Remembering Papa

Last March of this year, my family and I had the chance to visit my father’s resting place.This was in “The Immortal Gardens” in my hometown San Jose City, Philippines. We went there late in the afternoon, where the sun is nearly setting which makes the place looked serene and gloomy. But I noticed that the grass and soil was all dried up.

As we approached Papa’s place, I thought I would not feel any sad emotions anymore. But as I saw his written name on that piece of emblem my tears started to flow. In my mind, still the thought of unbelief that my father’s remains is lying here.

As Mama light a candle, my son blowed it as if he was blowing a birthday candle. My husband sat on the ground and said;

“Hello Pa, eto ang makulit mong apo si Elijah at si Mikay tignan mo malalaki na sila!

I know this is just a place where we lay Papa’s loving memory, but it was as if he is really with us, having fellowship, looking and listening. And from here I again felt the hurt of of loosing a love one. I miss Papa so much, I can still remember the night before he died. He prepared a dinner for all of us, it was supposed to be Beef Steak Tagalog but because it lacked some ingredients, it didn’t turned out the way he want it to be. We were all laughing and teasing him,

“ Bakit may kamatis Pa? akala ko ba  bistek tagalog?  

He replied saying:

“Kung ano ang nasa loob ng ref. nilagay ko na lahat!! (laughs)

It was a night of teasing, laughing and just enjoying our dinner not knowing that it’ll be the last dinner with Papa.