In the memory of my late grandfather; Papay Rodrigo I want to reminisce my great memories with him from the day I started to understand things till the day we lost him. Such a sweet and caring Lolo he is, I can still remember vividly how he would tell me stories of the World War II, wherein during that time he was on with mamay already and had their first baby boy. He always remind me of the place just at the back of our house wherein they use to hide (it’s a small hill full of trees and bushes that was before, long time ago) and how they manage to eat, just corn or some root crops.
What I terribly miss is sitting in his lap on my childhood and listening to whatever story he’ll tell us (me and my brother), sometimes scary ones like those enchanted places and aswang stories. And every time he’ll receive money from his farm he’ll always give me for a candy treat. During my elementary days in school you’ll always find me getting first to Papay’s house (just near to our home) and spending time with him and sometimes eating lunch with him. He doesn’t want to stay with any of his children as he wants to live his life alone in his house. Until he grown too old still he wants to be in his house and every weekend during my high school times I used to bring his clothes and iron it in the house and ‘till my college days I used to bring him whatever goodie I can give him. With a simple native hat, he’s so very happy to receive it and don’t forget the box of cigar he loves to let me buy for him.
And the time that I left to work abroad, that’s the period when he started to be forgetful and have some selective memory. Every now and then my mother told me whenever I’ll have an overseas call that my Papay is telling her how he missed me. And he’s fussing why I was working in a far away place and sometime he mistook my mother to be another person and tell her things about me.
The time he turned 95, from my phone calls to my parents I knew that he’s health situation is getting worst, he’s already bed ridden and can’t talk straight. That time I’m already entitled to a yearly vacation from my company but I’m not yet planning to go home coz I want to save more bucks but there’s this feel that I badly wanted to go home. I thought maybe coz Nat went to vacation (I’m only missing him that much) but the feeling is really different so out of the blue I decided to have my vacation instantly.
That time also, Niña (my 1st cousin toddler) had passed away, so I went straight to their place for the vigil and after the burial went home and stayed with my Lolo. At first looking at his fragile and sick state my heart is being squeezed I can’t bear to look at his skinny body, just bones clinging to his skin. I really felt pain looking at him. I talked to him and asked him if he can still recognize me, and then he burst to tears and I hugged him tightly reassuring him that once again I did not forget and will never forget him and kissed him lightly on the forehead as I used to do back then. He started to say things but like a baby he’s just babbling.
After two days of our reunion he passed away, and then I realized why I needed and being pulled by my senses to come home. Inside his casket he’s just like into a deep slumber with a smile on his face. I guess he’s very happy now wherever he is with Mamay.
For you Papay, you’ll be remembered by my family I’ll never forget to teach my child and children to be who their great grandfather is and how a great man you were. We love you dearly…
