Buhay Tulad ng Isang Awit Lamang

By: Pureza Ramiro Pacis

 

Dear Tita Eza:

Nababasa ko ang mga sinasagot mong mga sulat na naggagaling sa Australia, Florida, Hawaii, Arkansas, Minnesota….. sa atin lamang, malayo o malapit man, ako ay natutuwa sa’yong mga payo dulot ng iyong malawak na karanasan sa premier social welfare agecy ng ating bansa. Dagdag pa, pa-kanta-kanta ka pa, at tila nag-rereview ka pa ng mga quotations sa literature, Bible, movies, history at sa current events. Kaya kami nakaka-relate…….

Makasulat nga rin. Malapit lang kami, sa Mundelein, Illinois. Gusto ko lang malaman kung ano ang masasasbi mo sa aming famlia. Sundalo si Daddy sa Philippine Army. Sabi ng aming mga kababayan, dati daw siyang tahimik, guapo at gentlemanly. Kaya lang sa mga bakbakan na nakapasubuan niya, naka-develop siya ng trauma sa pagpaslang na nasaksihan niya sa mga enkuwentro. Hindi niya ma-alis-alis sa isip niya ang kanyang namatay na kaibigan, lalo na ang mga namatay sa kanyang bisig. Upang malunod ang kanyang dalamhati, he took to drinking.

Tuwing hapon, umiinom siya. At parang litanya na kanyang kinekuwento ang kanyang kaibigan who died in combat. Kung minsan, umiiyak at umaapaw ang galit sa mga kaaway. Ang masama, pati kaming familia nadadamay – si Mommy, si Kuya, at ang dalawa kong Ate at ako. Kapag nakainom at galit na galit na, nagtatakbuhan at nagtatago na kaming lahat kung saan-saan, kahit sa kalaliman ng gabi. Sa masamang pagkakataon, nalunod si Dadddy habang tumatawid sa ilog; hindi na siya nakaligtas. Inulila niya kami – si mommy, at kaming magkakapatid: 7, 5, 4 and 3 years old; ako, bunso.

Pangdagdag sa pension galing sa gubyerno, nag- buy-andsell si Mommy ng kung anu-ano. Sa tulong ng Lolo namin,nakatapos kami ng pag-aaral, liban kay Kuya na naka-develop ng nervous breakdown. FAST FORWARD. Naiwan si Kuya sa atin, inaalagaan ng asawa niya. Si Ate, sa Canada, dala niya si Mommy.

Isang Ate ko, Sa Virginia, dito ako sa Chicago, naka-employ sa isang German Pharmaceutical Company.

Nakapag-asawa din ako ng nurse, kababayan ko. Nakatapos na rin ang dalawa naming dalagita. In fact, bagong kasal na ang isa sa kanila, sa Arizona na sila.

Akala namin nakaraos na kami, at makakapahinga kami ng kaunti. Noong 2016, namatay si Mommy sa Canada. Sana man lamang nadalaw ko ng mas madalas siya, kaya lang maraming trabaho. Sa sumunod na taon, namatay naman ang asawa ng Ate ko sa Virginia. Naiwan akong magbibigay ng abasto ng mas marami sa kapatid naming naiwan sa Manila. Kulang pa sana ang eded ko for retirement, pero nag-aalastra na ang aking mga tuhod, kinakailangan ko ang knee replacement. Ganun din ang aking kabiyak, natapilok din; na-surgery; early retirement din.

Eto na yata ang pinakamasaklap, Tita Eza. Natuklasan na ako ay may CA ako, Stage 2!, Bakit ba yaw akong bitawan ng mga problema, Tita Eza?

Gumagalang,

Pepito

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Dear Pepito,

Sa Forrest Gump movie, sabi ng title character played by Tom Hanks, “Life is like a box of chocolates’ you’ll never never know what you’re gonna get.” Tama, Pepito, many things really happen to many people; ang diferensya lang, kung paano tayo mag-rereact sa mga nangyayari sa atin. Tingnan mo na lang si Duckworth, naka- Senadora pa siya! Sa buhay, Pepito, we have to accept reality – like sickness, death, failure, and the like. Probably, one of the best prayers of all time is the Serenity Prayer of St. Francis: God, give us the SERENITY to change the things I cannot, the COURAGE to change the things I can, And the WISDOM to know the difference.”

Stop taking responsibility for things that went wrong. Accentuate the positive. It’s not what was lost but what was left. Count your blessings; your Mom, your grandpa, your wife, your children, and, of course your Dad. He died a hero. Bilang ganti, sinuportahan ng gubyerno kayo na mga naulila niya. Di ba sabi mo na sabi nila he was dati na suave and gentlemanly? Nasira siya sa digmaan, in the service of his country. Huwag mo kasing madalas dalawin ang nakaraan. Sabi nga nila, it’s another country that’s diffi cult to visit. Tapos na ang kahapon. Mahirap namang tapakan ang bukas, kaya we make use of today.

Ang Importante ngayon is Now. We are still alive. Think about the Coronavirus scare where the world is trying to save precious lives! When we wake up in the morning, we thank God for giving bonus time to spend with family and friends. Thank God for whatever state of health we are in. It could be worse. Meantime, let us have courage, let us nurture ourselves. Let us not get tired being kind to others. Exercise compassion. Cultivate openness to new things. Tend a garden. Join a choir. Gym (hinay-hinay lang). Cruise. Go Rivers. Play. Make up for things you might have missed in your youth and childhood. Dress up and be young again, as long as it is suitable for your age. And don’t lose your sense of humor. Laugh until your belly hurts. Don’t take life so seriously. You can’t get out of it alive. Ang buhay ay tulad ng isang awit lamang. Sing it!

Nagmamahal.,

Tita Eza

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To my dear readers, With heavy heart, I have requested our publisher for an indefinite leave from my column. After my cataract surgery last November, I had hoped my eyesight would somehow improve, but sad to say, the Advance Macular Degeneration of my eye has taken its toll. My left eye has aggravated my low vision, and my eye doctor has already suggested to use a handset magnifying glass.

For all its worth, Tita Eza would like to express my gratitude to Veronica and Joe, the staff, friends and readers who have been a part of the incredible journey with Via Times. Truly, I have been immensely enjoying what I love to do. Wishing of success for all! – TITA EZA

Editor’s Note: With equally heavy heart, we hate to know that we will be missing Tita Eza’s column after today. We wish her the best of luck and best of health for her future life’s journey. Together with her fond readers, Via Times will surely be missing Tita Eza.

WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE THAT VT IS NOW LOOKING FOR AN ADVICE COLUMNIST TO REPLACE “TITA EZA.”