Jet "aka Joe Calok, aka CALOK" Calosing '88

"Calokin na yan!" Jet at my place in Tagaytay.

CALOK!

I met Jet Calosing in high school. We were both sons of military officers. I hung out with him a few times with his other Army Brats.  In college, I recall seeing him in the summer of '88. The next time I saw him was when he just "jumped the fire". I was happy to see him with us.

Jet went to Philippine Science High School and got into UP Engineering. Effortlessly, he would cruise through subjects that kill mere mortals of UP students. Jet's IQ would easily break the 160 mark. Too easily.  

Cooling at my place with Charlie '88 and the "Calok" during the "weekend that was college" circa 1993....

To this day, I do not quite know not what "Calok" really means or where the name came from. All I recall is that Calok would practice his DJ spiels on the road as I hitched with him back home to the South in the Suzuki Fronte' Calok mobile.  In his quasi Visayan twang, he would practice lines like "This is Joe Calok on the M-I-C......  Again I would always be in stitches.  No miss, every time.

I also remember that there was a term coined in Jet's honor "Calokin na yan!" loosely meant a "crude, adventurous and funny" synonym of our virtue of "RESOURCEFULNESS".

Calok was a fixture at the Basement.  It is no surprise that he was always considered a frat personality.  Upon his arrival, his close bros and batch mates would announce his entrance with a thundering cry of excitement - "Caloooooook"!  Calok would hang out before or after class and the next thing you knew bros and sisters would be laughing with him and not at him.  His lines, his outfits, his car among other things seemed to have a sense of humor.  One time circa '89-'90, I was there when another '88 asked him why his jeans were folded ala the IF Bob L. '84.  In chutzpah, Calok retorted "Batch, what Bobby was then, I am now....".  I almost had a heart attack.

Calok was always a ladies man as well.  I don't think he ever went on extended periods without being in a relationship.  I guess Jet used that old Irish adage in his conquests with the opposite sex - "A maid that laughs, is half taken." The rest is Calok history.

Jet was once quoted as saying, "Bro, natutuwa ako pag ina-alaska ako. Napapansin kasi ako".  In a twisted way, it made sense to me in a big "Calok" way.  Hanging with Joe Calok was just too much to pass, every time.

We were there together, - rumbles, elections, Halfway Inn, numerous Fellowships or just plain lazing around.  Calok seemed to be there MOST of the time.  In the few times he was in "absentia", he was definitely missed.  

Jet was also a naughty boy.  He was a founding member of the Bliss Boys Club headed by Gardi '86.  That is another story that I will write about soon. I remember one time a senior wanted to display his cut and paste creation of a movie sticker. It was for that late '80's hilarious comedy flick "Another 48 Hours" starring Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte. After the cutting and pasting (manually), the sticker read "Awake for 48 Hours" starring Joe Calok and Dale A. Though more hilarious than the movie sticker itself, it never made it to the Basement wall because Calok begged the senior not to put it up for security reasons.  

Sometime in the early'90's Calok went to to my place to hang.  I thought nothing of it.  Just another day after school with the Calok, no biggie. Jet used my phone in my room and called his late Dad.  The next thing I knew, Jet was breaking down in tears. To my disbelief, Calok informed his Dad that he could not finish his degree in UP.  It turns out he flunked out of school mainly due to absences.  That was something common for "academic mortals" like us but uncommon for those of superior intellect like the Calok.   

Calok with the BBC Originals - Benson and Buriks '88 at my 21st Birthday Bash 1990

A few years later I saw Calok again, back on track. Getting his degree in his hometown in Ilo-ilo.  He finished with distinction, taught for a while after graduation and continued to venture in the Engineering field.

The dark days of Calok continued.

Jet lost his way again after college. Let's just say he took somethings that made heartbeats accelerate.  Took a few puffs that inhaled life and spewed out death.  He got messed up.

Years passed and I would see Calok on occasion.  He went fathom level rock bottom with some others.  As time went on though, I slowly noticed a change in the Calok. He was looking for meaning in life, the deeper kind.  

Before I knew it, Calok found his peace with Jesus Christ.  I even joined him in a few sessions of bible studies.  Jet was really getting into the groove of it.  Now that for me is something harder for a man of science like him to embrace spirituality and blind faith.  

Again, some years passed and whenever I would see Jet, I would note that he was getting better and better every time.  The next thing I knew is that he was engaged to his wife to be.

In more recent times I was comforted by Jet.  He was one of the many that voiced support and encouragement to me during my "dark days". I can never forget how Jet came to me in my darkest hour. Ever.

These days Calok is a very successful business practitioner cum Engineer in the construction business. Jet is now the preferred go to guy for condos, houses, gas stations and even buildings of the bros and some of our common friends. Calok's work speaks for itself. Masterpieces.

Jet has also amassed a considerable number of vintage cars for his collection.  When he is not busy with work or family responsibilities, Calok is tinkering with his classic cars, being true to his engineering form.  Jet's other passion and stress management mechanism is a different kind of speed -burning rubber at the tracks pushing G-forces with his go-kart team mate Mike A. '90.

Truly, Calok still has one gear - GO!

Jet also got more involved in church and is now a born again Christian minister.  The man of science, now evangelizes kids at his bible study classes every Monday held at his church.  Religiously, Calok ministers the Gospels to children of his congregation and is on the right path of being a pastor. 

Truly a far cry from his dark days, Jet has seen the light of salvation in his new role as pastor, teacher, businessman, father, husband, friend, car afficionado and bro - tried and forever true, there can only be one, Joe CALOK!

POST SCRIPT:

Calok recently gave me a gift out of the blue.  It was a practical book & he scribbled a very touching heartfelt note on it. This again shows what kind of guy Calok is deep down within - warm, sincere and kind. Thanks again Jet, for everything.