The Past Weeks

It has been really stressful for me these past few weeks but I am just relieved with the help of prayers from friends and families. I lost a couple of packages for my dear customers in California and the United Kingdom. Thank God for neighbors like Nancy and Bob whom I can call for help. Nancy used to work at the Post Office and Bob still does. Bob really exerted effort to help me with my lost packages. He even asked his manager to help me but to no avail. Although at this moment, those packages are untraceable, I have conditioned myself to that mindset that if it's meant to be found, it'll come back to me.

When the news that a dear friend's Uncle and Aunt were kidnapped for $100,000 ransom in Mexico last part of October, I immediately asked my siblings (also known as my Prayer Brigade) to pray for their safety. I haven't met the kidnapped victims but the family they are closely related to are considered as friends. Very good ones. I even asked my blogger friend, ZaiZai to pray for them since he knew this dear friend from the stories I told him. Then the prayers became a chain because he asked his mother, whom I fondly call Mama Salonga, who earnestly prays the rosary everyday to offer intentions for my friend's family.

 I do believe in the power of prayer. I always do because the kidnapped victims were released and found by the Mexican police the following day. Unharmed. Not even a centavo was paid for the ransom.

Late last week, the only surviving family member from my Pop's side died while hurricane Sandy was trying to blow our house down. I considered her my favorite Auntie. Although she moved to Davao del Norte from Bohol in the Philippines when I was a toddler, her presence was always felt in our lives. It was refreshing too that she was very close to my father and the rest of her siblings and relatives. Every time my father was home from his overseas work, there was always a plan to visit her and her family in Davao.


My Mamang, my father's big sister--Nanay Gloria, my father's little brother--Manoy Tony, and my paternal grandfather--Lolo Vidal

When I was in grade three, she gifted me a red Game and Watch. Only the rich kids owned this electronic toy in my school, in my opinion. I felt so special and yet unworthy of an expensive toy at that time. She was generous too.

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I did not remember her ever having a conflict with any of her siblings. Every time they saw each other, they would give each other a hug and a kiss on each cheek. We, the children, would always joke that our parents weren't Filipinos but Italians with the way they greeted and bade farewell to each other. My mother's side was not that affectionate. So, we really saw the big difference in how the two sides treated each other.


My first cousin, Manong Boy, Papang's first cousin - Manang Ningning, my first cousin -Nathalim Rose, my paternal grandmother -Lola Daday, my paternal uncle's wife -Manay Nene, Nanay Gloria, my Papang and my paternal uncle -Manoy Tony

In the early 1980s, my father's brother, next to him, died of complications from a gunshot wound during a home invasion and robbery in Trento, Davao del Norte. Three years later, my paternal grandfather died when I was in fifth grade.  In the last quarter of 2003, my paternal grandmother, Lola Daday died.

The last time I saw my Lola Daday in July 20, 1998, a day before we migrated in America, she said, "Basin mao na ni atong katapusang kita." (Maybe this will be the last time we see each other.) The she hugged me so tight and she cried.

I never really thought that the people in my life who came earlier than me in this world would eventually die. I was just thinking all along that they would just be there all the time. I am used to seeing them and knowing that they're there for me.

In October of 2004, my father's youngest sibling died of cancer. We didn't know he even suffered from the disease. I knew, it was devastating for my father to lose his little brother.

The following year, summer in the Philippines, my father died. I was fortunate to be able to come home in the Philippines with the rest of the gang together with my big sister and her family for the wake. It was just unfortunate that he passed away before a supposedly summer trip to the Philippines so he could meet his first   and only grandson, my son. Sadly, the boy was the only grandchild he'd never met.


in 2005, after the burial of my father

The moment I entered my parent's house where my father's wake was held for a couple of nights before his burial, my aunt, Nany Gloria hugged me and my sister and told us, "Ako na lang usa nahibilin!" (I am the only one left.)

Then I lost it again and cried buckets of tears.


My aunt, Mamang, Nanay Gloria and her first cousin, Manang Sherley . Nanay Gloria came to Bohol when my mother went back to the Philippines in June of 2006 for my maternal grandmother's wake and burial.

Although my parents marriage didn't work out, Nanay Gloria remained a dear sister-in-law to my mother. I terribly miss all the people in my life that passed away. I can still remember how each of them laugh. I miss hearing their laughter.

I miss you, Nanay Gloria. I love you. Have an awesome grand reunion with everybody in heaven. Rest in peace!