See you later, Gramps.

At 1:39 this morning, while I was blogging about Adam Saaks, my grandmother lost her husband. My mother, aunts and uncle lost their father; me and my brothers and our cousin lost our grandfather. To the most cruel disease ever: CANCER.

See, my grandfather is funny like that!

It wasn't until 6.30-6.45 in the morning, I think, when my mom went in my room crying and told me the news. I was in shock that I suddenly pulled the blanket off me and got up to hug my mom immediately. My mom left for work minutes after and I just laid in bed still in shock. I didn't realize I fell asleep again. When I woke up two hours later, I went to my brothers' room to get my charger and I saw my younger brother crying. That's when it started to really hit me. We both just cried.

New Year 2004, I think.

We, my brothers and I, weren't really that close to our grandfather because when we were growing up, he was living in the United States with my grandmother. We talk mostly on the phone and whenever they came here for a vacation, that was the only time we saw each other. I remember he was always talking to us in English back then and he wouldn't take a Tagalog answer or statement as our response. Watching wrestling episodes before and seeing Hulk Hogan reminds us of him because of his white beard and white hair. My grandfather was my younger brother's one and only ally in our family when it comes to defending Kobe. They both are hardcore Lakers fan. And oh, he is a major cockfight and casino fan too (Aren't most elderly men like that? Haha.)! He has tons of chicken at the roof top of his house in the province.

May 2008

We love the way he jokes around even if his own children sometimes think it's inappropriate and childish. I remember that one afternoon, when I went downstairs, he was only wearing his underwear! I was mortified but I was laughing because he told me his pants got wet as he got home and he had to immediately wash it. And I said, "Lolo, sana kumuha ka po muna ng shorts sa taas bago ka po naghubad dyan!" His daughter, my aunt, saw him and was surprised as well. I will also miss the way he teases-slash-compliments me by saying, "Wow, ang ganda naman ng apo ko!" or "Aba, Koreanang-Koreana ah!" Not that I have self-esteem issues but I love the way he says it. It's funny! He even teaches us funny, sarcastic remarks and responses as jokes to people. My brothers love imitating his funny Bisaya expressions and they were imitating it in front of him.

Another one of the memories we will never forget about him is when he never failed to ask us if we already have a special someone. Since we hit puberty, it became his favorite question to ask us. Too bad, we won't be able to answer him upfront when the time comes that we can answer him "Yes Lolo."

December 2009

These were few of the last gazillion photos we had during one of my favorite moments. I remember you asking me if it was my BF whom I was talking to on the phone on our way to the airport. I said no. But I didn't tell you I was heartbroken at that time. 

We'll see you later, Gramps. You can now rest for you are in God's paradise. We'll continue praying for you. We will miss you!