LOOKING BACK FOR MY BELOVED GRANDPARENT

They are my grandparent on my mother's side. My grandmother is already 96 years old and never be getting married again after his husband died 35 years ago.

I was then 15 years old when our house was burned, June 29,1985. Many people said we should not live with my grandfather after the tragedy. It may cause bad luck to them. My grandfather didn't believe it. He insisted us to slept and stayed in his house than staying outside.

What a coincidence, our house burned out at 3:00 pm. My mother collapsed thinking of my siblings inside the house sleeping. My mother and I were away from home washing clothes 3 kilometers away. My father and brother were on the sea for fishing and picking seashells. It was a Saint Peter day, a day for all people to have sea bathing.

Suddenly our neighbor came informing us that our house was in a fire and there's nothing left. At that time we left there, my two youngest sisters, 6 and 5 years old were sleeping. In a little bit while, mu sisters came laughing and so happy that they came to us. They were too young and never knew what was going on that day. We asked them that when they woke up the 6 yrs old sister decided to come on where we were washing clothes. It was near to my other grandparent house.

The night came, my grandfather decided to let us slept on their home regardless of all the hearsay we heard.

Another tragedy

We ate our dinner while my mother and father were there sleeping near our burned house. They were looking for the mother pig who was pregnant at that time. So lucky that piggy was able to run away but his body was burned out. He survived ang gave us piglets after a few months.

We slept in my grandfather's house and while eating our dinner mu Uncle came shouting and crying. He was wounded in his face. Someone attacked him in the dark road he passed by. There was a lot of blood coming out and I cried helplessly.

Thanks to God, the bone on his chick is strong and the knife hit only the flesh and skin. I and my two sisters were alone at the house of my grandfather. My grandmother was there in Davao City working as a dressmaker as was not around with us at that very moment.

On the following day, we found out that the man was a killer who hides in our place. He was a stranger. The police jailed the man and no excuses for what he did to my Uncle.

July 02,1985

I supposed to go to school, my grandfather cooked breakfast for me. I could not imagine that was the last breakfast he did for me. He gave me money for my allowance. At dawn, he called and told me that he was going to pick the food for the pig nearby. From 5 in the morning until 7, he didn't come back. I was already wearing my uniform. I need to walk for 1 hour reaching my high school. It was 3 kilometers away from home.

I felt bad and uncomfortable. I shouted calling my Tatay. How many times I called, he never answered my call.

Suddenly, one little boy, a grade 1 pupil passed in the cliff where my grandfather was lying down. He was falling down from the Mariveles tree and the trunk of the tree was also on the ground. The boy called and informed me that my grandfather was calling my name for help. I ran into the cliff with my uniform and shout out the loudest shout I had been in my life.

He talked to me, I hugged him. I found the knife at the back of his spinal cord that caused it broken. The spinal cord was cut with the knife without bloodshed. There was no wound but the bone was cut inside.

I cried and ask helped. The school teacher in primary school heard me and informed my everyone. I can't carry my grandfather alone.

Then my parent came, they were shocked and surprised. The tragedies that week were so very bad luck to us. Then, we brought him to the Provincial hospital.

After 6 days in the hospital, just like today, July 08, 1985, my grandfather returned to his creator.

July 07, 1985, from school I went to the hospital after my class and he was in good shape. We talked and showed me his love, for the last time. I was in my uniform feeding his last dinner. He ate a lot and smile at me holding hands. I gave him milk my spoon.

I slept for a while and planned to come home in the morning. The city is far from our home. I need to ride a bus and walk. At that time, my grandfather did not allow me to went home.

The last moment with him

After giving him the milk and medicine, he stopped breathing. I heard something noise inside his mouth or nose. I thought it was blood stocked on his airways. I didn't know, then my Uncle called a doctor, open the oxygen but it was no longer acceptable to his body. He was still alive last July 08, 1985 morning. I left the hospital, I kissed and hugged him hoping for another extension of his life. I prayed!

He heard me but he didn't talk anymore. His eyes stared at me as I said goodbye. Before I reached our home, my beloved grandfather died.

I accepted all of the challenges. All his reminders I always keep it. We had a great memory together and he was my defender from my angry mother before.

On the other side, it was better than he stayed with us paralyzed. The doctor said the spinal cord was totally broken and there was no chance of connecting it again.

We were still grateful and thankful to God. He was a very hardworking and good person. A father of 4 daughters and 4 sons.

My grandmother came home and it was too late. She never talked to my grandfather for the last time.

It happened for a reason and he lives now in a better place for 35 years. He died at 54 years old and my grandmother told me that she is older than his husband.

My grandmother now is still in good shape. A certain 96 years old fitted for planting vegetables and eat her own harvest. No meat especially pork and chicken but once a month, she requests beef. She has no back pain at all.

This is my grandmother's picture taken last 2019.

The last time I met my grandmother was during my last year's vacation.

She is living under this place in the mountain.

Just sharing my #wednesdaywalk by looking back on my 1985 and 2019 experienced walking my life with my grandparent that could make you smile.

#wednesday walk is an initiative of @tattoodjay and #makemesmile by @elizacheng.

Just sharing it for you to hive on!

Gif credit to gremayo

It's me,

@olivia08