It was close to midnight when Ruby was texting on her cellphone as she waited on a near-empty street in barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City.

She stood outside a friend’s apartment on Governor Roa Street, where she was hoping to borrow the adaptor for a computer laptop. The apartment, like the street, was dark and unlighted as she tried to text her friend. The road is not in the route of police patrols.

She was an easy prey.

Two men on a red motorcycle arrived and a classic roadside holdup unfolded.

One man got off the back seat and aimed a gun at her.

She tried to move away. A single shot of a .38 caliber revolver pierced her wrist and chest. Her cellphone was grabbed.

Badly wounded, Ruby was still able to run off a few meters before falling to the ground.

A security guard, rushed the wounded Ruby Jade to the hospital.

No arrests were made although the police picked up some police characters for possible identification.

Ruby’s dream to graduate as a nurse and work abroad ended with the theft of a P5,000 Nokia cellphone.

Ruby Jade was my schoolmate in high school in Saint Joseph College, Maasin City, Southern Leyte. She’s 2 years ahead of me. Her younger brother, Ranvic, was my close friend with same age as me. She then went into college here in Cebu. Took up BS-Nursing in Cebu Doctors’ University.

I can still remember that night. March 6, 2008. I got off the v-hire from school. Around 7:30pm, I was on my way home, and was walking alone when I passed by the place where the incident happened. I was surprised to see (Ate) Ruby standing outside the apartment of her friend. She was talking to someone. That was her classmate I guess. They were still in uniform.

I didn’t know what to do that time, whether to say hi, or call her. So I decided to just pass by her since she was talking to someone. I didn’t want to interrupt their conversation. And besides, she didn’t see me and we’re not that close. Not knowing that it would be the last time I would see her. The morning I woke up, my friend Atheena called me and told me about the terrifying news. I couldn’t believe it. I just saw her the night before. I was really in shock.

I should have greeted her. I should have talk to her. Too late. She’s gone. That was really a hurtful thought.

Wherever we are, in Cebu, in Leyte, everywhere, there would always be people who take lives of innocent people just to get their needs and wants. They didn’t even show even a bit of mercy to her.

But wherever she is right now, I hope she’s happy. She’ll forever stay in our hearts.

I admired her ever since. Her beauty, her kindness, her smile, her intelligence. So sweet and gentle. She’s a very fine young woman.

This serves as a tribute to her. Today is her death anniversary. Let us try to pray for her.

May she rest in peace with God in heaven.