On behalf of my mother, Anita, my sister Aniza, my auntie Mama Beth, my Uncle Dodong, cousins, nieces and nephews, I would like to thank everyone who has come to visit our family here at St.Peters Chapel over the past few days.
I remember whenever manlaag mi ni Papa uban si Aniz, daghan jud mig makasugat na kaila ni Papa. Daghan kaayo syag kaila murag kulang nalang mahimong politiko, joke pa namo. Ug nagapasalamat kami sa mga nakaila ni Papa na naka bisita, ang uban naa nas abroad but sent their condolences, daghang salamat kaayo.
The last few days have been a celebration of Dad’s life and commemorating his prime days. 61 years. Kung buot huna-hunaon mubo ra ang 61 years, pero as what I’ve heard sa mga stories na nadunggan from relatives and friends, Dad has lived a good life. He was a great colleague, classmate, friend, great ninong, great uncle, and most importantly a great Father.
The past few days, I’ve heard stories of how generous he is and I could attest to that. Papa did the best he could to provide comfort for our family. He made the ultimate sacrifice na malayo sa amo. I was around 11 years old, when he left. He was never there sa tanan nakong graduation, pero nasabtan nako na need jud niya mag abroad para makalampus mi.
Kung lisod kaayo sa amo nga part na wala si papa physically ato nga time, unsa nalang kaha sa iya nga malayo sa iyang pamilya, nga malayo sa iyang mga igsuon na nakauban niya since pagkabata pa, nga malayo sa iyang mga anak, ug malayo sa iyang asawa. He had to battle homesickness and I could only image the hardships Papa had to go through, para lang sa amo.
As a child, I always looked forward na muuli sya every year around July, December. Coz that means we get to be with him.
Each year murag nahimo syang family tradition.
And then that’s the time we bond over video games, and then bond with the rest of the family sa tibanga, karaoke, kanta dayon sa iyang favorite song na My Love Will See You Through,
My Love will always be with you in everything that you do
And then by after a month, balik napud sya larga. Hawa napud sya.
Karon nihawa napud si papa, but this time, for good.
Papa had a lot of plans. He wanted to retire sa Leyte, live a simple life with Mama, kay kami napud ni Aniz ang magkayod. But fate had other plans. Na diagnose sya ug Kidney Failure this year and our family’s been struggling since then.
Me and my sister have seen his pain, my mom had to go with Papa’s pain. We’ve seen his health deteriorate.
Almighty Father, I may not know what your plans are but we trust you in all ways.
Gusto ko magpasalamat sa mga igsuon namo sa Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, nga nag tabang sa tanan, labaw na atong nahitabo nga pagkatulog ni Papa sa dayon, sa pag assist sa ako mama ato nga time. Salamat jud kaayo.
Sa ako mga ig-agaw sila Ate Leah, Ate Lablab, Ate Darling, ug sa uban pa nga nitabang kang papa atong last hospitalization niya. Gi love sad mo ni Papa baya jud.
Pa you can finally rest in peace. Although sayang pa kay daghan pa tag plans, pero at least now pa, dili na ka mag suffer sa sakit. Salamat Papa.
ʙᴏɴɴᴇ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴛɪᴛ 