Farewell Aunty Nene, until we meet again. By Zai

 

 When I was 7 or eight years old, my sister and I moved, studied and lived in Davao City with our Aunt Nene who was still single at the time. We stayed in the old house in Bolton which Lola Sayong built long time back in the 60's and where the Yap children grew up.

 This was in the early eighties. We went to school at Magallanes Elementary school. I was in the second grade and Ate Zaida was on the fourth. This was during a turbulent time in our family life. Mama and papa had some marital issues hence the two of us were sent to Davao to study. It was during these times when we were being told that we may have to choose between our parents, to whom will we go with if they separate. It was crazy times.

I remember going to school with no 'baon' or if we do get some baon it is not enough to buy something. I remember my teacher, Mrs Zarsoso. She was a great teacher. She was the first one who taught us to memorise a poem on the same day, which I still remembered when I went back to Tagum on the 3rd grade.  I remember cooking my first rice, which was a learning experience by itself, what with cooking the rice with no water. It was indeed a good learning experience that I learned to cook rice properly then. I also remember an incident where we were asked to buy icecream, and Ate Zaida and I were told to run back home quickly since the icecream will melt. And of course we followed such instructions and ran mad back home that Ate Zaida fell badly. That is a funny memory, but not so funny that time. I remember when Aunty Nene used to have a suitor and when they used to sit in the sala, and Ate Zaida and I would sneakingly eavesdrop on them. Oh what fun it seemed. It was during those times that I followed Ate Zaida around like her shadow.  

Then the year after, we went back to Tagum. Eventually mama and papa resolved their issues. But it took sometime and turning to the Lord helped them both.

But since then, Aunty Nene was such a part of our lives. We used to go to the old house in Bolton for every occasion there was in the family. It was our haven. Our home away from home. All of us kids lived with Aunty Nene at some point of our young lives, even when she eventually married and had a family of her own. She always welcomed us and we always felt at home.

She always said that she was our eldest. But most of all, she was our Aunt. She was like our second mother. She was very open and eager to be a friend. We will always be grateful for her welcoming heart. She was always eager to know what is happening with life. And though she suffered from the loss of one of her children, she tried as best as she can to move on.

Farewell Aunty Nene, it is difficult to understand how this could have happened when you seem well enough. Though you had some health issues, I thought it was something that is being managed.  We always thought that you will still be part of our lives for some time and that you will be our neighbour in Tagum as we grow older in our retirement years perhaps. 

 But, we really just dont know when the Lord God will call us back home. I pray that you are now happy with Abed. Until we meet again. We will miss you.