasn't wrong," she said.

She also recalled how Cesar used to bring her to the Dapitan-Taft jeepney station every night after class to make sure she gets home safe. They were third year students then and she was pregnant. 

"Parang jowa ko siya noon. Siya nag-aalalay sa akin," she said.

Khristine also said Cesar was her first visitor in her eight-bed student ward in the UST hospital.

"May dala pa siyang half roll ng Goldilocks. May budget siya noon, pinaglaanan niya ako ng cake para sosyal 'yong pagdalaw niya sa akin."

She said Cesar was always giving, never asking anything in return.

On November 18, Khristine visited Cesar in the hospital, and saw him in excruciating pain. It was the first time she saw him in such a condition, Khristine said.

"Pagpasok ko ng ospital talagang sakit na sakit na siya kasi ang daming nakatusok sa kanya, kinukuhaan na siya ng dugo and umiiyak siya, ayaw na niya magpakuha," she said.

"We listened to praise and worship songs and I prayed for him. When I felt the timing was right, I told him 'Bestie, pray tayo ha. Even though you can’t talk, just say this prayer in your mind' and he nodded and tears streamed down his face," she added.

Meanwhile, she also shared a message for everyone in the wake.

"Life is way too short to withhold what we can give. It can be time, money, words of affirmation dahil 'di natin alam kung kailan natin huling makikita ang mahal natin sa buhay," she said.

"Hindi tayo nilisan ng ating mahal na si Cesar dahil nandito ang kanyang asawa, mga anak, magulang at mga kapatid, at maaari pa po nating iparamdam sa kanila ang pagmamahal natin kay Cesar," she added.

"'Wag natin kalimutan ang naulila ni Cesar at iparamdam ang ating pagmamahal sa kanya through his family."

Cesar was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year, an illness which he chose to face privately.

He is survived by his wife Joy and their children Remus Cesar, Athena Joyce and Sophia Ysabelle. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/LA, GMA News