By: Erel Cabatbat | @erelcabatbat
Lately, my mornings would start with a simple text message asking if “gising ka na ba?” as early as 7 a.m. And my day will be spent doing things for either work or other pursuits as needed. On a typical late night, a message asking “gising ka pa ba?” would extend the evening to the wee hours of morning, but in a good way because the conversation would always bring me hope, a better perspective of the coming days and even, on rare occasions, the shot in the arm that I need to look forward to doing something either I love or just want to try out because it is something new.
Last Friday night and early Saturday morning came, but without the usual messages that I got used to since last September last year. Instead, these were replaced by several missed calls and even more text messages. I called his number, but there was no response, which never happened before.
A frantic phone call from good friend Dennis Principe gave me chills. A few minutes later, another call to Paolo Trinidad, his younger brother, confirmed my worst fear. Still, I was in denial. When I finally was able to talk with Babs, then it finally sank in.
Chino Trinidad, my Kuyang, friend, mentor, fellow sneakerhead, food and travel buddy of late has passed away the night before.
A few hours before his unexpected demise, we were just chatting about what we will discuss and who will be our guests on our program Larong Pilipino sa DZME 1530 while he was on his way to a meeting.
His last message to me was “ako na ang bahala.”
Which was his usual mantra when it comes to the things we do together whether with our program, our side projects and the events that we cover with our colleagues and most especially with our friends, who rely on him for part time work or gigs. Not because they earn a lot with him, but more for the reason that he is a joy to work with.
With him in charge, all I have to do is show up and do my job. Which is the easiest part. I don’t have to bother myself with travel arrangements, board and lodging, and other mundane things. Everything is in order because as he always says, “ako na ang bahala.”
When it comes to work, he is the ultimate professional. He takes care of everything needed down to the littlest detail, with common sense and foresight to get us over to the finish line. I saw this on hand in our Masbate coverage, where a lesser mortal would probably just quit due to the concerns that he has to go through just for us to go home on time. Imagine traveling by plane, van, boat and chopper in a span of 48 hours just to make sure that the project will go through and we will go home with nothing, but smiles on our faces.
When it comes to other matters, especially in life, he is as equally as passionate as he is with his basketball and more. His knowledge of the country’s sports history, whether on the Olympics, boxing, cycling, or billiards, among others, was incomparable to say the least. I think there is only one person who could stand toe-to-toe with him when it comes to Philippine sports and that is our good friend Butch Pichay. It was always a treat when they spar during our radio program and I just lay back and listen to what they shared, saw and experienced with the heroes of Philippine sports. It was like Sports and History 101 which you can’t read or find anywhere.
I have known Chino since I was still, literally, in shorts, back in Calasiao. I listened to him during his coverage of the annual bikeathon during summer with my Papa Erning. It was one of my fond memories with my father. And I never imagined that someday I would become a journalist like Chino, and have him as a partner in a radio program. Much more to have him as a friend.
Several weeks ago, in our usual chat that went on until the wee hours of the morning, he laid out his plans. He has a billiards tournament coming, a boxing project in Bohol, his bid to resurrect a dormant national sporting association, a coffee table book featuring the greatest billiards player of all time and his close friend Efren “Bata” Reyes. He has a full schedule ahead of him. We have a lot to do, we have a lot of things to look forward to doing the things we love and enjoy.
But more on the missed opportunities – I would probably miss the on-the-job training that I get to enjoy with a front seat view when we get to meet friends, supporters and those who love to help us push for the development of sports, other than basketball, in places outside Metro Manila. At my age when only a few things can probably amaze me and make me wonder, I get to learn new things, different perspectives and a lot to be thankful for. I would probably miss the ordinary folks who go to him whether we are in a restaurant, the airport or in the streets just to say hello and have a picture with him. No matter how tired or preoccupied he was with his thoughts, he never says no to them and his pictures with his fans are proof that he cares and respects them all the time.
You can say a lot about Chino, some would even fault him for some things. Understandable, because they don’t know him that well. I was one of the fortunate ones to be able to have a peek into his life, in the man behind the persona, the brashness and the trademark passion that he has. I also got to know the man who loves his parents so much, Manong Recah and Mommy Fe; brothers Paolo and Sebastian; and his wife Babs and their children Yoye, Duz and Pis.
He also loves the lesser-known athletes, the underdogs and the forgotten heroes of the past. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity. Iilan lang ang mga tunay na kaibigan, nabawasan pa ng isa…
Yes Kuyang Chino, gising na at gising pa ako…
For comments or questions, you can reach the author ([email protected]) or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
