!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Ang Matandang Tamarindo
Ayon sa matatanda, meron daw isang punongkahoy ng sampalok doon sa isang tahimik na baryo. Ang sabi-sabi, panahon pa raw ng mga kastila ay nanduruon na iyon at ito raw ay naging isang piping saksi sa mga pangyayari noong mga nagdaang panahon magpasahanggang ngayon.
Kami nang aking dalawang pang mga kapatid ay lumaki sa siyudad at ang lugar na pinaglalaruan namin doon ay sementado at di-gaanong kalakihan. Kung ikaw ay lalabas naman ng tarangkahan, ikaw ay masasagasaan ng mga nag-salimbayan na sasakyan. Nung nalaman ko na kami ay lilipat na sa malayo, (sa kadahilanang gagamitin na ng may-ari ang inuupahan naming bahay) ako ay nalungkot.
Hinatid kami ng mga dati naming mga kalaro kasama ng kanilang magulang gamit-gamit ang sasakyan nilang dyip. Sa lilipatan naming bahay duon sa tahimik na baryo na iyon kami ay naglakbay; kasa-kasama rin naming nag-hatid si tiyo Dikoy dala ang kanyang sasakyan.
Habang kami ay paparating na sa lugar, ang unang tumambad sa akin ay ang napakalaking puno ng sampalok na animo'y nakatitig sa akin at mistulang nanlilisik. Ito ay makikita sa tabi ng aming lilipatang lumang bahay na yari sa kahoy. Napakakapal ng mga dahon niyon at ang lalapad ng kanyang mga sanga.
Ang kanyang mga ugat ay animo'y naka-alsa sa lupa na parang gumagapang at ang katawan ng kahoy ay napakalaki; mga tatlong tao na magkahawak pabilog ang katumbas.
Halatang matanda na ang punongkahoy dahil may mga naglalakihang kabuteng hugis-tenga na nakausbong duon sa ilalim ng katawan nito.
Meron ding animo'y maliit na yungib na matatagpuan sa dakong ilalim ng punong iyon, sa pagitan ng malalaking ugat. Aakalain mo tuloy na bahay ng mga duwende ito.
Dahil sa sobrang laki ng punongkahoy, halos siya ang aming pananda pagka kami ay nasa malayo na sa bahay, sapagka't kitang-kita mo ito maski ikaw ay nasa bukid pa lamang.
Napakalaki ng punong sampalok na iyon at kung ihahambing ito sa ibang punongkahoy na makikita roon, masasabing maliliit ang mga ito kumpara sa aming punong tamarindo.
/>Napakalawak din ng lugar para kami ay makapag-laro. Ito ay hindi sementado kagaya ng sa amin sa siyudad.
Ito ay matatagpuan sa harap mismo ng aming bahay katabi ang aming malaking puno na siyang nagsisilbing lilim kapag katanghalian. Ang lugar na nilalaruan namin doon ay lupa na may halong buhangin.
Kapag hinukay mo ito ng di-kalaliman, pinong buhangin na ang makikita.
At ang simoy ng hangin ay sariwa, minsan amoy malansang tubig; mahangin dahil napakarami ng puno. Sa di-kalayuan ay matatanaw mo na ang Laguna de bay.
Paraisong maituturing para sa kagaya kong paslit na taga-siyudad. Makakatakbo ng malaya, makapaghuhukay sa lupa, at kung anu-anu pang mga laro. Subali't sa edad kung iyon na pitong taon, namamayani sa akin ang takot dahil sa higanteng puno ng sampalok na iyon. Para bang ito ay nagbabadya sa akin na huwag lumabas nang bahay, kung hindi ay lalamunin ako ng buhay.
At doon ko narinig ang mga kuwento ng mga matatanda tungkol sa higanteng puno ng sampalok. May nakapagbulong sa akin minsan, nung bata pa ako, na meron daw nagpapakita na pugot na ulo ng pari doon sa malaking sanga sa pinakataas ng puno; minsan daw ang pugot na pari ay nakaputing sutana, o kaya naman ay naka-itim.
Meron ding naglalakad na nakaputing babae sa tabi ng aming bahay, malimit daw iyon magtigil doon sa malaking katawan ng punongkahoy, pagka-gabi.
May nakapagkuwento naman na may mga duwendeng nagpapakita raw doon sa maliit na yungib malapit sa malaking ugat ng punong iyon.
Ang sabi-sabi ng ibang taga-roon din ay mayroong animo'y bulalakaw daw na pumapa-imbulog sa kadiliman tuwing hatinggabi at ito ay nanggagaling dun sa malaking puno na yaon; matapos umikot sa baryo, ito'y biglang hihinto sa puno at maglalaho na lamang na parang bula.
Pagka-hatinggabi rin daw, may pugot na ulo ng baka, na ang kulay ay pula, ang lumalabas sa puno at umiikot o gumagala. Ito raw ay babalik din sa malaking puno na iyon at doon kusang mawawala.
Meron ding nakapagkuwento sa akin na may pugot na sundalong kastila ang nagpaparamdam at nagsasabing may kayamanan daw sa ilalim ng higanteng punong iyon at kung sakaling naisin na kunin ang kayamanan, ito ay may kapalit na buhay.
May nagsasabi naman na may nakikitang kapre raw doon;
Meron naman, tikbalang at may mga dating sundalo raw ng hapon ang nag-baon ng mga kayamanan doon sa ilalim ng malaking sampalok na iyon.
Lahat ng mga iyon ay kuwentu-kuwento ng mga matatanda at ito ay naiuulit din naman sa akin ng mga kalaro ko kapag kami ay nagkakatipun-tipon sa ilalim ng aming punongkahoy.
Ang mga kuwentong iyon ay sapat na para hindi ako makatulog sa gabi at matakot kapag may narinig na kumakalampag sa bubungan namin.
May pagkakataon pa nga, habang ako'y naglalaro sa labas ng aming bahay at magtatakip-silim, natatakot akong tumingin sa malaking puno baka kasi may taong nakabigti sa mga sanga nito o di kaya ay salubungin ako ng multo kaya't ang ginagawa ko ay tumatakbo ako ng matulin hanggang sa makapasok ako sa loob ng aming bahay sabay sarado ng pintuan namin.
Subali't sa mura kong edad na iyon, parang may kakaibang pakiramdam din ako tungo sa malaking puno ng sampalok namin na iyon bukod sa takot. Para sa akin, para siyang isang haligi na sumasanggalang sa lahat ng mga panganib dahil sa kanyang napakatayog at napakalapad na mga sanga at malalaking mga ugat.
At ang kanyang katawan at balat na napakatanda na kung pagmamasdan, para bang maisasahalintulad sa isang uugud-ugod na ermitanyo na handang magbigay ng kanyang dunong at karanasan sa mga paslit na katulad namin nung mga panahon na iyon.
Dumating ang mga taon, ang takot na naramdaman ko ay napalitan ng pagka-gaang ng loob sa higanteng punongkahoy na iyon.
Natatandaan ko pa, sa tuwing papasok ang buwan ng Setyembre hanggang Pebrero, para bang ang malaking puno ay nakiki-ayon sa panahon. Ang kanyang mga maliliit na dahon ay unti-unting naglalagas at bumabagsak sa lugar na pinaglalaruan naming lupa sa ilalim ng puno.
Mistulang kami ay nasa ibang bansa at umuulan ng niyebe! Sa sobrang dami ng mga nahuhulog na tuyong dahon sa puno, animo'y may kumot na nakalatag sa lupa sa aming tapat na bahay.
Ang kulay niyon ay mamula-mula na kayumanggi o di kaya ay kulay kahel at ang halimuyak ng tamarindo ang dumadampi sa hangin.
Nguni't sa kagaya kong paslit, hindi ang halimuyak ng puno ang importante kundi ang makapag-laro kami! At sa kumot na yari sa mga mumunting mga dahon na yaon doon kami naghahabul-habulan, nagmomoro-moro, mataya-taya, langit-lupa at hinanduyan.
May pagkakataon pa nga na dinadakot ko ang mga tuyong dahon na iyon at binibilog sabay ipupukol ko sa aking dalawang kapatid at mga kalaro at ganun din ang gagawin nila sa isat-isa habang naghahabulan;
Animo'y isang bola ng niyebe na napapanood sa sine pagka-pasko!
Sa mga buwan o panahon ding ito, namumunga ang aming higanteng tamarindo. Minsan nakakakuha kami ng isa hanggang dalawang bayong na tamarindo at ito ay mga hinog, bukod pa dito ang manibalang. At para makakain ka naman ng hinog na sampalok ng hindi umaakyat sa puno, maghintay ka lamang ng malakas na ugoy ng hangin at siguradong may babagsak na mga hinog na bunga sa lupa.
Para sa akin, ang pinakamasarap ay ang malasebo o manibalang na bunga.
Pagdating naman ng mga buwan ng Mayo hanggang Agosto, ang mga tuyong sanga ng tamarindo ay nagkaka-buhay. Nagkakadahon at namumulaklak na ito.
Napakagandang tanawin din kapag bakasyon; ang mga mumunting bulaklak ng sampalok ay unti-unting bumabagsak sa lupa at nagkukulay dilaw ang paligid. Ang mga bulaklak na ito ang siyang ginagamit namin na pangsigang o pang-sahog sa ulam.
Napakasarap sariwain... Sa malapad at napakalaking katawan ng aming punong tamarindo na iyon kaming magkakapatid sumisilong pagkatanghalian.
Kapag hapon naman kami ay naglalaro, kasama ang mga kapwa paslit naming mga kaibigan ng taguan, kurikit, tumbang preso, piko, patintero at iba pa.
Animo'y masayang nagmamatyag naman ang higanteng puno sa amin na para bang nagmamasid lamang habang naglalaro kami sa kanyang lilim.
Inaakyat din namin ang kanyang malaking katawan at malapad na mga sanga at naghahanap kami ng mga pugad ng ibon at mga bunga.
Bagama't hitik sa higad at antik ang punong iyon, marami pa ring mga bata ang naeengganyo na umakyat sa napakalaking katawan at malapad na sanga niya na iyon.
Pagka-gabi naman, napakalamig dahil sa kanyang mga sanga at mga dahon na mayayabong at nakatutuwang panoorin ang isa-isang pagbagsak ng mga tuyong dahon sa lupa at unti-unting kumakapal ang mga ito.
Sa aking pakiwari,ang higanteng sampalok namin na iyon ay may ibig nang ipahiwatig noong pang mga panahong kami'y masasayang paslit na kung saan ay walang kapaguran na naglalaro sa kanyang lilim; nguni't iyon ay hindi ko man lamang napakinggan.
Para bang may sinasabi siya sa aming mga naglalaro nuon doon na: " Sige, mag-laro kayo mga bata, namnamin niyo na ang mga kaganapan ngayon, dahil sa ako'y tumatanda na; hindi ko alam kung ako ay magiging saksi pa rin sa mga pangyayari. Ako ay napapagod na rin" aniya marahil.
Sa kadahilanang ang direksiyon ng pag-unlad ay hindi na mapipigilan lalung-lalo na sa aming bayan, ang aming malawak na pinaglalaruan noon ay pinaderan na. Bagama't may konting lugar pa para maglaro doon sa may bandang puno ng sinigwelas, unti-unti na ring itong napalitan ng mga bahay. At dahil sa nakasasagabal ang malalaking sanga at dahon ng aming punong tamarindo sa mga bahay at bubong, ito ay pinutol. Ang natira na lamang sa puno ay ang malaking katawan niya sa tabi ng aming bahay. Ang malawak na lugar na pinaglalaruan namin sa harap ng bahay ay tuluyan nang nasarahan. Napilitan kaming dumaan na lamang sa likod-bahay at ang lusot nito ay sa kabilang kalsada na.
Pagkalipas ng ilang taon, napilitan uli kaming lumipat ng ibang tirahan. Binagyo kasi ang aming lugar at binaha, marahil sa sobrang dami na ng bahay at pati na rin tao. Wala nang pagdaluyan ang tubig kaya't abot hanggang binti ang baha sa may bahay namin. Panibagong buhay, panibagong pakikisama. Nanumbalik tuloy uli sa akin ang mga pangyayari dati na kung saan galing kaming kabihasnan at napalipat sa lalawigan.
Nagwakas na nga ang masasayang panahon ng aming pagka-bata. Tama nga, lahat ay nagbabago, lahat ay lumilisan. Walang permanente dito sa mundo. Ang sabi nga; "Lahat tayo ay dumadaan lamang." Nguni't kahit man lang sana sa isang gahiblang alaala ng masasayang kaganapan sa ating buhay ay sapat na upang ito ay magsilbing inspirasyon sa atin ng ganap. Parang isang marikit na bulaklak na namumukadkad, humahalimuyak at kahali-halina. Hindi mo ito puwedeng pagbawalang mamukadkad sapagka't ito ang itinadhana.
Malalim at di-pangkaraniwan ang mga iniwan na alaala sa akin ng malaking puno ng sampalok namin na iyon. Nalulungkot ako at di man lamang ako nakapag-paalam sa kanya. Ilan pa kayang kagaya ko na musmos dati ang napasaya niya? Ang sabi-sabi, panahon pa raw ng kastila nanduruon na siya. Ilan pa kayang mga paslit ang nasubaybayan niya hanggang sa pag-laki at nakapag-ukit ng magandang mga alaala sa mga ito.
Nakakahiya mang aminin pero ako ay naging isang tahimik na saksi sa pagwawakas niya. Di na tuloy siya makapag-bibigay ng kasiyahan sa mga susunod pang mga henerasyon ng mga paslit doon. Sinasabing ang NASA TAAS lamang ang makapaghahatol kung ang isang nilalang ay kukuhanin na. Sa kaso ng aming malaking puno, ito ay oras na; at kung hindi man nagkagayon ang mga pangyayari, maaaring sa panahon ngayon iyon din ang kanyang kahihinatnan; ang maputol siya kapalit ng pag-unlad ng bayan.
Nasaan na kaya ngayon ang minamahal kong makisig na punongkahoy na sampalok na iyon? Siya ay nanduruon pa rin, matatag na nakatayo; o tila baga siya'y nagkukunwaring matatag na lamang.
Bagama't ang kapirasong pinutol na maikling katawan na lamang na nakabaon pa rin sa lupa ang taglay kong alaala, ito nama'y nagsisilbing patunay , na minsan ay may isang higanteng puno ng sampalok na hitik kung mamunga; malalaki at malalapad ang mga sanga na mistulang aabot hanggang langit; at mga luntiang dahon na mayayabong, ang naghari sa lugar na iyon.
Sa ngayon, siya ay napaliligiran na lamang ng mga pader at mga bahay. Napaka-sikip at makipot na ang kanyang teritoryo. Hindi ko tuloy mawari kung siya ay buhay pa, o siya'y nagpapatay-patayan na lamang. May tumutubong maliliit na talbos ng tamarindo subali't namamatay din sa kalaunan.
thanks to the ff:
mygoodpaintings.com/ emanuel's gallery
zedge RezaKhonsa&draganet
overlandsinindia2009.blogspot.com
thejamalpu.wordpress.com
picasaweb.google.com
isaanstyle.blogspot.com
chintachiguru.flickr.com
stjohnbeachguide.com
www.kriyoga.com
Monday, November 23, 2009
Gunita
"Isa ba itong babae o lalaking bigotilyo? Ano ang nasasa-isip mo?"
November 23, 1991
9:20 pm Saturday
Ang isang matalinghagang tao ay umuunawa kung ano ang "nasasa-isip" ng kanyang kausap at hindi ang mga salitang namumutawi sa bibig lamang nito, sapagka't maaaring magkamali ang bibig sa pananalita subali't sa gawi, ito ay mahahalata.
Kung ikaw ay isang mabuting tao, nasasa-isip pa lamang ng iyong kinakausap ay alam mo na ang kanyang ibig ipahiwatig. Lahat tayo ay may kaangkinang ganito subali't ito ay napapalamutian na ng mga makamunduhang pagnanasa sa ngayon, kung kaya't ito ay may posibilidad na tuluyan ng mawala sa ating pagkatao.
Maaaring ang pagnanasa natin ng mga pinakamadaling lusot sa ating mga buhay; o di kaya'y ang pagtangkilik natin ng mga negatibong asal, tulad na lamang ng mga makamundong bagay; kagaya ng kapangyarihan sa poder at salapi, ang dahilan kung kaya't nawawala na sa atin ang mabuting katangian o ang tinatawag na KAPANGYARIHANG ito.
"Matandang lalaki o makisig na binata? Ano ang nasasa-isip mo?"
Halimbawa, nakikipag-usap sa iyo ang isang apat na taong bata. Hindi niya mai-usal ang gusto niya, subali't naiintindihan mo naman ito sa kabila nang nau-uumit niyang dila. Ito ay naunawaan mo sa kadahilanang ito ang tunay na "nasasa-isip" nang bata.
Meron din namang taong nakikipagtalastasan sa iyo subali't hindi mo mawari kung ano ang nais niya. Bagama't napakagaling naman niyang magpaliwanag, hindi mo maunawaan kung ano ang ibig nitong ipahiwatig. Iba ang sinasabi niya sa "nasasa-isip" niya. Maaaring ang gawi niya ay di-angkop sa ipinapahayag niya kung kaya't di siya kapani-paniwala.
Sa aking palagay, mas makabubuti sa ating lahat kung tayo ay marunong makaunawa ng "dalisay" sapagka't ito ang tamang itinuro sa atin. Ang taglay nating ito ay napasa-atin na sapul ng ipinanganak tayo. Hindi nga lang natin ito kinalinga at ipinagyabong hanggang sa tuluyan na itong pumaimbulog sa kawalan.
Hindi ito naaangkin sa pamamagitan ng pagiging dalubhasa o di kaya ay magsunog ng kilay upang ito ay makamit. Ito ay nanunumbalik lamang sa ating katangian, kung tayo ay mamumuhay ng payak at tigib ng kabutihan ang ating kalooban. Dapat din ay busilak ang ating mga puso.
"Isang matandang hukluban o marikit na dalaga? Ano ang nasasa-isip mo?"
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Grade Six
While cleaning my room in the house, I found this very interesting formal theme composition which I made in 1984. I was only 11 years old. Sorry for the wrong grammars and phrases, I deliberately retained the errors there. All are the same except for the name.
ORIGINAL
FORMAL COMPOSITION
Name: Tiyagong Araw
Year & Sec:VI–St.Rita
Date:Oct.25,1984
"How I look myself 15 years from now?"
“ In 15 years (from) now I hope I will be a Succesful Doctor in human body to help many people from disease and to help my parents fight disease and my brothers. When I was in Grade V: I like to be a priest, But now I want to be a doctor someday. I would like to cure cancer and heart attack. Not only disease in heart attack and cancer but all the disease. I would like to stay in my own country to help the Philippine to be a progressive country. I hope all the doctor someday will Become a Good Doctor in Their own countries."
______________________________________________
Yes indeed, that was me 25 years ago. All the things that I loved during my elementary years were either lost or they were handed over to my younger relatives. Others were borrowed but never returned; right now, I'm mindlessly laughing at myself, how in the world this "one-page-theme-writing-paper" of mine was saved?
That was me alright. The grammatical errors, the capital letters, and the erasures from that old theme composition paper. The title, “How do I see myself 15 years from now?” is misleading, 'though, because it has been 25 years now. Many significant events had happened already after 1984.
When I wrote the said composition theme, the president then was Ferdinand Marcos. Senator Ninoy Aquino was assassinated August 1983 so I think there were political turmoils already in the country. Little did I knew Mrs. Aquino was going to be our next president after Marcos; and then three more presidents will soon be recognized.
Events in my life are fast unfolding along with the country's history. When I saw my old elementary theme writing composition, (I found it, by the way, inside my old dusty drawer) it has brought back old memories, even distinct feeling about the early 80’s of my life. I’m just a kid then and my passion really was to play tex, monkey-monkey, patintero, kurikit, piko, tanching, eating aratiles fruit and climbing our old big sampaloc tree.
But how time flies. Feels like I'm fast getting old. It's already 2009. The king of pop Michael Jackson, whom everyone loves to imitate during early 80’s, died due to cardiac arrest probably secondary to drug overdose. This happened last June of 2009. Our beloved president Corazon Aquino, died Aug of 2009. She died because of colon cancer. I heard from the news today that the son of the late senator Ninoy Aquino and late president Corazon Aquino is going to run for presidency next year 2010.
Life, it seems, is really too short for us to enjoy everything anymore. One day, you are that eleven year old kid who never really cares except to play games non-stop, and yet seemingly, possesses such good traits like kindness for others, loving your own family and loyalty to the country. The so called "selfless service for others" trait. That, at least, was my impression of myself when I read my elementary composition.
Then suddenly, the next thing you know, you are that worn-out 30-year-old grumpy old man already, who now knew how to handle and deal with all the things in this world; but never really understood the basic ideas of caring each other, serve the country first before yourself and protecting your love ones from sickness.
As for me, I never became priest, but in a way I was reminded by my elementary theme paper. Still having some problems expressing myself in english but really, I prefer tagalog.
Salamat yumaong Larry Alcala sa mga alaala ...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Beautiful World
We three brothers were very close with each other. We always wrestle around, play karate, taunt each other with some funny pet names and, this may sound awkward, play with our pees; he who made the longest or highest reach, he's the declared winner. We would even play "spray peeing" while carelessly running outside the house as if we had small water cannons inside our little shorts spraying them like wild water guns. Our ages were seven, five, and four back then. Typical brothers, who always like to play and fool around. Such a vivid scene when I reminisce the days.
Time had passed and still, we three boys are very close. My eldest brother has his own job already. My little brother also had a job; however, he wanted to be a pilot so he planned on taking the exams both the written and interview. Of us three, my little brother has the brain. He's intelligent; he's kind and very understanding. He passed the written examination with flying colors! To our dismay he failed the medical examination. He told us that he had sore throat during the medical examination. I remember one time he had these bouts of sore throats before. The doctor who checked him then suggested removing the tonsils because of the persistent infection. His blood pressure was way too high also and he was diagnosed with hypertension. He confided also that not long ago he noticed a dark tea-colored urine passing while he was peeing.
Months gone by and my brother's health was fast deteriorating. Very often, my mother would observed that as if somebody had urinated in his room because it smelled like someone had peed. My little brother had difficulty sleeping already specially at night time and his usual flow of urine seemed dwindling away. This was the dreaded moment, my brother was diagnosed with chronic renal disease and we can't do anything about it.
He underwent dialysis for about a year and during that excruciating time we held him as if he's not alone in this fight. He was given a new lease in life a year after, when he got his new kidney. I remember, I was alone waiting in the recovery area thinking, praying that by God let it be as if we're just playing our pees again like when we were kids...just the slightest urine to come out please...not the highest, not the longest ... just the smallest...please...please...alas! He urinated. We were so very happy! So happy that we changed his original birthday to the date he had his transplant kidney!
We counted his birthdays, first year - too many medications were given to him, we saw to it that he'll take it on time. Complications from the medications started to manifest but thanked God we controlled it early. He's very organized. He arranged his medicines and put it in a green bread box. He cut strips of cardboard and made it as dividers. He also labelled his medicines. So organized that even the nurses are amazed on how orderly the medications were done; such a very strong-willed personality. His fiance was with us also all throughout and this boosted my brother's confidence.
Second year - my little brother was, as if, back to normal again. He already had a new job! And he was very good at it. I remember, he always had these certificates posted on the walls of our house, hanged by my mom, stating that he was a nominee for employee of the year! That's how good he was with his work. Come third year, fourth year and fifth year still, he was always nominated to be the top employee of the year.
Sixth year - My mom excitedly informed me and my eldest brother that he won the EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR award and the prize will be a trip to Hongkong Disneyland and some cash. We were so happy! Our happiness was short-lived however. His condition started to deteriorate. Month of May, the new kidney started malfunctioning. We were hospital-bound again with my little brother, but this time a much larger problem unravelled. Too much fluid had already entered his heart, as well, as in his lungs; also his brain was affected already, yet he was oriented to time, places and people.
At this depressing times, he kept on telling me, too much time and money had been spent for him already; what about me and his kuya? "It's unfair!" he quipped. I responded, "Do not be worry, as long as you are with us, never mind the material things". Her fiance was very supportive and always with him all the time.
I came to realized that my youngest brother and her fiance had been preparing for their big wedding ahead of time. And all were set already. The place was reserved already, the dresses, the bride's maid etc...
I think, my brother's will to live is not about to overcome the disease itself, or about us, or about his life anymore. It's about the big wedding really...
Sadly, he never went to claim the plaque for the BEST EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR nor went to Hongkong Disneyland. He never recovered...then on late November, same year, the Barong that he bought for the wedding? He used it in his funeral...
It was a whirlwind ordeal for us. Up to the last day he never gave up. My parents took care of him until the final days of his life along with his fiance. Can you imagine, he recovered in the ICU multiple times and was even brought to our house? He was frail already and yet can talk with sense, still thinking of other's welfare and his family; very inspiring . Unfortunately, yes, he was very sick already. He died while he was undergoing dialysis, the first time he had the dialysis outside of the hospital.
My "little brother" was 32 years old. If only I could plush out those toxic waters in his body so as not to intoxicate his body anymore... If only we could be the same old happy boys again just busy playing, wrestling, and doing things as carefree as if there were no problems in this world. When I close my eyes each day and remember all the childhood games that we three brothers enjoyed playing together, I tell myself every time, indeed I'm very lucky we relished each other's company especially our youngest brother. Even up to the last breath of my life I will treasure it forever...
Thanks to the ff:
zedge - cyber64 jagdlln sialvi FoxG1990
Time had passed and still, we three boys are very close. My eldest brother has his own job already. My little brother also had a job; however, he wanted to be a pilot so he planned on taking the exams both the written and interview. Of us three, my little brother has the brain. He's intelligent; he's kind and very understanding. He passed the written examination with flying colors! To our dismay he failed the medical examination. He told us that he had sore throat during the medical examination. I remember one time he had these bouts of sore throats before. The doctor who checked him then suggested removing the tonsils because of the persistent infection. His blood pressure was way too high also and he was diagnosed with hypertension. He confided also that not long ago he noticed a dark tea-colored urine passing while he was peeing.
Months gone by and my brother's health was fast deteriorating. Very often, my mother would observed that as if somebody had urinated in his room because it smelled like someone had peed. My little brother had difficulty sleeping already specially at night time and his usual flow of urine seemed dwindling away. This was the dreaded moment, my brother was diagnosed with chronic renal disease and we can't do anything about it.
He underwent dialysis for about a year and during that excruciating time we held him as if he's not alone in this fight. He was given a new lease in life a year after, when he got his new kidney. I remember, I was alone waiting in the recovery area thinking, praying that by God let it be as if we're just playing our pees again like when we were kids...just the slightest urine to come out please...not the highest, not the longest ... just the smallest...please...please...alas! He urinated. We were so very happy! So happy that we changed his original birthday to the date he had his transplant kidney!
We counted his birthdays, first year - too many medications were given to him, we saw to it that he'll take it on time. Complications from the medications started to manifest but thanked God we controlled it early. He's very organized. He arranged his medicines and put it in a green bread box. He cut strips of cardboard and made it as dividers. He also labelled his medicines. So organized that even the nurses are amazed on how orderly the medications were done; such a very strong-willed personality. His fiance was with us also all throughout and this boosted my brother's confidence.
Second year - my little brother was, as if, back to normal again. He already had a new job! And he was very good at it. I remember, he always had these certificates posted on the walls of our house, hanged by my mom, stating that he was a nominee for employee of the year! That's how good he was with his work. Come third year, fourth year and fifth year still, he was always nominated to be the top employee of the year.
Sixth year - My mom excitedly informed me and my eldest brother that he won the EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR award and the prize will be a trip to Hongkong Disneyland and some cash. We were so happy! Our happiness was short-lived however. His condition started to deteriorate. Month of May, the new kidney started malfunctioning. We were hospital-bound again with my little brother, but this time a much larger problem unravelled. Too much fluid had already entered his heart, as well, as in his lungs; also his brain was affected already, yet he was oriented to time, places and people.
At this depressing times, he kept on telling me, too much time and money had been spent for him already; what about me and his kuya? "It's unfair!" he quipped. I responded, "Do not be worry, as long as you are with us, never mind the material things". Her fiance was very supportive and always with him all the time.
I came to realized that my youngest brother and her fiance had been preparing for their big wedding ahead of time. And all were set already. The place was reserved already, the dresses, the bride's maid etc...
I think, my brother's will to live is not about to overcome the disease itself, or about us, or about his life anymore. It's about the big wedding really...
Sadly, he never went to claim the plaque for the BEST EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR nor went to Hongkong Disneyland. He never recovered...then on late November, same year, the Barong that he bought for the wedding? He used it in his funeral...
It was a whirlwind ordeal for us. Up to the last day he never gave up. My parents took care of him until the final days of his life along with his fiance. Can you imagine, he recovered in the ICU multiple times and was even brought to our house? He was frail already and yet can talk with sense, still thinking of other's welfare and his family; very inspiring . Unfortunately, yes, he was very sick already. He died while he was undergoing dialysis, the first time he had the dialysis outside of the hospital.
My "little brother" was 32 years old. If only I could plush out those toxic waters in his body so as not to intoxicate his body anymore... If only we could be the same old happy boys again just busy playing, wrestling, and doing things as carefree as if there were no problems in this world. When I close my eyes each day and remember all the childhood games that we three brothers enjoyed playing together, I tell myself every time, indeed I'm very lucky we relished each other's company especially our youngest brother. Even up to the last breath of my life I will treasure it forever...
Thanks to the ff:
zedge - cyber64 jagdlln sialvi FoxG1990
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