In behalf of our family, I would like to thank you for being with us as we pay our last respect for our beloved Nanay. No words can express how thankful we are for your presence, your prayers and for sharing with us this wonderful moment in Nanay’s life… her reunion with Tatay and her homecoming in God’s kingdom.
Before I begin, I’ve read somewhere on the internet that “Eulogies are impossible… Eulogies are impossible because words cannot simply capture love”. I will most certainly fail to express the immeasurable, indescribable wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend that she was. For all of us who were blessed to know my Lola and to have spent time with her do have each of our different stories and wonderful memories of her that we hold dearly within our hearts.
Today, let me share some of my favorite memories of Nanay with you.
Growing up, the only grandparents I knew were Nanay and Tatay, that’s why I treasure each moments I spent with them because that’s the only story I have about my grandparents.
Nanay for me, is the epitome of simplicity. For the past twenty years, I’ve never seen nor heard Nanay complain about the way she’s living her life. I can never recall seeing Nanay live an extravagant lifestyle. She lived with what she have and Nanay lived her life one day at a time. I used to tell my Mama and my Tita’s, even though Nanay isn’t financially abundant, she was rich in other ways… Nanay’s wealth is the love she receives from her children and her grandchildren. That’s more than enough. That’s the kind of wealth that can’t be taken away from her. For that, I’m proud to say that she is my Lola.
Back when I was a kid, I remember Nanay would watch TV all day. Bisan ano nga programa ga gwa, basta ABS-CBN lang gid ang channel. Die hard fan na daan si Nanay ka ABS-CBN. Pag isaylo mo ang channel, expect ka na ma gamo ang balay. Amo man na guro ang rason nga sang ulihi wala nalang kami nag pa cable sa balay kay ano pulos ka cable kung ABS-CBN man lang. Sayang gani kay wala ko na sa natudlu-an paano mag gamit iWanTV.
As expected sa mga Lola, mga kunsintidora gid na ya pero siyempre in a good way. I remember kung mangakig si Mama sa akon, madalagan ko na dayun either kay Nanay or kay Lola Inday kung diin da ang mas convenient kag lapit. Te, si Nanay being the typical Lola that she was, to the rescue man na dayun. That’s why some people said that I was spoiled, I’d like to clarify that. I’m not spoiled, I’m just loved, and for that, I am very thankful. Because probably most of you here know that I grew up without a father, having Nanay, Tatay, Mama, my Titas and Tito Boy around me never made me feel incomplete at all. They were able to fill the love that was missing and for me, that’s more than enough. I will forever be thankful for Nanay and Tatay who were able to raise 6 amazing children who provided me with all the love they could give.
I remember my usual, “angga” for Nanay sang gamay ko, gina himas ko gid na buy-on ya kay ka ulumol dayun ma sabat na sa “may baby na da”, te being the kid that I was I believed her, and for quite some time, I waited for that “baby” to be born kay abi ko nagbakal sa baby sa baligyaan manok kag gin butang ya sa tiyan ya. Later on, I realized nga si Nanay gina pasakayan ya lang ko gali. Dayun si Nanay, siya na ang akon nga financer sang una. Kada hapon, halin sa dalan ma saka ko na sa iya kuhiton ko na sa dayun, pag balikid ya ang kamot ko ga money sign na na kag ga humlad, kay indi na to sa mayo ka bati mo te, may sign language nalang kami nga duwa eh. Pagkatapos, si Nanay ma kadang-kadang man na sa walker ya pakadto sa kwarto kag kwaon ya na ang iya alkansiya sa sulod sang iya treasure chest kag mag isip man sang iya pisuson. Feeling ko to sang una, manggaranun na ko dayun whenever taga-an ko ni Nanay inugpamahaw. Nanay was a very generous person, whenever may ara siya she never hesitates to give. She gives what she have. Though not all the time through material things, she gives more than that… her time, effort and most especially her love. I’m very lucky to have received those.
Dayun sang gamay ko, I remember telling my cousin, Diddle na when I grow up, I wanted to be a nurse like Nanay kay gusto ko gid na suksukon ang iya nga cap, then one time she asked me what I wanted to take up in college, I told her about that infamous Nursing dream, she told me to take up other courses instead kay wala kuno kwarta ang Nurse, te nag kambyo ulo ko and for some time there, I lost my direction, I wasn’t certain about my dreams anymore, but eventually it has lead me into something better.
Sang high-school ko, I usually bring my classmates and my friends over sa balay for lunch or simply just to hang-out. Kung sa hotel, may front desk, sa balay si Nanay na akon nga front desk. She’d greet my friends with her energetic smile and she’d talk to them. Then masiling na sa, “Si Judy Rose, apo ko na… gwapa…” mangilay-ngilay na sa dayun. Te, si Nanay na nag siling nga gwapa ko, wala na may ma kontra. Nanay is friends with my friends, especially to those who’d usually come over. Every time I have visitors coming over, Nanay never failed to show them her most remarkable smile. A smile that I will surely never forget. That smile that’d take away all the stress. That smile which encourages me to do silly things in front of Nanay, or dance in front of her even though I dreaded dancing, or simply just do crazy things just to make her laugh and see that smile. Whenever I hear her laugh, it sounded like music to my ears and that laugh reminds me that I’ve done something good that day.
During her last moments, I was scared and sad at the same time. Scared of losing Nanay, sad thinking of the fact that she’ll leave us eventually. But, at some point I’m quite happy, because she’ll finally see her beloved Toting again. Mas bongga pa na ang love story ni Nanay kag ni Tatay kay sa sa ila ni Maya kag Sir Chief or ni Isabel kag ni Samuel. Sang mga times nga gapaluya na siya, all of us in the house got so worried that we didn’t know what to do. Especially Mabing and Mama, Tito Boy and Tita Con kag kanday Tita sa gwa.
Then last Monday, we were dismissed early from my morning classes. I was able to go home during lunch time, and I was lucky enough to sleep beside Nanay while I hug her and while she’s holding on to my arm. I had a feeling that that would be the last time I’d be hugging her.
When I got home that night after my classes, Mabing was praying beside Nanay and I knew then and there na we could be spending our last few minutes with Nanay seeing her struggling with her breathing. Naghigda lang gid ko sa kilid niya kag nag intra sa rosary ni Mabing. Gin hug ko lang gid sa, then si Mabing gin hambalan na sa nga mapahuway, nga i-surrender na iya nga spirit kay God kay okay lang kami di. Sa ulo ko lang, indi okay… pero eventually we will be… so I accepted that Nanay could be breathing her last breath anytime soon. Around 7:55 Nanay had her last breath, but what is quite comforting is that she was able to smile before that and that made us all feel at ease. That was Nanay’s way of telling us that everything will be okay, that she’s okay and is now in a better place.
Diba Nay, siling mo mabuhi ka pa asta mag 125 years old ka… dapat gani diba ang mabantay sa imo ang apo mo na sa ingrown? Dayun nag ayo ka pa gani nga 105 years old ka nalang asta. Gin kapoy ka na Nay haw? Okay lang na Nay ah… sobra pa sa 125 years ang gin spend mo diri sa kalibutan, with all those wonderful memories and values that you have instilled in us.
Though it was painful to lose someone who’s been there since I was born, whom I shared a lot of happy memories with, whom I loved so much… and the thought of not seeing Nanay anymore is terribly sad, somehow, we felt a bit relieved that up to Nanay’s last breath we were there for her, we took care of her and we never left her.
To our beloved Nanay, I love you very much. You’ll always be in my heart no matter what. Thank you for being my grandmother, thank you for all the love, support… for everything that you’ve given and showed us. I will miss you forever.
I regards na lang ko da kay Tatay, Nay. Dira ka naman ma bake-bake sa langit ah, patilawa da sila sang pinaka namit nga cake sa Bacolod.
Again, I love you Nanay. ‘Til we see each other again. Goodbye.
