Goodbye Angkong.

Someone smart identified once the most stressful events in human life. This list would include is resigning from work, moving to a new job, unexecpted death in the family, debt-collection and tragedies. I am not too sure if this was actual list, but I do recall these 5 things in his list.

Last night I had to leave office early because I had another round of viewing/editing at GMA with a client. Client was good enough to just pick me up and go together to GMA. He was with his fiancee. They looked sweet and lovey-dovey nice. I was so pleased to see them together.

About 7:30 PM, as soon as I finished talking to Emma, my brother was on the other line. As always, I was thinking to myself, did I do anything wrong? So I hesitantly answered the phone and he had his mono tone asking me where I was. And I said I was on my way to GMA. He said, I should be heading home soon. And I asked why? What's wrong? He said, "Didn't you hear? Angkong (grandfather in Chinese) passed away. He just passed away now. Come home soonest."

I was shocked. I wanted to sit back and cry. But I was torn. I have to be strong and rational about this. I still have work to be done, and I need to attend it first.

I didn't show any emotion until we finished. Client was gracious enough, having overheard some conversation, to ask if they could do anything... offered his driver to take me to the hospital. Gee, thanks. That's such a gesture! But I didn't tell him that there was death in the family. I just said I have a family emergency I have to go to after we view. I didn't want to ruin their moment as a couple together.

My lolo is a brave soul. He is a tall man, with loud commanding voice. When he speaks. he speaks with authority. That's why we called him, as a child, Hitler - he was such a dictator. He would always say that I was his favorite (hmm, come to think of it, I was most grand parent's favorite :)) and that he'd really want to see me settle down soon and all. He would always say that he was proud of me and that he misses me because I never to get to see him anymore.

In the last few weeks, I was hardly ever available to see him. I wished I visited him days ago but there's just too much work. Last weekend, he was confined in Chinese General Hospital because he had been complaining about his chest pains and difficulty in breathing. After the battery of tests were done, the doctor gave him clearance of good health and so he was released last tuesday. Before he left, the doctor gave him a carotene test (or something, it was a blur last night after all the crying). He said my lolo got too beat up from that test. Cut to last night, he suddenly felt ill again.

The maids noticed that he peed involuntarily, he dumped uncontrallably, he was getting patches of blue-black marks in his body, and was wheezing. So they decided to take him to the Emergency Room. While he was being assisted to the car, he was already shaking. Cardiac Arrest.

By 7:30PM, he was pronounced dead.

My lolo would always say he wouldn't want to put his family in so much agony if and when he passes. He passed quietly and hopefully, he didn't have to go through too much pain.

I will miss my lolo for all the kick-ass experience and unsolicited advice he gave me growing up. He was old man gimmick-meister in Baguio every Summer before. He took me tomy first American Lunch, Bike Ride, Talking Puppet (Siwsiw) and how can I forget my first fake GI Joe.

I surely regret that I wasn't able to visit him before he passed. I am saddened by this whole experience. To top it all, as if work has not been stressful enough, I had to have this.

I am not complaining. God has a reason for this. God doesn't do anything without a reason. It's not destiny, God has a reason.

His remains lie at Sanctuarim in Araneta Avenue, beside Jollibee. I will be in Magnolia Room from now till Friday.

Sob.