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My Lola’s passing is a moment to celebrate!!!

May 28, 2008

On May 1st, my maternal grandmother passed away. She was 90 years old.. It was a mixed-emotions kind of situation because honestly, all of her children and grandchildren, including me have been expecting her to go, that is of course euphemistically speaking. Well, she has been going back and forth to the hospital for months that is why we did not expect her to live much longer. We were sad but at the same time we anticipated her time to go and for her to leave us. So, at around 4 o’clock in the afternoon of May 1st she expired surrounded by her loving children in our house in Bicol which is also famously called “the blue house” because of its blue paint of its exterior. Anyway, the other siblings who were there in Bicol informed us who were here in Manila of the latest development. On the same day right after they got the sad news, my mother and one of her sisters quickly grabbed their stuff and off they went to the bus terminal to catch the next bus going to Bicol.

The rest of my family went there on the last night of funeral and I was surprised to see that most of the people there including the rest of my relatives were in a festive mood. Well, for sure they did not mean any disrespect to the the Old Lady but rather was just trying to celebrate the end of my Lola’s (tagalog term for grandmother) sufferings. Because just like what I have mentioned, prior to her death she was a frequent visitor of different medical clinics and hospitals their in our small town somewhere in Camarines Sur. On that note, we were so relieved to see that all her sufferings have ended already. Of course, I was so happy to see all of my relatives as well who I have not seen for so many years because my family have been living here in Manila since 1993. It was truly a time spent well with my cousins, aunties, uncles and other members of the clan whom I have never met until that day.

There’s one incident though that happened which was so unacceptable and heart-breaking for all of us… the second child of my grandmother (the eldest son died 6 years ago), did not bother to attend the funeral of his mother. It was his pride, they said which made him do the things he did. He wanted the funeral to be held in his home on which the other siblings did not agree on because of the things that we the children/grandchildren were not aware of. It was their issue anyway, so we never asked what’s their problem. But to me personally, it was purely his pride which has triggered his selfish ego not to see his mother even to the last moment. Who cares anyway if he attends or not? He was an absent son anyway. He has never done his part as a good son to her mother when she was still alive. So, what’s the difference huh? Nothing.. As a matter of fact, we were so much better off without him.

On the day that we were to bury my Lola, the rest of us were there except her beloved son who up to the last day did not go down from his prideful pedestal. Anyway, whether he came or not did not matter at all.

I was one of my Lola’s favorite grandchildren and I know deep inside my heart I care so much for her but I was really surprised with myself because I did not cry the entire time and during the funeral and even to the last moment, when her casket was being pushed inside her final resting place. It was maybe because I know that her death was not something to be sad about but rather a great moment for all of us to cherish and remember because the day she passed away proved to be a moment that all of us came together for someone we all care so much about. We will surely miss her so much!!!

Weng, one of my cousins, and I used to take care of her when she was hospitalized and I would never forget that moment because that has made me even closer to her and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to know her more and because of those times that we spent together I was able to establish a great relationship with her that I will be grateful for, for the rest of my life.

Me and my Nanay Maria 6 months before she went to heaven..

Me and Our Nanay Maria 6 months before she went to heaven….

Written by Bee · Filed Under BLOG 

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