Monday, March 15, 2010

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.



14 comments:

Reno said...

Condolences to you and your family, Gio.

Gio Paredes said...

Thanks Reno.

Gerry Alanguilan said...

Condolences, Gio.

Gio Paredes said...

Salamat po boss Gerry.

Anonymous said...

My condolences, sir.

Gio Paredes said...

Salamat Ian, kita na lang tayo sa Summer Komikon.

kc cordero said...

Late ko na nabasa, nakikiramay ako, Gio.

Gio Paredes said...

Okay lang po boss KC. Marami pong salamat.

Kakarating ko lang po ngayon dito sa bahay galing sa libing nya (Saturday - March 20,2010).

kc cordero said...

Kung minsan ang mga ganyang painful experiences will make you a better comics creator. masasalamin 'yan sa iyong panulat.

leslie said...

Our batch mate from St. Anthony, Malate Manila learned that your cousin passed away last March and I want to extend our condolences to your family. We only found out just now co'z all the batch mate are keeping in touch in FB. That is sad to hear. She is still young, but then again God has a purpose for her death. What was the cause of the death, btw. Again, condolence and she is now resting in our eternal home together with God our Creator.

Gio Paredes said...

@Leslie.
Bale 40% na lang ng Kidney nya ang gumagana when we last met. Ang pinaka cause ng dead nya eh kasabay sabay ang complication. Her Kidney finally give and she had a hearth attack also. Napaka bata nya pa talaga.

Thanks for visiting my Blog Leslie. You can also add me in FB. Just look for the name 'Gio Paredes'.

Aggie said...

Hi Gio. My name is Agnes and like Leslie we were classmates in Elementary and HighSchool and it saddens me that we did not even knew that she was sick. I saw her a couple of years ago pa with her nanay sa house (siguro mga 4-5 years ago). Still have good memories of her as she was my tutor back in Grade 5 & 6 and continue to look up to her.

Please let me know where I can call. I don't think this will be enough for me.

Gio Paredes said...

Hello Agnes,
Thanks for posting a message here.
I just uploaded the video of my cousins burial on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prZvXt6A2NQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufq77muwbgY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXJUw1hf1Qk

Aggie said...

Thanks. I was able to speak to Ate Nene and her mom early this morning. I will find time to visit them.