Sickness And Death

Having to endure both an illness and passing in the family is quite hard; along with the fact that it all happened in 1 week.

My Dad and Uncle (the husband of Mum's sister) were rushed to the hospital almost at the same time. Dad felt faint 2 weekends ago so he had a check-up the following day and was not allowed to go home because he's got an alarmingly low heart rate. While my Uncle had been in the hospital a couple of days earlier because he hasn't been eating for days. He's got a medical condition for months already but was doing alright.

I have been calling constantly a number of times everyday to check on my dearest Father. His heart rate took a long time to go back up to normal and he was also diagnosed with vertigo. Dad was connected to different kind of devices to closely monitor his condition in the ICU. Dad's pretty Nurse/Daughter explained things to me in her language as I try to delineate them in layman's terms.

Then I got a call from my other sister last Wednesday that my Uncle passed away that morning from heart attack. I called Mum and told her to go to her younger sister's side as I'll let Tyn and Sheila look after Dad.

I then called my Aunt. I of course was sad at her Husband's passing but not that emotional as I was never close to him. I respected him as he was the father of my cousins even though he abandoned them during his loaded days and just came back when he's got nothing. (I don't wish to speak ill about the deceased, I am just stating a fact.) My loving Aunt stood by him and I adore her for that. She sounded alright as we started talking and was joking around as she calls me Sheng Long. When I asked her if her daughter who's in Hawaii know about what happened, she started sobbing. She said she felt so alone. I am so weak in moments like that. I started crying too. I went on and told her things to somehow calm her down, till I could not talk anymore so I told her that I'll call again.

I have learned that my Aunt haven't cried yet till the time I talked to her that Wednesday. I am very close to her as I grew up having her as my 2nd Mum. I so wish we can go home to console her. But I check on her from time to time and I know our whole clan is there to embrace her with love and support.

Back to Dad. He was released after about a week in the hospital. He is just resting at home still feeling a bit frail but is doing well.

My Uncle is being put to rest tomorrow; and I pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

What a week that was, sickness and death all in 1 go! Oh, the uncertainties of LIFE!


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The Power Of PRAYER

As millions of Filipinos prayed, prepared and started to brace typhoon Pepeng/Parma, the Metro was somehow spared from the brutal force of what others called was a super typhoon. Manila only got the tail of it, as the recent flood victims were just starting to clean up and start anew again.

I believe many of us prayed hard and some may have even prayed harder for the safety of everyone. That clearly showed that if we all unite and have that unwavering faith, indeed . . .



As Metro Manila felt grateful that the typhoon did not hit them again, the Northern part of Luzon suffered but not as bad. Prayers really works and does wonders!

GOD is good . . . all the time!

Gorgeously . . .

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Another One Coming . . . !!!

(source)

A reported stronger storm is threatening the Philippines once again! Just reading the news gives me chills and tears in my eyes! I still am feeling helpless for those flood victims from the recent typhoon and now another one is on its way! A more powerful one, they say.

We, as human beings might be powerless against the wrath of Mother Nature, but nothing can surpass the faith and unity of a PRAYER!

Let us all pray for our beloved PHILIPPINES and countrymen!

Gorgeously . . .

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Asian Catastrophe

Since the Philippine typhoon Ondoy or tropical storm Ketsana started, succeeding calamities took place on different parts of Asia.

The said tropical storm hit Cambodia and Vietnam after its devastating damage to Manila.

Then an earthquake startled Indonesia that have reported been felt in Malaysia and Singapore as well.


And recently a disastrous tsunami engulfed Samoa.


The number of casualties at those tragedies are rising everyday. A lot more are missing.

And they say there are more of these weird weather to come. It is scary!

But I believe in the strong power of PRAYER! Let us all pray for one another.

God bless!




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The Chapel

This quaint little House of Prayer that is tucked inside the Philippine Navy camp in Fort Bonifacio, has been one of my comfort zone as I was growing up. Both my parents are involve in the church so we (me and my siblings) grew up participating at church's activities. You may not believe it, but I was once part of a choir! Ahem . . . Ahem . . . LOL!

When my sisters and I were kids, we played an angel during Easter Sunday re-enactment of the Resurrection, angels during the Santacruzan in celebration of Flores de Mayo, and even became one of the sagala!

Aside from growing up in a Catholic school, it was in this church where I learned a lot not only about Catholic faith, but about life in general. This is where I had my first walk as a flower girl and my first walk as a bride's maid/maid-of-honor. But not as a bride though. That's another story. Our family had shared a lot with this little military chapel. This is where we had my beloved brother's funeral.

When I got married and started living overseas, I still go to this church when I'm in town. Till the government harshly kicked out the retired military personnel and their families out of the houses that most have been living in for more than 30 years! My Father included! You must have watched/read/heard about the humiliating eviction that happened at the Philippine Navy Village 3 years ago. That was sooo bad! My parents got so depressed that time and tried to keep it from us. Well, that is another story as well.

Anyways, for the few times that we visited our old house in Fort Bonifacio, I did not get to stop at the church. So I made sure to purposely visit the chapel during my last Manila trip. I just want to see what it looks like now since I haven't been in it for a long time.

Oh, the chapel did changed a lot over the years! The doors and seats were the same, but the interior and the altar were different now. The ceilings got higher and it is now air conditioned!

It felt so good being inside it again, had that same feeling when I was small. That same feeling of warmth and security. We just could not stay long because we were running late. We went there on the eve of our flight back here and we had dinner reservation. But that few minutes were enough for me.

Couldn't go without a souvenir photo of me! Feels great to look back at where I came from, for it moulded me to what I am right now!

Gorgeously . . .

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A Time To Mourn

I want to express my sincerest gratitude to those who sent condoling messages. You have somehow comforted us as we grieve. Thank you so much!

I decided not to blog for a while, till after the 9th day of my Father-in-Law's passing. We are all doing alright. Still trying to cope with the fact that Pop is gone.

Even though B's family do not believe in the rites that we, Filipinos have been accustomed to, when someone passes on, I have observed them in my own way. And my family back home offered a special mass for Pop's 9th day yesterday. All of them got to know him, with the exception of my youngest brother.

Most of the family's friends were asking about the funeral. Well, there's none. Pop never wanted to have one, so we respected his wishes. His remains were cremated last Tuesday and is now with us, together with B's Mum's ashes.

Though we are thinking of holding a remembrance day for him with family and friends.

B said that the death of his Father was harder and more painful than of his Mother, who succumb to cancer 30 years ago. Among all the 5 boys, he was the only one who had been there on their parents' death bed. He feels shallow and numb inside, right now. (Typing this makes my eyes swell . . .)

Anyways, we told the Little One that he can talk to Poppy anytime that he wants. B put Pop's urn in our formal lounge till he and his 2 other brothers decide what to do with their parents' ashes.

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.
~William Penn

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The Inevitable Happened . . .

My dearest Father-in-Law passed away last Friday night.

We are thankful that Pop passed on peacefully, no pain or struggle. And the most important thing, he did not die alone. B, Kaiden and I were there to keep him company during his final moments here in the mortal world. Pop had lived a long life and it is his time to rest and be with his wife and 2 of his 5 sons. It was very hard for him having been able to see his Other Half and 2 children go before him. But he is with them now.

We will forever miss a lot of things about Pop, as we pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Gorgeously . . .

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Praying For My Father-in-Law

The Husband came back home 3 days ago, after almost 2 days of flying! He left Rabat early morning on Sunday and just reached Australia last Tuesday.

I have been mentioning about my sick FiL, who has been in and out of the hospital for about 2 months now. B was staying in Morocco for only 2 weeks then when his brother told him that their Dad's condition is getting worst and he has been asking when B is coming back. Torn between his commitment over there and his responsibility with his Father, he decided to go home and be by his ailing Dad's bedside. He is not happy there either; I'll talk about that in a separate entry.

Pop never knew that B went away to Morocco. He thought all along that he came with us to the Philippines. Pop did not want us to go overseas again, so we said that we'll just be having a break in Manila.

We went to visit Pop last Wednesday and were stunned with his present condition. He looked so frail and have lost a lot of weight. He could not talk clearly and you would have to listen closely. He was also shaking and could hardly open his eyes. B could not take what he was seeing and was starting to break down so he left the room. I am a wimp and I do cry easily. I was trying very hard to put on a brave front. When B came back, I avoided looking into his eyes because I know I won't be able to control my tears any longer.

Pop seems to be so sleepy but B was able to talk to him. When Pop put his hand on B's shoulder and tapped him slowly, that was it for me. I had to go out because I was starting to sob. My FiL is never affectionate to his kids. I have only seen him cuddle and kiss his 3 small grand kids (the Little One included), and would occasionally give me a hug and kiss my forehead when we haven't seen each other for a long time. So seeing him like that to his youngest Son, put a huge lump in my throat. I went down to the coffee shop and stayed there till I had the courage to be strong again. I also texted my family back home to pray for Pop.

The nurse came and we asked a lot about Pop's sudden deterioration. It was hasty for us because we were away for a month. Pop has been drowsy for days because the doctors had to give him some kind of sedative to calm him down. Pop has been agitated lately, refusing to do whatever was asked of him and tried to hurt his carers, wanting to get out of the hospital. They moved him to a more secured area where he was closely monitored. 2 more nurses came to check him and his physiotherapist. They were trying to wake him up but he was unresponsive. The nurse got alarmed and called the doctor, which made us worry too much. His diabetes was high and they could not give him insulin because he haven't eaten yet.

The doctor thinks that Pop was like that because of the sedative. She said his condition goes up and down. If ever he recovers, he won't be the way he was before. That if ever he leaves the hospital, he will surely go straight to a nursing home because he will be needing a 24hour medical care. B asked for Pop's time frame and the doctor responded with uncertainty because they themselves are going through Pop's condition day by day.

We popped in yesterday and had a long talk with Pop's main doctor, after having been visited by his team of doctors. He was the same, if not worst. They will be doing some test because they think his pneumonia is back.

The doctor called B this morning about the test results and it was not good at all. The 3 living sons all agreed to stop the medication but keep him comfortable as possible.

When we got there this morning, I looked at Pop's charts and saw that they have already given him morphine. There were 3 more drugs but the only one I know is morphine. The nurse said that his body is still fighting like hell, though his liver and kidneys are already failing. And his mind seems to be giving away too. He is not responding with anyone. He would open his eyes but it seems unseen.

Pop is on palliative care as of the moment and will soon be moved to a quiet room. We were told that he would not get out from this. There is nothing else we could do, but to pray for what is best for Pop.

Gorgeously . . .

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An Easter Greeting

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A Black Saturday Thought

"1 cross + 3 nails = 4GIVEN"

photo source

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