It was seven in the morning. A tall, dark man, his eyes weary from a lack of sleep, was seated near the exit of the airport. His name is Ryan Urbano. We were at Arlanda Airport, near Stockholm. Months before this encounter, we got our acceptance letters to attend Linkoping University in Sweden under the Erasmus Mundus program. We were to take our masters in applied ethics under Professor Goran Collste, a giant in the study of global justice.
It was our first time abroad. We had to travel some 200 kilometers from Stockholm to Linkoping City. When we arrived at the train station, we saw a man who was carrying a huge bag. The bag seemed broken. Ryan Urbano quipped, "hey, can I help you?" The guy smiled. It was a big coincidence. The guy is Chris Agulanna, our classmate from Nigeria. Ryan offered to carry the big bag and he did. "What's inside? Did you bring an elephant?" he joked. We all laughed.
That was 15 years ago. I can still vividly remember. Now, I have lost my friend. He was truly a good man. The reason why I chose USC for my PhD was him. I told him that we can prove something. That we can publish in top journals. And we did. With his great leadership as chair of philosophy, my classmates enjoyed our studies and have developed deeper friendships. We usually convene at the Carmelites Seminary, where I was staying, after our Saturday classes. Ryan had a soft heart, but he was always firm. He actually never voted in any election, arguing that he does not believe in politics.
The news came to me from one of my closest friends, Francis Jeus Ibanez, who is more popularly known as Patis. Patis sent me pictures of Ryan lying on the floor. "He collapsed while playing basketball at CTU Main," Francis said. The pictures came from Marc Olaguir. I couldn't believe that he is dead. "We actually chatted via messenger just the other night," I told Francis. Ryan Urbano knew everything that was going on in my academic life, including the effort of some people to cancel me because of my work and papers on President Rodrigo Duterte. He advised me to ignore my critics.
In Sweden, Ryan actually loved to sing. But he only sang one song, Amazing Grace. We have great friends there, Dr. Ivy Colambo and her husband, Anton. We usually gather with our Swedish friends during weekends. They drink while I sing Angie by the Rolling Stones. On our graduation day, Hans, a rich Swedish friend, gave us a big tribute and organized a huge party for us. Hans even raised the Philippine flag at his resthouse by the lake.
Ryan Urbano was a very kind man. Before I started my studies, he took me, my wife and daughter to the scenic places and tourist spots in Cebu City. When CTU invited me to give a talk, he offered that Gerry Arambala and I go with him to Sirao Garden. Ryan actually drives a Monterosport SUV. But the man has remained humble despite his many accomplishments, including post-doctoral research positions at the Goethe Institute and KAICIID.
Ryan Urbano was a protege of another great, the late Dr. Romualdo Abulad. At one time at the Ayala Mall in Cebu, Ryan Urbano, Dr. Abulad, Rhoderick Abellanosa, and myself had a conversation at Starbucks. I told Dr. Abulad that Duterte would win as president. I suggested that the reasons are apparent. Dr. Abulad listened intently. I also believe that his points were valid. Ryan, meanwhile, just remained calm. He was never really interested in politics.
My great friend actually liked ballads. I was different. When I told him to listen to "Man in a box" by Alice in Chains, he didn't like it. But Ryan Urbano was a consummate family man. He sent his monthly allowance from the Erasmus scholarship to his wife. He never bought anything for himself in Sweden. Each time I was short of cash, he lent me money but never at any point in time did he ever asked to get repaid. I returned his money, of course. But the guy was just amazing.
Together with Ian Clark Parcon and Chris Agulanna, we toured Italy and went to Florence, the Vatican, Pisa, and of course, Rome. We even went to Hard Rock Cafe in Rome. Chris Agulanna joked that everyone inside the noisy bar will end up in hell. We just laughed. Chris is actually a conservative pastor. Every Wednesday, we gathered at his place to watch the sermons of his senior pastor. Most of the time, we just fell asleep. But nothing beats the experience of being together, and that was something that strengthened the bond of our friendship. The saddest part of our studies, actually, was that we knew that we will not see each other again.
"Have a good life," said a Swedish guy with whom Ryan Urbano played basketball with. Now, my friend is gone. No one can replace him in this world. I will forever treasure his caring ways. Ryan Urbano was actually a disciplinarian. His kids are very intelligent and he was very proud of them. Chris Agulanna calls him a strongman not because the guy wants to be in full control but it is because Ryan Urbano was steadfast. He was a quiet man, most of the time, but when a firm decision was needed, he would always do what was necessary.
Ryan Urbano, how can you go? You have done so many things for me and countless students and colleagues. The man actually introduced me to the thoughts of great thinkers, including Peter Singer, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Thomas Pogge, and Hans Kung. Ryan Urbano was well-published but the greatest lesson he taught me was that you do not need to be better than others. You just have to be the best version of yourself. The guy, if you must know, plays basketball very well in his younger years. He was a league MVP, he once told me.
Dr. Ryan Urbano, at this very point of our lives, is the real Most Valuable Person. There will never be another man like him. Like Bro. Romy, he is a giant in the history of Filipino philosophy, for he always stood for the right things and he wanted to make things right. May the Good Lord grant him eternal rest and may mortals like us learn that the good that you do for your fellow human beings will always be remembered beyond this lifetime.
- Christopher Ryan Maboloc