Farewell to a Good Man

He was just passing through I guess..

Last summer, I wrote a blog about Kim Smith, an Englishman in Manolo Fortich (see http://lamontanatours.multiply.com/journal/item/12/An_Authentic_Englishman). Since its writing Mr. Kim Smith has donated the wonderful website (see www.manolofortich.com.ph) and was publicly acknowledged by the local government unit on June 13, 2009, at the First RQ Awards Ceremony, during the 93rd Araw ng Manolo Fortich Celebration.

Unknownst to many, myself included, he was hiding a great pain, a sickness, a death. Much to the dismay of his friends and family, Kim, being a nicotine addict and a diabetic, stubbornly refused to give up his smoking and drinking vices, thus resulting in a failure of his respective organs. He passed away Wednesday evening, August 26, at the young age of 53.

For all his faults, Kim was a good Samaritan, coming into and settling down in Manolo Fortich, determined to put it (not himself, mind you) on the map of Asia by building a website and promoting it abroad. He even put in tips and advice to foreigners who were looking for greener pastures. And then, days, no... months before he died, he began transferring his knowledge little by little to the people he trusted. His dreams, his skills, his goodness have been passed on. Successfully? Only time will tell.

Today we mourn this painful loss, yet Manolo Fortich will rise with the legacy Kim Smith, the authentic Englishman, left behind.

We will miss you, Kim!