Rest in peace...

It's been a while since my last entry. I really missed blogging. I couldn't post a new entry not only because I was pretty busy as I'm back to work after a three-week leave, but also because I wanted my sister to see/read the last entry since it's about and for her. I'm not sure if she's read it, though, since she hasn't given me any feedback or reaction yet. Oh well, that's okay.

A lot of things have happened since I last posted an entry. On the same day my sister celebrated her birthday, Bok's grandfather passed away. I got to go to Minalin, Pampanga (Bok's hometown) twice to sympathize with the family. The first time, I went with Mommy Minda (my aunt). The second time, I went with Erik and Lachi and we spent the night there so we'd be there for the funeral. It was a new experience for me and a different one, too. It was my first time to actually witness a burial up-close because usually in Muslim burials, only men are allowed to go to the very place where the deceased would be laid to rest. And also, in the Islamic way, there is no coffin; the body is just wrapped in very clean, white cloth. It was also my first time to actually go to a wake like that. I didn't know that different places or provinces here in the Philippines had different customs and traditions for wakes. Aside from the Lumads, who I'm very sure have different burial rites, I thought there were just the Catholic way, the Islamic way, etc. for the other Filipinos.

In Pampanga, wakes are a bit noisy and lively. There are lots of card games and the like going on. It almost feels like you're not in mourning. I've been to some quieter wakes in the past so I was really surprised. We even played Bingo and it was a lot of fun! It was also my first time to actually play Bingo. Everything was really interesting and the whole family amazed me. It's an experience I will never forget. May Lolo Carmelino Catacutan rest in peace.

A few days ago, a very sad news came while I was walking around the campus with Bok and Mae. I received a text message telling me that one of my closest friends' mother succumbed to breast cancer that very afternoon. I was shocked beyond belief, but I couldn't cry. I was in denial for a while. It was easy for me to refuse to believe it because I wasn't with them back home. I was very close to my friend's mom. Ommie ("my mother" in Arabic), as we called her, was one of the kindest, nicest, most proper women I've ever encountered. I've spent countless nights at their place as an undergraduate. Theirs was the only house I was allowed to spend overnights in because my mom could call Ommie to confirm everything. I've taken countless lunches with them from 6th grade until I finally left for Manila. Ommie was always there to give us advice and lessons whenever we needed them. Ommie was my second mother. She treated us like her own, too.

A day after the news of her death came, sitting on my bed alone, the truth sank in and I cried for hours. All memories of Ommie came back, from the time I was in second grade when she'd teach us Islamic songs to the time I'd visit them when I came home for vacations and she'd ask me how things were. She was one in a million. She was very religious and conservative, but very well-educated and well-read. In the many years I've known her, I've never even seen her hair because she always had a veil on. She was strict, but she was also a lot of fun. I remember I always enjoyed listening to her talk, especially about Islam. Oh, how I loved her! I'm thankful that my memories of her are of the days when she was strong and healthy. She will always remain to be one of the strongest Meranao women I know. May she also rest in peace.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raaji'uun. (Surely we belong to God and surely we will return to Him.)


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On a happier note, today is my dad's birthday and also his and my mom's 30th wedding anniversary. :)

Happy birthday, Abi. Happy anniversary to you and Mom. I love you, guys, sooo much! Mwah! :)