Death in the family

My sister (Ate Gene) call me up crying on the phone. She just told me that our cousin 'Wawa' just passed away. Her name is Joyce 'Wawa' Paredes-Cabotan. Wawa ang nick name nya kasi sabi sa akin dati ni Papa, noong bata pa daw kami, sa aming mag pipinsan, sya ang mahilig magpa awa kung merong gustong laruan. She is almost the same age as I am. Matanda lang sya ng isang taon. The truth is, she is not really blood related to me. She was adopted by my Auntie and my real cousin (Ate Nene and Ate Inday). We (me and my sibling) call her my cousin because she is almost the same age as I am and my siblings. We have always treated her as our relative because me and my brothers and sisters are very close to her. Bata kasi nag asawa ang Auntie Lucy ko at matanda naman nag asawa ang father ko(his younger brother). That is why, my true cousins, Ate Nene and Ate Inday are way older than me. Noong bata pa ako, meron ngang pagkakataon na nag kakamali ako at nag mamano ako sa kanila.

Last time I saw Wawa was last November 22. Bumisita kami sa bahay nila sa Bacoor Cavite. Kakatapos nya lang noon ng operasyon and she is under going dialysis. At that time, we were already worried about her, kaya kami nag punta sa bahay nila. Nag bigay na nang taning kasi ang doctor sa kanya na hindi na raw talaga sya tatagal.

Her death kept me awake last night. I just keep on thinking that a persons life is truly fragile. Naalala ko tuloy yung time na nag kasakit ako ng hepatitis a few years ago. I really thought that I was going to die. I was bed redden, my body was color yellow from head to foot and I had a terrible ulcer. The pain was excruciating.

I am worried right now about the people that she have left behind. My auntie is very old and has little or no source of income.

(L-R) Me, My Dad, Auntie Lucy and Wawa
(Taken last November 22, 2009)


(L-R) Me, Wawa, Ate Nene, Ate Inday, Auntie Lucy, My Dad

(Taken last November 22, 2009)

Pagkatapos ng visit namin last November sa kanila at nakita ko na medyo okay naman na si Wawa. Medyo napanatag na ang pag iisip ko. Maganda na ang lagay nya at nakakalakad na ng maayos. Nalungkot ako ng husto nang nalaman ko kagabi na patay na sya. Nakakapanghinayang ang kanyang pagkawala. Isa kasi sya sa pinaka matalinong tao na kilala ko. Noong Elementary kasi sya, hindi nawawala ang pangalan nya sa top 3. Pag naging 3rd honor sya ay medyo masama ang kalooban nya dahil kadalasan ay 1st honor sya. Pag dating naman ng high school at college ay scholar naman sya parati ng school. Before she got sick, she was working as a chemical engineer/biologist. Science talaga ang hilig nya kahit noon pa. Noong bata pa kimi, meron ding pag kakataon na mahaba ang pag uusap namin tungkol sa science. Sayang at hindi naging mahaba ang pag uusap namin noong huli kaming nakapunta sa bahay nila.

I will surely miss her.