There are things in our
life that we can’t do anything but to accept. Sometimes we have to let go of
someone even though it is painful. This is the rule of life and we have to
submit ourselves to it in order to live normally.
There are people in our
lives that occupy big space in our hearts because they play significant roles.
Some became part of our growing up while some became an important ingredient of
who we are and what we are now.
Nanay is one big part
of me. She has a special place here in my heart. She was close to me. She was
close to us. I go to her house once in a while but she is the one who often
visits us at home. We live in the same street. My mom takes care of Nanay. She
cooks and prepares food for her and attends to every need of Nanay. Nanay will
sometimes knock at our door saying, “Minda, Minda kakain na ba?” She would sit
on the chair and sings her favorite Ilocano songs and every now and then she
gives pieces of advice. She always tells the story of her life, her struggles,
her pains, her difficulties, her victories and her joys. She constantly reminds
us about our health telling us “basa ang likod mo, magpalit ka ng dami baka
ubuhin ka.” “O, ang lalamig ng mga paa mo, halika at hilutin natin ng langis.”
“Wag ka masyado malapit sa TV, lalabo ang mata mo.” “Magpagupit ka na nga ang
haba haba na ng buhok mo mukha ka ng matanda.” Those were some of Nanay’s
reminders to me.
She goes to our house
whenever one of us is sick, despite her age, she insists on helping in the
household chores. She exercises regularly. She attends Mass at the Sto. Cristo
Chapel in Sto. Tomas. She is a fortune teller. I remember what she always tells
me every time she holds my hands and sees the lines in my palms. She will say,
“Oi, ikaw sumpungin ka pero maya maya wala na. Matipid ka, marunong ka sa
buhay. Oi, pataas lahat, paakyat ang pera. Haba ng buhay mo. Matutupad mga
pangarap mo. Makakpagpatayo ka ng sarili mong bahay. Yung balak mong mag-abroad
matutupad.” Those were the things she constantly tells me. She is brave. She is
tough but she is unselfish. She loves to eat vegetable and her all time
favorite, Banana!!!
During my college days,
I always accompany Nanay in getting her pension at PNB, España and afterwards
we will eat at Jollibee. I also accompany her at the UST hospital for eye check
up with Dr. Javate. We were walking along Gov. Forbes and exchanged stories
while heading for a jeep in España. There are many things Nanay shared to me as
well as to my family.
How I wish I could turn
back time. As her apo, I know I have my share of shortcomings to her but I know
she understands. It is so hard to bid farewell to someone who has become a part
of you. It’s so hard to let go of Nanay.
Four weeks ago she was
with us. Four weeks ago, she started to be weak. It was sudden. She was brought
to the hospital thrice but the doctor refuse to confine her instead offered
that Nanay should have home medication. She ate less and refuses to take her
medicines. Day after day she gets weak. On June 1, she gets different. She no
longer eats, speaks and she barely open her eyes. She was just lying in bed.
All of us were there. Her children, my mom, Tita Babes and Tito Boy and all her
grandchildren were there up to her last breathe. We were all there by her side.
On June 2, at around 2
in the morning, we surrounded her. We’re crying for we know she will leave any
time. She was running after her breathe. I was holding her hand and felt that
she was already cold. Her heart stops beating. We cried hard. We all held her
and kissed her for the last time.
Nanay was 92. She lived
long and had a wonderful life. It’s time for her to rest for she already
accomplished her mission here on earth. Yes, I am still holding on to her
memories but I (we) have to let her go so that she can journey well with her
new life with God in heaven.
She was buried at the
Nacional Funerary in Araneta, Avenue and was laid to rest at Loyola Memorial
park in Marikina on June 7, 2008 at 10 a.m. We also would like to express our
deepest gratitude to those people who were with us during our grieve. Thank you
very much.
"Nay, your body will soon perish but the
wisdom you shared with us will be cherished forever here in our hearts. We love
you and
