I was feeling lazy and tired but I forced myself to go to Binangonan last Sunday noon to go to Gaying’s wake.
It was a sunny day and I was glad, traffic was light.
It was the town’s fiesta last October 21, baka itong banderitas ay nuong pyesta pa.
To maximize my trip, I also scheduled a meeting with Lito, a contractor. He’s the son of my father’s kumpadre. My parents also helped his sister go to college but I believed she didn’t finish kasi she got married, or nagtanan.
I want to construct a small bodega for my brother’s old stuff. I drew the schematic
and explained to him the details. He promised to give me the estimate the next day.
I took random street photos and it’s only now that I realized I was able to capture the image of the Binangonan Catholic High School’s 4-story building.
An Intensity 7.7 earthquake struck Metro Manila on August 2, 1968 which killed many people and toppled the 6-storey Ruby Tower in Binondo. There were frequent and considerably strong aftershocks in the following days or weeks. One afternoon, while I was standing by the window, our house began to shake, I looked outside and saw the BCHS building swaying.
Our house was made of wood, like most houses in Binangonan. Ang tibay nya sa lindol. Uuga-uga lang, naririnig ko yung lagatukan ng mga sahig, dingding at poste, pero nakatayo pa rin. Parang duyan lang sya.
My parents’ long time housemaid, Gaying, passed away after suffering from stroke (four times) and breast cancer. her husband, Vicente, was my parents’ house helper too. Sila yung nahuli ng Kuya ko na naglalabing-labing, magkapatong sa bodega namin ng bigas. The next day, sinundo ng Papa ko yung pari at ipinakasal sila. Hayun, tila labing apat lang naman yata ang naging anak nila. Hindi pa kasama yung mga nalaglag.
To reach their residence where the wake was, I rode a tricycle because my van was wider than the road.
My driver thought I was joking when I told him we’re taking the tricycle. He couldn’t believe that I would do that. Ang sarap ngang mag-tricycle. Para akong nag-jogging, naalog ang mga body fats ko.
Patalbog-talbog.
We’re here.
As soon as they saw me getting off the tricycle, “Si Annie, si Annie, nadito na si Annie”.
When I die, I want something more appealing than this piece of announcement.
Maybe something more inter-active. I will video-tape myself,
“Hello friends, welcome to my lamay. Please don’t forget your lagay.
Your condolences are good but I need cash. I will pray for those who would give more.
Please accept my thanks, see you soon”.
Kailangan daw ilista ang pangalan at magkano ang abuloy. I had no choice but to abide. Ang worry ko, baka dagsain ako ng mga humihingi ng abuloy.
I will not do this to my friends. This is torture and embarrassing. Sobrang mapapahiya sila kung konti lang ang abuloy nila. My accountant will set up a payment terminal at the entrance and would just issue you receipts plus VAT less withholding tax. Naka-excel, if you need a print-out of the list. But please treat with confidentiality.
Lying in a coffin is very conservative and traditional. Have you been to the Wax Museum? I want something like that. I don’t want to be in a coffin. I am scared of coffins. Sobrang morbid. I just want to pose in a corner, wearing a nice dress and a tiara, kunwari halo. But no hugging and beso-beso. Baka mabura make-up ko.
I am serious. I will also assign someone to spray my own perfume on me every few minutes or so. My god, ayaw kong mag-amoy patay.
At the wake, I saw two of my mom’s other maids. I gave them some money. My brother’s yaya, Unyang, I was told, is still alive, but blind and bed-ridden. I sent some money and I hope to visit her soon. Mahirap lang puntahan, malayo ang bahay nila. Magta-tricycle na naman ako at aakyat pa ng bundok at maglalakad pa ng konti. Hindi ko yata feel. Tumatanda na rin ako, dapain at dulasin na.
As a rule, always have some cash when visiting in Binangonan. Pambili ng mga tinda-tinda, to help the vendors. Dapat merong beinte, singkwenta and one hundred bills para dun sa mga forever nama-masko.
