LOLA

LOLA

I was never very close to my real grandparents.....I mean the parents of my parents...some of them died even before I could recognize them...my a-ma, I loved her, but I just didn't see her that often.

Lola Choleng is actually the cousin of my maternal grandmother, but she's the closest thing I have to a Lola. I remember a time when she lived with us, or at least, visited almost every day....But now we don't see her very often...her house is quite far from ours now, and she has become quite weak. But I get to talk to her over the phone, as she would call me when she doesn't feel well. But we all miss her terribly.

Last night, we had a family gathering and advance birthday party for my Mama Mila or Go-e. We had it in my A-ko and Auntie Bheng's palatial home. The food was excellent by the way...the linguini (by Uncle Henry), the salmon, the lengua, the lechon and even the misua was exquisite....then the Alamid Coffee, with that wonderful cake....I slept still imagining the food.

But the thing that stuck most to my mind was this....my 84 year old Lola Choleng came with Kuya Willie and family....and everybody who was greeting her were teasing her with lines like..."Ako, po, kilala niyo pa?" When it was my time to kiss her, I said..."Ah ako, siguradong hindi niyo makakalimutan." , and then Lola Choleng says ..."Ang mga mahal ko sa buhay!"...and that just blew me away again.

Senior citizens can say the harshest things, often times they don't mean it...sometimes they do...but when they become sweet and say the nicest things...they are always sincere...and hearing their words just give you the warmest feeling that spreads all over your body.

Bon Voyage to Mama Mila and Uncle Henry...we will miss you again, and please come back soon and thank you for everything.

Thanks A-ko and Auntie Bheng for the excellent food and everything.

Thank you to my cousins Ernest Luke Lim and Jane and Elle, Che and Ethan, Edleen...for having us again...and for being so wonderful about it.

Thank you to my parents, my Aunties, my Uncles, my cousins (Mahbel V Novion and Sam), all the other guests for sharing a lovely evening....and my wife, Dinah and my Mary Nicole for singing and being with me.

Thank you Lola Choleng...for still being you...for still being here...and for calling us..."Mga mahal ko sa buhay." Mahal ka rin namin.

God bless all of us!