Julia

I never met her, and the only time I heard about her was when she was declared missing last April 8, but there is a deep and profound sadness inside me at the passing of Julia Campbell, a Peace Corps volunteer who was found dead in Banaue on April 18, apparently the victim of yet another violent crime (read the Peace Corps statement on her death here). Her being a foreigner and a volunteer make her death all the more tragic: she did not have to be in the Philippines, but she chose to live among us to make our lives a little better. Her blog (from where I got the pictures in this entry) has now become a memorial, with more than a hundred people (and counting) leaving messages to her -- even though she will never be able to read them. I left this one, the lyrics of the song "Julia" credited to Lennon/McCartney but actually written by John Lennon for his late mother. There are no words to express our collective sorrow, and half of what we say will be meaningless...

JULIA

Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you, Julia

Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering
In the sun

Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind, Julia

Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

So I sing a song of love for Julia, Julia, Julia