The Don's Last Ride

Such a sad few days it has been. A fraternity brother of mine was brutally murdered in cold blood.

Still in shock and starting the grieving,  I recollect the memorable times we shared with Ramon Teodoro Garcia.

 Murdered!

Starting the grieving,  I recollect the memorable times we shared with Don Ramon.

Don Ramon is a real Don. I thought it was some kind of monicker or nickname until I walked the streets of Davao and asked for directions to his place.  It turns out, he was a real "Don" like a Mafioso Don or a really rich man kinda Don.

Why were so many enamored to him?

He was a renaissance man. A man of art, music and love. Revered. Respected. The life of the party. That did not even include him owning about half of Davao City.

Sunstar

On his BMW he rode cross country. I wanted to ride with him but according to him, vespas makes him sleepy. That makes me sound like a really pussy because I top speed my scooter at 70 kph while he does 300 kph.....easily.

I was Don Ramon's guest in Davao a few months back.  It was all fun, fun, fun. It was so much fun that I volunteered to MC at his parties and blew the house down...twice.   Opened up the party with "Money for Nothing" and Don Ramon belted out his trademark song "Sultans of Swing" both by Dire Straits.  What a show! 

Booze. Boy I am glad I quit drinking. Don Ramon has truckloads of the "good stuff" in house and its aLways happy hour/smorgas-booze open to all!  i wonder if I could still gor for a swim in his swimming pool of Scotch....

 

Since then no less than Don Ramon made me his official MC for all his succeeding events and I have free tickets already booked.

In fact when, I last saw Don Ramon enter another party I introduced him like this:

"Driving from Davao to Los Baños on his PhP 2 Million, BMW with matching elan', still looking like he just showered, the real "Sultan of Swing" with a case of JW Blue following him, the owner of half the city of Davao ........"

Don Ramon wanted to shrink. He was such a modest man. Despite owning that much. It was not the material things. It was the person. Don Ramon, the man.

Don Ramon was a legend.

A couple of months ago we bestowed him a one and only fraternity watch that he wore on one of his a adventures. We felt great that he appreciated our humble gift.

Strangely, also a few month ago I composed his introduction for the next party in Davao. It was something like:

 "The only real "Don" I now, the Mafioso of the motorcycle, on his horse of steel rides the cowboy,  the man, the legend, the Sultan of Swing that also now owns more than half of Davao City....living large with no viagra needed yet..........Il Padrino, the only Don Ramon '65!!!!!!!"

I guess that will have to wait.

I maintain my pledge. As long as I am needed I would gladly host any of the Garcia family's  events as long as I am invited.

Il Padrino, ride on to the Angels. Heaven waits. Flowers will bloom in your name.  I shed a tear for you bro. I lit a candle. I know that we will meet again. 

Thank you SB Don Ramon. Thank you for the laughter. The smiles. The hospitality. The true fellowship.

See you Don Ramon, in the sun. I will tell you much.

Lastly, I have also made arrangements for an unlimited supply of lotion to the "roomates" of that sack of shirt that did this to you. It will make him a Guinness record holder for "entries"......