I was having late lunch in a mall when Edmund called. I couldn’t understand what he was saying because it was noisy in the mall.
E—–“Tart, ang Tyo Bibit namatay na”.
A—–“HAAAAA?”
I felt sad. I’ve been wanting to visit him but I didn’t know he was sickly and in and out of the hospital lately. Last time I spoke to him on the phone he sounded fine and upbeat. I remembered he said “ang kalaban namin ng Tya Vilma mo ay edad”.
Tyo Bibit was one of my mom’s last remaining relatives na ka-contemporary nya.
When he was still working in Malacanang during the time of Pres. Marcos, once in a while he would show up at our house in Binangonan and would look for mama. He would stand outside our door and call out my mom “Insannnn insaaaan”. My mom would practically jump up and down whenever she sees him. She was so proud of him.
We have a future project in Binangonan. Maliit lang naman and with God’s blessing at kung matuloy, Tiyo Bibit would be our number one guest of honor. I am sure matutuwa iyon and he would be very proud of me and Edmund. Sayang hindi na umabot.
I wanted to go to his house tonight but Edmund said sino ang pupuntahan namin dun eh wala sya dun. Bukas daw simula ng burol. I am traveling tomorrow and will drop by his wake on my way to the airport.
Tyo Bibit, your cousin Felicing will jump up and down when she sees you in heaven.