It was October 21, 2003 - the cancer my dad was battling managed to breach to his brain - unfortunately, chipping away his memories one by one... I recall during my dads final few hours, he was asked where he was at, he said - "Beloxi, Mississippi"...but he wasn't, he was in Jacksonville, Florida. He was then asked if he knew any of the countless people that were crying & praying in the room, he didn't, but he came across his own family among the sea of people surrounding his death bed...He named each of us - he looked at my mom and said, "...si Aida, mahal na mahal ko..." turned to my brother and said, "...my eldest and first born, si Jonathan..." looked at my sister, "...my princess, si Stefanie..." and then looked at me, "...my youngest, Burarog, si Noel-noel-noel." (I was 18 at the time, but the way he called me sounded like how he called me when I was a 9 year old kid...) Right after that his mind seemingly gave up. He survived us for a few more hours, breathing his last breath after he was given a final blessing. I've lived half my life now with that moment imprinted in me. Its not the moment I like to remember my Dad and the 49 years he lived on earth, but its a great reminder that when my Dad was given 3 months to live at the age of 40 in Beloxi, Mississippi, he knew his wife & 3 kids is what he fought to live for...and he did just that all the way to his very last breath... To my Dad, its been over 17 years... the little guy you thought you left as a 9 years old kid, has now been happily married for 6 years, along with 2 of your grandkids, both of which carry some uncanny resemblances to you. While I wish they were all able to meet you, they get to know you through the countless stories I tell them and the many stories I still have to tell them about their Lolo Robe... While you fought for us to the very end, may I continue fighting for your legacy... #RIP #RestInPower #WBW #TBT #cancersurvivor #fuckcancer #throwback #cancersucks #cancerwarrior #cancerawareness #fatherhood #grandfather #lolo #fatherandson @noelandkate @yk8ight @casabalanza https://www.instagram.com/p/CGouardBH6R/?igshid=vv5evwlr3mvw
