Three years ago today at around this time… my cousins and I were on our way to watch Filipinas, one of those family dramas being shown as part of the MMFF 2004. Earlier that day, we were having a sumptuous lunch at Tita Teri’s house, an early celebration for her birthday. In the middle of lunch, Tito Bojo had to go home as Lola had to be rushed to the hospital.
In the taxi cab on the way to the mall, my cousins and I were talking about our Lola’s worsening condition and how our Titas have already decided not to have her resuscitated if that decision ever faced them. I remember saying that it might not happen soon. Hours later, inside the cinema, we received calls and frantic text messages. We had to go to the hospital because Lola had passed away.
While my cousins went to the hospital I went home as my mother instructed, then to Lola’s house to help in the preparations. As family tradition, my cousins and I kissed our Lola before they had her embalmed. Kuya Andrew and I went to the mall to buy a roll of floor covering as they will embalm Lola in her house, in her room.
Tears were barely shed that day. And that night until the night of December 29, my cousins and I watched over Lola from 9 pm to about 6 am. We spent most of it talking, eating, and pretending to study.
On December 30, we buried Lola. I cried. I cried as I remembered a lot of things about her, memories with her long buried in the deep recesses of my mind. I remembered how I would sleep over at her room, with my sister, how she would sleep between the two of us because I was malikot while sleeping. I remembered how much she enjoyed Valde Pastilles, Andes Chocolates, and doing the crossword puzzle. I remembered how she would call Kuya Andrew as the “maestro” of our gang. I remembered all the Chavacano words she used… “caballo,” “cachichas,” “cuchina,” and many others. At that moment, in church, us cousins were one in mourning. My youngest cousin said… “I will miss Lola asking me who I am.” While Lola was never the malambing affectionate Lola who would spoil us, I have fond memories of her.
We were sad to say goodbye to Lola, but also relieved that finally the inevitable has finally arrived. For years, my Titas have been preparing for Lola’s imminent farewell. She had been in and out of the hospital for years. For a time she would be well, then her condition would turn bad.
While it was definitely a sad New Year for us, as it was the first time we didn’t have pictures with Lola. Sad to say, the family is not as it was before.
Today is Lola’s 3rd death anniversary. The fourth year that we will not be posing the in front of the Christmas tree with Lola.