ME BABUJI ~ JANVIER DAILY

What an eerie resemblance, the more I stare and peel my eyes off this Pinoy basketballer-actor, the more I see my father. When Dad was of the same age as Janvier Daily, I swear to Hari Krishna, Jallah, and Dje-ovah that what I'm beholding is my sweet be-Jesus Taytay. The chinito eyes, medium-pointed nose, high-cheek bones, full and rounded lips, and most especially the large pointed-top ears, are notably alike to my dear Papa.

As some of you well may know that exactly a month ago today, when Dad suddenly passed away. He was visiting the Philippines when he succumbed to his traitorous heart ailment. He was pronounced DOA on private Manila hospital.

In a way I wasn't at all sad for his passing because I remember the last conversation we had. When I last visited him he looked so lonely staring by the window. And out of the blue, told me that he wont be around much longer. I'm quite not sure what my reply was. But I somehow sense that what he's saying would come true much sooner than later. I think I just calmly listened to him the way I listened to his father, my Lolo, who foresaw his own end, which I distinctly remembered when I was 15.

But what really makes me sad was the fact that we were not on his side when he died. A day before Christmas, according to my cousins, when he felt uneasy and collapsed. Most probably he had cardiac arrest. It was all sudden and no final goodbyes and last words or wills were uttered.

For some unfortunate circumstances, I wasn't able to give my father the final respect that he deserved. Only my mom, four sisters, and brother-in-law were able to flew back home to laid him to rest. My baby sister was so scared to view my dad's wake for she said that every time she do, something peculiar was happening. Like whenever she'd come closer to his wake, lights or air conditioner are going off. Or some things would violently fall aside. I could only interpret these that my Dad was probably trying to say something. I should know better because he visited me in my dreams.

I wasn't at all afraid. I felt his presence as if telling me something. I was looking for some things, I'm not really sure what, but something important. And while I'm dreaming this, I somehow felt clammy and cold. Then I felt some wheezing air through my ears. I also felt dizzy during this semi-conscious state. And my body felt so heavy and stiff, I could not move. I knew all along that I was practically talking with him.

I'm consoling myself now to what could be his final words, especially to me. And I remember he was telling me when he was still alive: "Stop gambling, and take good care of P--- N-----, my apokong". He's referring to his grandchild, my boy, my 14 yrs old son whom he adores.

The day before he died, I was actually posting an entry on my blogs elsewhere about his resemblance to Janvier Daily, and I'm shuddering now to think that I was actually communing with my Father. I even found a video about a coke can that greets Merry Christmas when pulled by a string. And for some strange reasons I re-titled it to Merry X-mas POP! Hardly ever did I know that my Tatay by just a day would be no more.

My Dad outlived all the members of his family clan. He was 75 years old.

RIP Dad...Me Babuji!