Poor as he may be, my father really worked hard to give me what I was able to enjoy throughout my 21 years. His very best dream was for me to finish school. He was able to send me to a prestigious university, despite his hesitation af first. He really had no idea how he could afford to give me the minimum weekly allowance I needed plus the dorm rent plus other expenses alloted for “projects”. With toil and sweat, and loan after loan, I was able to graduate in college and I knew I made him very happy.
He was the proudest Papa when I landed in a big BPO company. By then he was already ill; he had chronic obstructive pulmonay disease. As I was enjoying my first job’s salary and having difficult time proving to my colleagues that I deserve to pass the training, my father was being sent in and out of the hospital. All along we thought his illness was just making him weak and thinner. But a month after I’ve become regular at work, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. Confined in the hospital for 2 weeks, he became paler and thinner; his strong will to get well was our remaining hope that he could really get “well”.
When he was sent to ICU, being not able to speak, he instructed me to get a ballpen and a paper; he wanted to write something. ”Malakas and utak ko, pero bakit hindi ako makagalaw?” (My mind is still functioning well but why can’t I move my body?). This was what I had read on a piece of paper. He was fighting to live, but his heart had failed him, all of us, which was ineveitable, as what his doctors said.
Today is his birthday. I always thought that he’d be a great grandpa. Sadly, Vien would never come to know his grandpa, only in pictures and through my stories. I’d tell him how Papa had loved me so much, and how he’d be ecstatic to see him.
And I miss him so much. Happy Birthday, Pa. I will love you forever.
Maligayang kaarawan sa kanya. Mabut naalala mo pa sya.
Yung lolo ko, kahit paulit ulit yung kwento, ako’y nakikinig, tumatawa, at nagtatanong pa rin, gaya nung unang beses namin pag usapan yun.
kg: it’s so sad he left me early. sayang he was not able to see Vien, his favorite apo to his favorite child
rico: i always remember him, esp every 17th of March. nagpapa-pansit kasi sya tuwing bday nya. tska nagluluto ng masarap.
Posted by kakanggata at March 17, 2009, 4:48 pmi remembered the time when we were seatmates and we talked about him. That was the time I knew I’d love it if you’d be my friend. hehe. I could only imagine the pain, but I know he’s watching over cute baby Vien from above.
happy birthday sa papa mo.
my dad left us early, too. and he was my teacher in grade 6 when he passed away.
and tama sila, vien’s lolo is watching over him from a very happy place now.
Posted by eks at March 20, 2009, 7:28 amHappy birthday to your father! Weird thing, I can still remember when your dad died. Late April or early May 2002?
Posted by TPS at March 29, 2009, 10:27 am[TPS] Talaga?! I remember si theHusband nakapunta pa sa lamay. It was May 2002.
Posted by kakanggata at April 1, 2009, 4:07 pmBless your heart Kaka! Ang papa ko buhay man ‘di ko alam kung makikilala pa ng anak ko. Atleast Vien would have beautiful stories to hear about his Grandpa.
Thanks for dropping by my site. See you around.
Posted by Twinkie at April 3, 2009, 7:40 amAll comments are moderated. Your comments will not appear here unless approved by the blog owner. Thank you.
ka…nakakaiyak naman ito!muntik na tumulo luha ko. promise!
what a nice post! ang ganda talaga when you feel the love between a parent and a child. it’s so sad that your dad had to leave you early, but on the other hand, di na sya nahirapan and he’s in a better place.
happy birthday to your dad, who, I’m sure, is a great father.
Posted by kg at March 17, 2009, 2:55 pm