Cunning Baboy

Dapat pala 22 ka na. You probably would have a boyfriend by now ( kung nakalusot kay nanay at sa amin ). At that age, you could have started your own career, which reminds me, we haven’t really asked what you wanted to be. There are tons of “ifs” in our minds. As reality bites, July 23 and October 20 are constant reminders of how you brought colors to our family. These dates never fails to allow us to reminisce with happy tears your days with us.   Vividly remembering your natal day, it was noon noong pinanganak ka. It was too hot, kaya naman buong hapon ka naming pinaypayan. I never went back to school that day. Everyone was excited of your presence. You were lolo’s only granddaughter ( dadalawa lang kasi kayo ni Riva ). I also remembered that incident in 1991 when a strong earthquake hit, at dadalawa lang tayo at home with manang and while we were panicking, you were laughing and enjoying the earth’s motion. Your scheming grin at the dining table when you thought of someth...

Its been 14 years since our sister Zipporah left us. It was painful, especially for my parents who longed for a daughter. She may be the toughest of us all, never wanting us to learn her aches and to her last breath kept her struggle to us all. She even turned our parents attention to something as she took her last air. Amidst the time, it seems like yesterday when we were still taking care of our only princess. I used to walk her in the beach-front. The pain seems so fresh especially at times like this.  Two nights ago, I dreamed of her (again). The scenario was like we were young, playing at our home. Then suddenly I felt her discomfort, she seems unhappy of a construction somewhere near us. I saw some hollow blocks and cement. As I opened my eyes, a tear instantly fell. I know, just like in the past, she wanted to send a message. That she must have missed me too, especially that I wasn't able to go home last All Souls Day. I immediately requested my mother to ask someone to vis...