I can’t remember the first time I met JR Isaac. And although I remember the hug he gave me, I can’t remember exactly when I last saw him either.

I may not remember the first time or the last time, but I remember the in-betweens.

Traveling to Bangkok in 2009. JR convincing me to get up and dance on a boat. Swimming in Boracay. Helping me bug his brother for someone’s birthday surprise. Running into him in events too many to count.

I was always thrilled to see him and his sweet smile.

I can be really socially awkward, and JR was the opposite of that. He was at ease with people, in crowds massive and small, in the biggest parties and most intimate gatherings.

Everyone liked him. He was genuine and warm and real and incredibly kind, a good guy through and through.

He was a fixture on the social scene, one of those faces you expect to see at every party.

And so when news of his death spread last Tuesday, we all reeled from the shock. We’re still reeling now.

Too young, too soon, too fast, I’ve heard these words over and over. I can’t believe I’ll never run into him at a party again. The light of Manila feels dimmer without him.

***

“You’ll know the measure of a man with the things people say after he passes (away). And when our buddy was called up to heaven, the outpouring of love and praises for him was felt across the entire landscape. Kind, authentic, genuine, true, that was the JR we all knew and grew up with. I describe him as a beautiful soul with not a single mean bone. And that he truly was.

“I’ve known him for more than a decade, and we’ve been great friends from my days as advertising director of Sari-Sari to my events and PR work, to current times. He was a staple at every great party, countless Bora trips, all the fun events we attended. He’s known all my past girlfriends until I married the One, and Andi and I have many fond memories with him, whether on the beach or in the club or at a dinner somewhere.

“If there was a dude whose heart was pure, who was just the nicest guy you’d ever meet all the time, anytime, even if he was having the roughest of days, that was our friend JR Isaac. We will miss you forever, buddy. But we know that you’re happy up there watching over all of us. The sun came out today because the heavens rejoiced when you arrived.” —GP Reyes

“RIP, JR. You are one of the most hardworking, fun-loving and nicest persons I have worked with since the Preview days. Thank you for all the support, love and the friendship. God needs you up there. You will be missed.” —Daniel Tan

“The last time I saw JR was at a sweet catchup at Chotto Matte last month. He posted this on his Snapchat: ‘Endlessly laughing.’ And laugh, dance, smile we did throughout our friendship. It was a pleasure being third wheel to you and Myrza. We had such wonderful times together, my neighbor, Hairworks buddy, fellow dog-parent, genuine ally and friend. My heart goes out to your family and all the people whose lives you touched. We miss you terribly.” —Kate Torralba

“In a PR world where it is a ‘requirement’ to be the life of a party, or to at least be friendly, JR Isaac stood out, because with him it wasn’t a requirement, it wasn’t a job; it was innate.

“I remember seeing him at a mall; he was already out the door, but then he saw me, so he went back in, smiled and said hi. We were not that close, but it didn’t seem like it every time we saw each other, lagi siyang may ready smile. Just look at how many people are attesting to this.

“Rest in peace, JR, and thank you for bringing so much color and so much light to the world.” —Macel Abejero

“We started at the same time when Circuit magazine had its maiden issue. He was the soft-spoken visionary, the man who was a friend to all and the epitome of positive energy.” —Stephen Ku

“That’s JR Isaac in the pink shirt, judging the very first Evening Gown Competition in Today x Future, 2009. I couldn’t say that we were super close because we didn’t exactly hang out, but he knew the kind of person that I was and he understood my spirit. He booked me for shoots he knew were up my alley, he opened up topics he knew I was interested in and wouldn’t stop talking about, he would instigate small kalokohans that he knew I wouldn’t back away from. He was very generous and understanding, he always offered me a ride to wherever I was heading, always knew when I was feeling down, always supportive to get me back up. He shared with me stories of him back when he was still starting, and never—not even once—did I hear him speak ill of anybody.

“Last time we spoke was last year, in his car on our way to a shoot. I was sharing new music I was listening to, and he told me how happy he was to see me in a good spot in life. That’s how his heart is. It was such a great morning.

“JR, I do not know the reasons why Death decided to take you early from us… But I thank you for sharing everything that you can with all of us. Rest in peace. Ang aga-aga, wala pang lunch, pinaiyak mo ako. Mahal na mahal ka namin!!!” —Shahani Gania