Philip and I did a lot in the time we had together. Traveling to sixteen countries, moving to a new city, changing jobs, and battling cancer during a pandemic. No matter how hard or challenging things became, I don't regret a single moment. I am and will always be grateful to have been a part of Philip's life and to have shared a part of my life with him. He was the strongest and kindest person I know. No matter how bad things got, he never complained or became angry. He always looked out for others and thought about his loved ones first. Near the end, he would tell nurses, doctors, family, and friends that his greatest fear was what would happen to me when he passed. I don't know how I ever became so lucky to have been loved by someone so selfless.

The moment we found out the treatment wasn't working in June, was the moment where my world fell apart and Philip began to accept his time to leave was soon. Even then, Philip found moments to be happy, he found ways to help others, and he continued to stay grateful for everything and everyone in his life. Between June to November, we spent as much time as we could together and talked about everything we could think of. He asked me to make him these promises:

• Promise one: Find a way to be happy again. Don't let grief and fear hold me back from living my unique life.
• Promise two: Begin traveling again and make it to the places we had hoped to go together.
• Promise three: Fill as many moments in my life by doing things that make me feel alive, and spend as much time with the people who truly matter to me.
• Promise four: Find a way to be grateful for every day. Don't take a single day for granted, because none of us know when this life of ours will come to an end.
• Promise five: Be daring, be bold, be brave, and learn to love again. Philip reminded me how our hearts are as big as we let them be, and if someone comes along, he wanted me to take the chance and love again.
• Promise six: NO REGRETS. 

Philip and I had time to grieve together, and in that time, he was open about the reality we were facing and instead of hiding from it, he helped to prepare me for the harsh truth that hit us. Those five months we grieved together were heart-shattering but will always remind me of how unconditional Philip's love for me is. I'll always be angry at the world for cutting Philip's life short, but I will honor his memory and the love he gave me by learning to rebuild my world and continue to find a way forward. The influence Philip has on my life can not be measured. I will always remember him and our time together, and I will remember all the things he taught me. This grief I know will stay with me, but I choose to see it as evidence of being loved by and loving someone so special as Philip.

I will always love Philip and he will always have a home in my heart no matter what.

Until we meet again Philip.

- Sophia

Philip, it was an honor to have had you in our lives and to have done so much in such a short time. He was one of a kind, strong but gentle, happy but with a certain sense of having known things on a deeper level. He always reached for the stars and kept on striving to reach his goals. When Sophia graduated from college, while my nephew Federico was visiting, he told me, "Tia, he loves Sophia, so no matter what. Philip will move to Portland and get a job to be near her" He did and they lived thru so many adventures and they did so much in the short time they had together. Seeing him go thru so much with such grace, such strength combined with certain fragility due to his health can inspire us to live life, to enjoy the moments to fight for what is important and special in your life. His contagious smile with those knowing eyes will always stay in my heart.

I've known Philip since 6th grade. We were on a bowling team together, shared classes together, played countless hours of Halo and GTA together, watched anime, movies, learned about computers, and even went to Japan together. A trip I wish I could go back to every day and is one of my greatest memories. To this day I can't hear a Daft Punk song, the crash of a bowling ball against the pins, or the orchestral intro to Halo without thinking of him. There is still so much more I could say but I don't know how to boil down all the memories into a couple paragraphs. It'd never be enough. But for what it's worth, I still feel guilty about that Root beer float...He knows what I'm talking about. Until we meet again.

From the moment we met Philip, we liked him. It was not only his warm nature and genuine smile, but his intellect and wit, and our sense that he had a good heart. And we were right. Although we didn’t know Philip terribly long, we were honored to consider him “family.” Philip left us way too soon, but he lived well and loved well, and he will not be forgotten.

I was a friend of Philip and Alice when they lived in the Tenmile area. My son, James, and Philip spent a lot of time together. They went camping together and spent time together at school. They were on the bowling team together clear up to High School. The one thing that you should know is that Philip didn't want to go to school and was absent quite a bit. My son, James, encouraged him to go to school and took up bowling just so they could be together. I don't know if Philip ever talked about it or remember. They were very close friends till the time Philip moved to Eugene. Philip will always be in our hearts. He will be missed by so many loved ones.

From Linda, the "other mother". Alice, my partner at the time, felt a calling to foster babies with HIV. We met Philip when he was a month old in the hospital in Newport Beach Calif. My first thought was that he looked like an old English actor--distinguished and thoughtful (hence the nickname "Mr. P.). Soon he moved into our household. He took his time talking and walking, but when he started he was amazing. His first steps were all around the house--no one step and fall down--not Philip. It was back and forth back and forth, from the front door to the back door and back again. When I told him things his most often comment was "I know".....and he usually did know. Alice and I split up when Philip was about 4 but we always kept in touch. When she and Philip moved to Oregon I would come up every year to visit. I always loved Philip and fell in love with Oregon, too. I moved up here when I retired. Good memories of Philip as an adult: him taking me to his dorm room at UofO when he started college, our vegan Thanksgiving together, going for vegan pizza with him and Sophia. Oh, can't forget our trip to England when he was 16 and didn't want me to take any pictures of him. He was an extraordinary person, and I'm grateful to have been a part of his life. Philip, you will always be loved! Sophia, thank you for this site and the chance to comment.

Hi All of Philips People, I am Dee Philips older Sister this is very hard for me to write due to the nature as to why but I will try. Philip was a foster child and our Mom was his foster Mom n we got him when he was four days old, he was very sick n a special needs baby born hiv Pos. My Mom poured her heart n soul into him to keep him alive, safe n healthy, after fostering him she asked about adoption and was told yes so at around 2 yrs old we got to keep him as ours n our hearts were full to know he would be ok with a Family that loved him. He had many many dr n med Appointments in his young life n many different meds, seeing him go through all that was very hard but we knew it was for the better for his future, when he was 6 yrs old he told our Mom no more meds n dr’s cause he’s not sick n didn’t understand why he had to go through all this… cause our Mom keep him so healthy n happy he just didn’t understand, so things got Tence a bit n he refused to take his meds…. So Big Sis had to step in and have a talk …. So very hard to tell someone you love so much they were born with such a horrible thing due to there birth mothers bad Decisions in life, but to know her decision to give birth was our greatest gift as I always told him n that he was meant for our Family not her or her’s. Philip was truly a Blessing n my Lil Buddy, in 1992 I got into a horrible accident n almost lost my life so now the tables were turned n my lil Bro was talking to me n telling me I can never give up cause he loves me n needs me, so everyday Philip n our Mom would be at the hospital till late at night n he would eat, nap, do walks n pt with me all while holding my hand as i did him through med treatments, he gave me strength to not give up n move forward so I could watch him grow up to the most beautiful, loving human that has ever graced this earth. It is still very hard for me to wrap my head around the fact he is really gone after all the fight he did to stay healthy n strong, I have never seen anyone fight so hard to live such a beautiful but shorten life, He was truly a gift from a higher power to come into all our lives n leave us feeling Blessed to have known him. I will always remember our walks n talks living in Ca. Taking him to the beaches, to Disneyland, just hanging n Cruising around in my old Chevy, going to the mall to buy shoes n ending up in the movies instead cause the popcorn smelt so good lol. I loved going clothes shopping with him n trying to teach him style n to smell good :) I always told him… the most Worthy Women will Appreciate it ( Sophia) and as time will show us it was true, he found his love n heart in his Wife and with that they loved life to its fullest, she was n is still his Angel on earth, her Parents took him in till the end opening there hearts n home as my Mom did when he was a wee one, to go from not being wanted n given up to having two loving Families n many other Friends he concerned Family was what keep him going for 31 yrs, for that He was truly Blessed n always showed n gave back Blessings to others. Thank You all for Loving Philip, and showing him His life no matter how it started was so worth not giving up n having the chance to have meet all of you. You All were his Blessings. Much Love to All . I miss you everyday Lil Bro. Your Big Sis…. Till I am Blessed to see you again keep your Beautiful smile :)

Oh Phily. We were kindred souls and I think of you often. From the time in Margoni’s class when we used the same Savage Garden song to write our literary analysis (unknowingly) to the chats at the park and the shared lemonades. I knew your secrets and it broke my heart, but I knew you before I knew you- we shared the same mentor. I still cherish the hot cocoa pot you bought me at Christmas and I miss your friendship. I miss your smile and your hug and your strength. I wish in my 32 years of life I had had the wisdom you had in half the time. Bless you and your lovely wife. I value your friendship and I miss you dearly.