ICO AT AKO (Official Statement)

Once upon a time, there were intriguing questions, doubtful looks, dubious grins, arching brows, funny, and both positive and negative comments, I, more so often encounter with "the handsome man you are always with, in most of your pictures" here in the Kingdom. So for the record, I have written a narrative of how I met that good looking guy and who he really is in my life.

It was the last Friday of December, 2010 in our little branch in Khobar when I first met Rico. He came in to our little gathering place with 2 friends-Reagan and Princess, a bit late for the meeting and were later introduced formally during the Sunday School by Evan Glassett, our teacher. They were newly arrived nurses at the Dammam Medical Dispensary, a primary hospital not so far from my place. First meeting was flat. It was a simple asking of what they do and where they came from. Second meeting was the first Friday of 2011. It was more lengthy considering that he came alone for the meeting.

I came to Saudi Arabia 3 months and 2 weeks ahead of Rico. That simply means, I have more stories, mostly funny, to tell about the place which would later made us "laughing partners".

The succeeding meetings, 'tho casual, were cozy and more relaxed. I get to see where he lives when Kees, also a member of our Church, drove him back to his place one Friday afternoon. There were laughters as usual and those laughters, 'tho sometimes seemingly non-sense brought us closer together as newfound friends.

Then came invitation to becoming friends in Facebook. He said that his Facebook name was Ico Potter, a name he owns and don't share with anyone but him. True enough, I didn't get a hard time finding Ico Potter in my search.

Then came exchanges of information. It was on our many conversations that he made mention that he was a former band member, a vocalist of Jeremiah who popularized the song "Nanghihinayang". I wasn't a big fan of music bands nor into romantic and "pathetic" songs so I don't have any idea how big the name was but I sure have heard of that song.

Because we belong to the same faith, it took us no time to feel at ease with one another. We share a lot of things in common. We laugh at simple jokes, share personal concerns, took advices from each other and simply, being there when things go wrong, be it at work, at home, in Church or with simple matters that concern us.

At the time that we were developing a very rare kind of friendship, however, which I believe, many have misunderstood, he was on a long distance relationship with a member of our Church (which never lasted). On the other hand, he became a reason of jealousy to my children, especially Knycole. She would accuse me of having a boyfriend in the person of Ico Potter, which I just simply laughed it off. Soon, my children befriended Rico through Facebook and later call him kuya Rico. What made them at ease with him was the fact that he was on another new relationship with then, Trish Nepo.

When Rico was offered a job at an oil rig somewhere in the desert, our communication never stopped. He would make phone calls long or short just to say 'hi' and giggle over simple matters. For 2-3 months of being away from the city, we made sure we are updated of what's going on - on our job, Church and personal matters, family and friends and in almost everything.

Back at my workplace, a younger colleague became the closest of all my friends, Aizza, who don't only speak the same dialect like mine but also think the way I think when it comes to principles on friendship and other related matters. That made us closer to one another in a place so rare you can find a person to fully trust. On one occasion, I invited Aizza and Rico at a Japanese restaurant in Rashid mall where they've formally introduced to one another. Needless to say, at that moment, they've "clicked"! And so, the many adventures, some mischiefs, some good, some not-so-good,that cemented our friendship.

Rico's job requires him to travel to the rig once in every 2-4 months. And whenever he comes home, the 3 of us won't let another 24hours pass by before we get together at our favorite hang out- McDonald's and keep ourselves abreast of his not-so-interesting adventures at the rig and our many travels in the city.

Rico, Aizza and I have undergone series of not-so fortunate turned fortunate events. The 3 of us were together on my motorbike accident in Half Moon. Aizza was with me during a car accident which later became the reason of so many intrigues in our workplace because everybody thought that Rico, too was there (which, lucky enough, he wasn't!). Most of our common friends left us while Aizza and I sticked to one another. And 'tho they left, we both found a better friend, a friend we both can trust, a friend who have understood, a friend who listens, a friend who've laughed, who've cried, who've stood with us when we both needed a shoulder to cry on, someone who cheered us on our lowest, friend who knew our shoe size and a friend who introduced us to so many iPhone apps that now we greatly enjoy. And that friend, who happened to be a HE was Rico.

Having a boy-friend, a male friend, a friend of the opposite sex seems to be very unusual, unacceptable and a little out-of-the-way, more so in this part of the globe where men and women don't go out together, not unless they're married. Because of this, we got into so much encounters with their religious police called motawa.

Once, we were window shopping at Rashid mall. A bearded native man whispered to Rico, 'tho he was walking few meters ahead of us, to have us cover our hair. Quite light! Next encounter was at Dahran mall while we sat down at a coffee shop waiting for shops to open (closed for prayer time), him sitting on one table and us on the next table, but still were questioned if we were together. Denial seemed to be a normal reaction but those encounters were nerve wrecking!. Third was at Jarrir Bookstore. During prayer time, we were told to get out from the store and while waiting outside, and 'tho he stood few feet away from us, a roaming motawa in a car still caught him and was told to pray. 'Tho that incident didn't involve us, it was still pretty scary considering that we were together. But those encounters didn't stop us from going out and be in our own world, away from reality.

At the same time that we were having fun with our adventures, Rico, Aizza and I share the same gadgets, bought the same set of comforters, the same iPhone bunny case, kept the same McDonald's happy meal toys, celebrated our birthdays together, just the 3 of us, having eaten at flashy restaurants together but most of all, never really get tired of chatting even after a threesome date til we drop.

While Aizza and Rico were both into different relationships, I stayed on neutral ground......Okay! On a more complicated grounds! So when things go wrong, our viber accounts would be as busy as a bee as we listen to each other's rant over some not-so-important personal matters. Even if we get into a point that we disagree on some matters, still we are there for each other, list'ning to and cheering each other.

In addition, our relationship was one of a give and take. While Aizza is fond of giving fabulous, expensive, branded gifts, (lucky friends we are, aren't we?), Rico is more of a thoughtful giver. On his travels to Riyadh, he would surprise me and Aizza with gifts he would carefully choose and bring back home to our delight. And on our meal adventures, everybody take their turn to pay. And that's how we got hooked into dining in to different eateries both here in Dammam and Khobar.

During my first annual vacation, I get to meet Rico's mom, Ate Carolina and his sister, Jenny and niece Jam and nephew. Lahing arttistahin was my first impression. They seem to be good people, too, like Rico. Both Ate Carol and Jenny became my friends, too at Facebook. On my 2012 annual vacation, I got to meet and chat with Rico's mom once again. During our lengthy conversation at the Mall of Asia, I've witnessed how Rico was loved and appreciated by his mom as she would tell stories about her youngest son making lots of surprises for her and showering her material things. Ate Carol never get tired of saying how humble and kind his son is and how his feet firmly stays on the ground even if he gets lot of praises and attention from people who knew him well and people he just got bumped into for the first time. I've witnessed Ate Carol shed tears when her Rico's in pain, emotionally or otherwise. And I can tell how excited she is, knowing that my friend, her son will soon go home in 69 days.

For almost 2 years of knowing Rico, here's a glimpse of how we have developed our seemingly doubtful friendship: Whenever there was something new with us- be it a funny encounter at work, an unscrupulous decision we made, mean words we want to say to other people (and have kept and laughed it off to ourselves), new things we bought, found a new place to dine, activities we attended, or even if we're in the height of our happiness and emotions, we never failed to "report" through our endless chats at viber or Facebook. During his break up with Trish, it was me who knew it firsthand. Admittedly, I got angered seeing him at his lowest but listened to his flaws anyway. Knowing him, I thought he didn't deserve such cruel treatment but he've moved on fast so with the smile and laughters with our chats.Those endless conversations not only opened the doors to knowing and understanding each other but have truly been the key to our most coveted one-of-a kind form of relationship.

So, with the many positive things I've seen about Rico, how then do I feel towards him? Setting aside the "generation gap", I believe I am one lucky bitch to have been blessed with someone who have accepted, cared for, listened to, and simply being there for me. Once, I was in my darkest and deepest abyss, and Rico and Aizza supported me all the way, never left me, guided me through and accepted me wholly. Indeed, both my young friends were heaven sent! As Ulysses G. Grant once penned: "The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity".

Rico is leaving in 2 months. There is so much anxiety in my part, knowing that I may not see him again or may not talk to him again personally, and have me back to my usual lonesome world, but I know that wherever his fate takes him, the friendship we cultivated in this part of the Lord's vineyard will be cherished forever. To you, Rico, thank you may not be enough but thanks anyway for in you, I found a brother, a friend, a confidante, my angel in my most trying moments, my laughing partner, I will surely miss you but wishing you all the best life can offer. For now, we have 68 days left to rock and roll! KUDOS, Brother!

QUOTES:

"A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues unchangeably".- William Penn

**Blog proofread, re-edited and published with the consent of Rico Madrigalejos, a.k.a. Ico Potter.