I went to Filinvest village in Batasan, Quezon City last Saturday to see my close friend Madeline. She’s in town because her mom passed away.
I wasn’t able to attend the wake because I was out of the country.
The last time I’ve been to their house was probably 15 years ago.
A to Driver—– “Sabihin mo sa guard sa Mt. Rinjani Street. Rinjani.
Driver———- “Sin Jani”.
A to Driver—– “Mount Rinjani”.
Driver to Filinvest gate guard——“Brod, kay Mang Johnny”.
A——“Mount Rinjani!!”
Guard—–“Hah? Saan?”
Driver —“Dyan lang kila Mang Johnny”.
Her mom left Lyn with this beautiful house. Since Lyn and family are based in Northern California, no one is going to keep an eye on their big house.
Lyn looked so weary and sad. Of course, she’s tired and sad with her loss.
Although her mom was 87, she was not sick at all and was capable of taking care of herself. She didn’t have a caregiver and no maid at all. They employed maids before but as we all know, it’s a challenge to find good maids. Speaking of maids, Edmund let go of our text-and-call addict labandera this morning.
Lyn’s husband Tante was actually in town visiting family. He went to visit his relatives in Batangas on a friday. He decided to spend the night in Batangas so he was calling his mother-in-law to inform her that he won’t be back till the next day, Saturday. She was not answering the calls. Tante kept calling till night time. He became so worried he left Batangas in the wee hours of Saturday. When he reached Filinvest, the light in the garage was still on. The daily newspaper was still at the gate. His mom in law’s routine was to go down from her bedroom the minute she woke up, switch off the lights including the one in the garage, then pick-up the newspaper.
Tante called and knocked but she didn’t answer. He asked the village security to help him open the door. They couldn’t. They needed some tools. Tante called the help of his friend. They forcibly opened the kitchen door. She wasn’t in her second floor bedroom. The television at the den was still on and quite loud. The guard found her body in the bathroom on the ground floor. Her body was still warm according to them. Siguro she was watching tv then went to the toilet and collapsed there. Stroke daw.
Lyn said her mom’s death was too soon. I said it’s not. Ito talaga. Her mom was 87. Although no one is too young or too old to die, but when we reach 70, 75, much more 80, aba aba eh maghanda-handa na tayo. We’re not going to live till a hundred.
Her mom wanted to buy a crypt last year at the St. Peter Parish Columbary in Commonwealth, Quezon City but Lyn was against it. She didn’t think her mom needed it although she was already 86 at that time. She was strong and still active.
Buti na lang one of her mom’s friend volunteered to sell her crypt to Lyn at acquisition cost.
Madeline was so sad. She said there were 7 deaths in their family in the past twelve months. Her two cousins, her two aunts, another relative.
Lyn’s mom died either on Friday night or Saturday morning. The following Monday the brother of Tante passed away. Kaya pagud-na-pagod silang dalawa pag lagare, Quezon City to Batangas.
Sorrow fills the heart of Madeline. A sorrow that is deep and personal. The untimely death of her mom which she didn’t think would come this year came as a shock to her. Madeline went through a lot of personal challenges the past few years. Her mom had always been Madeline’s source of inspiration and strength. She would terribly miss her of course.
