Tatay's Love
Monday, November 28, 2011
Tatay (grandpa) died today four years ago. It was a sad moment of our lives just like most people experience when a loved one pass away. We were in tears but he was too precious to God, he was taken away at the right time and had not been allowed to suffer in agonizing pain.
He was 86 at that time. The doctor's said, he died of kidney failure. It didn't came as a surprise because we all know Tatay had been an occasional alcohol drinker, he smoked a lot too but he's not just another grandpa with vices. He was a funny grandpa, he had this very unique style of jokes. He'd fool around and is very loving to all his kids and grandchildren.
He used to walk past the mountain and lots of kilometers by foot to come home from the farm to the family house here in Toril every Sundays. My sister and I would be two eager children, excited to remove some weeds that caught in his pants. He'd bring harvest fruits we all would be excited to munch on. And when I'd ask him that I needed bamboo for a school project, he's get me some and carry them all alone. He'd pay us twenty pesos (that's a lot of money before) when we could harvest a sack of coffee beans. I never heard him complain despite the many quarrels Nanay (grandma) provoked him to have. He never bothered to have a regular check up because he was scared of doctors maybe, and when age finally caught him and after a fall fractured his legs, he had to oblige to stay home here in Toril so we could look after him.
We thought we spared him from agony by having him around house, but Nanay seemed to have unresolved issues with him. She'd scream and knock at our doors to cook food for breakfast and when we check our time, it's only 2:13AM. Tatay, in his walker, would volunteer to cook breakfast that early.
Tatay's wake was not at all full of tears, it came as sort of a reunion as relatives from afar gathered. And Nanay would always put up an unlikely show. One Aunt would go to his coffin and in tears said, "Wala najud si Tatay, nagpahulay najud sya." (Grandpa is gone and would rest in peace). And Nanay during the mourning would reply to my Aunt, "Mamatay man jud ta tanan, ngano muhilak paman?" (We'll all die anyway, there's no need to cry). And during the wake, Nanay would suddenly be uttering "Pagkahayahay ni Coro (grandpa), gisulod jud sa nindot nga lungon, (Oh lucky Coro, what a beautiful coffin), then almost in tears added, "SIguro pag ako, iputos lang ko ninyo ug banig ug isabit sa punuan sa mangga", (Maybe when I die, you'll wrap me and hang me in the mango tree). It all seemed as a joke and when we don't know if we'd be sad or laugh at Nanay but I know she was saddened by Tatay's death but never showed it. She was also very afraid to die. She'd have moments and accusations that we'd kill her through poison, or stab her, etc. I don't know maybe she had a blood clot in the brain that time, her words were just very much unsolicited.
Tatay has long been resting in peace and maybe soon, Nanay would follow him, she's old now. They have both shown us great love and forever would stay in our hearts. We all have our sweet grandparents story, both sad, inspiring and funny. They have shared stories our parents wouldn't tell us. I miss Tatay and Papa Jesus, please send my love to heaven.
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