Al Robles

It was with great sadness to learn that long time friend, writer and poet Al Robles passed away of a sudden heart attack yesterday morning brought on byGuillain-Barré syndrome.  Al has been temporarily paralyzed by the syndrome for the past few weeks.  His improving updates seemed positive that he was going to make it out of this OK. 

I was really looking forward to having a roast pork lunch with him at the Mariposa Cafeteria.  It was really sad to hear of his passing. 
I first met Al about thirty seven years ago while he was holding a tape recorder interviewing the Manongs (elder filipino men) at Portsmouth Square.  I got to know him more at Kearny Street Workshop, a community arts group, where he was active in the writer's workshop.  He was chronicling the plight of the generation of  bachelor manong who lived in Manilatown.  I went along with him on many occasions to photograph the manongs whom he befriended.  Al will always be known for the poetry about the manong of Manilatown.

Al's interest were many and I always had a good conversation with him whenever we met especially over good food.  Like does anyone know that Al enrolled in Jung Wah Chinese school as an adult and was learning Chinese along with kids?  Or how he was really into Zen and actually spent time in a Zen monestary?  I'm sure that's just the tip of the iceberg of all the things he's done in his lifetime.

Well...like what we all say when someone we know passes on...we will miss having Al around.  I am glad I knew Al.