You must have been Papa's little girl, diba Ate Belle?
When my Mama Luz died in 1995, as we were praying for her, I noticed something during the dinner table. When the family ate, we left Mama Luz's place in the table for her. Plate and spoon and forks. I asked my dad why they did that and also my Mommy Wella as well as my Nanay Millie, ingoon sila kono that the spirit of the dead does not leave until the 7th day. After 7 days passed, they stopped leaving Mama Luz's plate and fork in the dinner table.
I never really understood the meaning of such practice, pero, I suppose there is a reason for it.
All I know is that all of Mama Luz's kids came back to her funeral.
I found out about her death when I was only 10 years old while I was in Canada with my sister and brother Don. My Nanays told me (the sister of my Mama Luz) after I came back from the park with my cousins. Immediately we went back to the 'states to go back to Philippines for burial.
I never saw my dad cry so much. When I got home my father picked me, my sister and brother Don2x with both of his arms. I never saw or heard my father cry so very hard. It was more obvious when we came back to Tagbilaran.
Luuy lang pood si Mama Luz kai she lost our Papa Titing when they were both young. Papa Ting died when he was only 45, and mama Luz lived on for another some 20 years as a widow. Can you imagine that my dad was only 21 y/o when his dad died? And my uncles and aunts were younger than he--when Papa Ting died.
Our house in Tagbilaran was always 'happy' and 'festive'. I can remember when I was a child growing up with my sister and my cousin Jing. I can always hear the laugh of Mama Luz, as she was the life of the house.
When she died, the house was so much 'quieter'. Papa Titing and Mama Luz are already gone.
I always like to think that they are looking and watching over their kids. And their apos; many of which they did not see in life.
But something, something deep down inside of me tells me that they know. It is unexplainable, this feeling I have, but something tells me it is true.
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