Madasaling Bikolano

It was a usual phone call in an unusual hour; nevertheless, I was expecting that when I pick up the line, I would be hearing  news from Iloilo. Instead, Arlene said, “Nanay  passed away this morning.” In so fast a news, how could you properly react but be silent.

Its been a long time, if I could recall, since I last saw her. If I’m not mistaken, long before we’re done with our P.I.S program in Iloilo, t family moved to Canada or good. Hence, when we moved back to V.H.S (Angono) we no longer had the luxury of “weekend-afternoon treat”.  Nanay’s family has been very generous to the seminary. There was no birthday party  (children or otherwise) that most of the seminarians were not invited. Their home was our haven and sanctuary not only from the academic pressures but also from our “real homesickness” from our real homes.

Nanay’s connection to the seminary was not only centered on food and “free showers” (this was during summer time, when water supply was scarce in “gulod”). Her daughters (Beng and Jeng), granddaughter Arlene and Beng’s husband, were generous enough to actively involved themselves in seminary’s spiritual exercises (being Sunday lectors and choir members).  She was considered to be one of our generous benefactors.

At 91, we can’t complain about her life. Her death, though sad, should not overshadowed how she lived her life, and how she let others live. Her death is just a pause of the new life ahead of herself.

As the beautiful night prayer reads, “Lord, give our bodies restful sleep and let the work we have done today bear fruit in eternal life.” Certainly, God wouldn’t complain.

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