Angels are messengers from God...

While attending a wedding mass one day, my mobile phone was vibrating. It was in a silent mode though. As we were seated for the homily, I discreetly opened my phone and read the message. "Emergency. Please proceed to the government hospital right after this mass. Someone is dying and he needs to see you before anything else happens".

I was so nervous. Tried to figure out who among the relatives were sick lately or any friends that were admitted to the hospital. I could not contain my confusion. Maybe this person must be a dear relative... why... of all people he has asked of me by his deathbed.

My auntie was sitting next to me in church... looking at me with questioning eyes. My hands were getting cold. But how could I tell her. I don't even know who this person is. I braved to finish the wedding ceremony. After extending our best wishes to the newly weds, I scurried my auntie outside the church and told her, "We need to go home. There is an emergency".

Arriving home, my Auntie blurted out, "Now what... we could have gone to the reception. Look, we don't even have the wedding give-aways." I couldn't argue with her anymore as I was already trembling. Then I told her. "Someone is dying in the hospital and he is asking for me... myself... he wants see me personally. But, honestly, I don't know who this person is."

We proceeded to the hospital without even changing our creamy white church dress. Asking the Information nurse, we were directed to the Communicable Diseases ward. At the back of my mind, there was some hesitation... but because this person has asked for me... never mind.

It was almost dark and the ward was empty except for one bed in the corner. As we approached nearer, I saw a thin old man sleeping in a fetal position. He was hard of breathing. Then he opened his eyes... and looked at us. Horrorified... looking at us intently, he said his prayers aloud. "Lord, I am ready to go. Thank you for the angels you sent me." Then he closed his eyes. Oh my God, who could he could he be. Now, he is already gone, how could I ask him.

These were the thoughts running in my mind, when suddenly, someone was tapped my shoulder. She introduced herself as the guardian of the patient.

I asked her, who is this person and why did she asked for me. She answered, your name was in his diary and he instructed me to look for you. Then, the lady asked me, "when did you arrive... did you take the boat or the plane? I answered, "no, I live here. I was in church when I received your call. Then , it was the lady's turn to look at me intently, and exclaimed..."Sorry.. . I am really sorry, Maam. You are not the person that he is looking for. He was asking for his first wife, an old one, like him. There was a misunderstanding... maybe because you have the same first name. Ahhhhhhh.......

On our way home, we were silent... then my auntie asked, "why did that guddam person mistook us for angels?" Recovering from shock.....remembering... we look at our church dresses... then we burst out laughing..... until we almost lost our breath. That was one incident I could not forget in my whole life.

Dignity or Life?

It was a chilly morning in the island.

I stood closely beside my Papa watching the funeral of my grandfather. In a deafening silence, i could hear whispers among the crowd, describing what a good man my Lolo was. He fought during WWII, yet, many of then believed he has able to stack up one sack of paper bills during those times.

My curiousity led me up to the attic that afternoon and look for that sack and opened it.

To my surprise... all that was in there were his magic paraphernalia... no paper bills! These people were wrong!!! Grossly wrong!!! All these years, they thought my Lolo was otherwise... But he proved them wrong until last few days of his life.

Yes, my Lolo was a magician! Summer afternoons, all grandchildren will be up on the attic entertained by different magic. I could hear the echoes of our ooohhhssss... and aaahhhsss...mesmerized by the magic unfolding one after the other. My mind was wandering afar.... reminiscing those days we spent with him. All of a sudden, i hear the sound of warning siren ... a boat is about to leave. Papa called up. "Hurry up, this is the last boat that will take us to the mainland."

Then we began to sail... pangs of loneliness suddenly sets in. i took a seat by the boatfront, where i could gaze my Lolo's house... getting smaller... dwarfed by the mountains... until i could see it no more.

Sigh... How people can be fickle sometimes. My Lolo's greatest good luck was to die at the right time.

Tiny Yellow Flags

In the grade 3 class, our teacher announced that we will have an important visitor the next day, February 22. To welcome him, we will prepare tiny flags using yellow paper. That night, I tossed in my sleep, wondering who is our visitor? What does he look like? I already imagined our town plaza teeming with people, schoolchildren in front waving their tiny flags. After a few minutes, I finally said my bedtime prayers. But then, my mind was wondering again.... Maybe he has some good news to tell us ..or maybe he just want to visit his flock. Him, being the highest officer in the Catholic church as we were told. That made me more excited ..

Morning came, I woke up early, wore my best school uniform. Right after lunch, we were told to proceed to the town plaza and wait there for the visitor to arrive at exactly 3 o"clock in the afternoon. We braved the heat of the sun, squinting our eyes.. continually asking our teacher for the time. Until it was 2:45pm. The crowd began singing a song..all of a sudden, my heart began to beat wildly... excitement was covered with sudden loneliness ..and.I feel like crying...

In the sea of people, I could see my Uncle Prospero from afar .. he seemed to be looking for someone. So, I called out to him and he went straight to me. Without saying anything, he scooped me out from the crowd . We boarded his bike ... straight to the local hospital. Upon climbing the steps, he clasped my hands firmly and whispered, your Mama wants to see you. I ran straight to her room. There I saw Papa already fainting and was made to lie on the other bed. Kneeling down.... i slowly touched my Mama on the check, and was about to kiss her. But then she grabbed me close... holding me tight... tighter and tighter... until I could cry. Then ... she let go of her hold... Only then, it dawned on me... that it was already goodbye... and she will never come back again..

Tears were blurring my eyes... but still, I could see the tiny yellow flags scattered on the floor. I missed to see the Cardinal in person, but i am more than happy to hug my mom for the last time.

nanay trying to be techie

of course we shouldn't stop learning.
this is how it is...small baby steps but
soon i'd learn. soon. soon.