Ama and me... year 1983
Yesterday, I suddenly missed Ama. Wonderful memories with my father started flashing in my mind. I recall the times Ama used to carry me on his tough shoulders while walking in the "landas." Ama used to carry me when I was less than seven years old in our "landas." Our family called the mountainous terrain going to our home landas. Since the landas is not a child friendly terrain, Ama would just carry me, reminding me to wrap my arms around his head then my hands will clasp together under his chin and not to hold on his hair. As a kid I would start holding Ama as instructed but such position is very tiring so I will eventually hold on to Ama's hair.
I recall the times he cooked delicious viands - dinuguan, nilaga, sinigang na hipon, camaron remosado, stuffed crab, kuhol (although there are times I don't like the food he cooks - pinakbet and dinengdeng). He will call us to eat then he would start bragging how fast and efficient cook he is. While eating he would be talking about his pamamalengke adventures. He loves telling the family how cheap he got the ingredients for the particular viand, how fresh the ingredients are and the storytelling will continue... his fortune and misfortune in the market. I hate to admit it, but it is TRUE when they say you miss things when its no longer around... for this case, I miss Ama's dinuguan, nilaga, sinigang na hipon, camaron remosado, stuffed crab, kuhol...TMTM...
I remember the times he would buy baskets mangoes, atis; kilos of santol, rambutan; watermelon, melon, pineapple, pomelo, etc. Ama is a fruit lover or should I say addict. Whatever fruit is in season you will surely find it at home. Once, Ama bought a basket of atis, he lay down on his improvised bed in front of the television. He started eating atis while watching... the next thing I know he was drinking Sprite and eating crackers... like a lad he said he will never eat a basket of atis again... that was the first and last time I saw a basket of atis in our house.
I reminisce about Ama visiting me in the hospital, it was late, the lights in the hospital room was turned off, only the light from the lamp shade that I asked to be brought in the hospital was on... there were six people in that hospital room; Ina, two patients (a mom and lola) and their respective watchers. I felt some movements that woke my light sleep. As I open my eyes I saw Ama tapping Ina. He was smiling while modeling his "new jacket" to Ina. Ama was whimsical at that time and I told myself "ang gawpo ni Ama."
Ama passed away a month after I was confined in the hospital. I never had the notion Ama will leave this world that early... he was strong and healthy for a 65 year old man... he looked young for his age... but he had a stroke and left this world...
After his death, I saw the "new jacket" he wore the night in the hospital. It was a purple, old jacket... Ina said Ama was wearing that jacket when she fell in love with Ama or the first time she saw Ama he was wearing that jacket... I can't really recall but surely the jacket was significant to Ama and Ina.
As I think of Ama at that moment, tears start rolling down my eyes. I miss Ama so much and whenever I think of him teardrops would start... I'm sure my siblings know this feeling... right Phoats, Marie, Lalaphu, Ngengemeh... sige na nga pati Gil... Bwahahahahahaha...
I recall the times he cooked delicious viands - dinuguan, nilaga, sinigang na hipon, camaron remosado, stuffed crab, kuhol (although there are times I don't like the food he cooks - pinakbet and dinengdeng). He will call us to eat then he would start bragging how fast and efficient cook he is. While eating he would be talking about his pamamalengke adventures. He loves telling the family how cheap he got the ingredients for the particular viand, how fresh the ingredients are and the storytelling will continue... his fortune and misfortune in the market. I hate to admit it, but it is TRUE when they say you miss things when its no longer around... for this case, I miss Ama's dinuguan, nilaga, sinigang na hipon, camaron remosado, stuffed crab, kuhol...TMTM...
I remember the times he would buy baskets mangoes, atis; kilos of santol, rambutan; watermelon, melon, pineapple, pomelo, etc. Ama is a fruit lover or should I say addict. Whatever fruit is in season you will surely find it at home. Once, Ama bought a basket of atis, he lay down on his improvised bed in front of the television. He started eating atis while watching... the next thing I know he was drinking Sprite and eating crackers... like a lad he said he will never eat a basket of atis again... that was the first and last time I saw a basket of atis in our house.
I reminisce about Ama visiting me in the hospital, it was late, the lights in the hospital room was turned off, only the light from the lamp shade that I asked to be brought in the hospital was on... there were six people in that hospital room; Ina, two patients (a mom and lola) and their respective watchers. I felt some movements that woke my light sleep. As I open my eyes I saw Ama tapping Ina. He was smiling while modeling his "new jacket" to Ina. Ama was whimsical at that time and I told myself "ang gawpo ni Ama."
Ama passed away a month after I was confined in the hospital. I never had the notion Ama will leave this world that early... he was strong and healthy for a 65 year old man... he looked young for his age... but he had a stroke and left this world...
After his death, I saw the "new jacket" he wore the night in the hospital. It was a purple, old jacket... Ina said Ama was wearing that jacket when she fell in love with Ama or the first time she saw Ama he was wearing that jacket... I can't really recall but surely the jacket was significant to Ama and Ina.
As I think of Ama at that moment, tears start rolling down my eyes. I miss Ama so much and whenever I think of him teardrops would start... I'm sure my siblings know this feeling... right Phoats, Marie, Lalaphu, Ngengemeh... sige na nga pati Gil... Bwahahahahahaha...