One of the most memorable eulogies during the necro service for entertainment writer Dave Rojo was showbiz tabloid editor Art Tapalla's narrative.
Art, a native of Hilabaan Island in Dolores, Eastern Samar, described Dave, a Fil-Am born and raised in Panganiban, Camarines Norte, as a generous person.
"Lagi niya akong binibigyan ng pera. Kung hindi bigay, utang o hingi. Nito lang, mga ilang buwan ang nakakaraan, pauwi sa Samar ang isa kong pamangkin, wala siyang pamasahe sa bus, nanghiram ako kay Dave ng two thousand five hundred pesos, ipinadala niya agad (He always gave me money. If not given, borrowed or begged. Just recently, a few months ago, one of my nephews was going home to Samar and he had no money to pay for his bus fare, I borrowed P2,500.00 from Dave. He quickly sent it to me)," quipped Art.
In his private moments, though, Tapalla intimated the root cause of his destitution.
"Wala na kasi akong suweldong regular sa pagsusulat at pag-i-edit ng mga balitang showbiz.
Mahina na ang kita sa showbiz. Karamihan, wala nang bayad ang pagsusulat. Nakakalungkot na (I don't have a regular income anymore in writing and editing showbiz news. Income in showbiz isn't dependable anymore. Most of us are not paid anymore by writing about show business. It's really sad)," lamented Tapalla.
Thank God, there was Rojo, a pensioner of the US government after he retired from his graphic arts design for the Los Angeles City Hall.
Dave used to be a movie writer in the Philippines before he moved to the US.
He was a regular columnist of People's Tonight where he had the chance to show his finest hours as an enterprising movie columnist years back when he scooped out everyone when he revealed the breakup of Pops Fernandez and Martin Nievera.
Rojo also wrote for Balita where his byline appeared daily.
At the time, he was still a publicist of Vicor Music Corporation writing press releases for Kuh Ledesma, Rey Valera, Freddie Aguilar, Imelda Papin, Geraldine, Sharon Cuneta, among other Vicor artists.
He migrated to the US because most members of his family were immigrants, one of them an owner of a home care for the aged in San Francisco, California.
Dave died of cardiac arrest due to complications.
He was cremated last week and his ashes were held vigil at St. Peter Memorial Chapels in Quezon Avenue by his buddies that included writers Pennie Azarcon de la Cruz, Edwin de la Cruz, Joy de Leon, Tonee Coraza, Jocelyn Dino, Nestor Cuartero, Jeffrey Gamil and film directors Cesar Evangelista and Armando Reyes.
"I am already missing Dave," exclaimed Tapalla.
Armando said that the last time he saw Rojo alive was during the premiere showing of the comedy picture "Mudrasta" which top billed Roderick Paulate.
At the event, Dave, who was already wheel-chair-bound, was able to have a photo-op with Carmi Martin, one of the stars of the movie.
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