July 2,1991

Tuesday, 6:30AM. My dad lies on a reclined bamboo chair. He showed different tricks like he can actually move his body up and down using his arms. Nevertheless, he still cant stand. He was bedridden for like 2 months.

He told my mom "Go ahead, go to school. You need to teach. You have a job. Do not worry about me, I'm all good. See! (moved his upper part of the body using his arms)" he continued "Just be home early, ok!"

"Are you sure?" mom said worrily

"Pretty sure I am?" dad said with a smile on his face.

"Ok we will go then" mom said and left the house together with my two sister.

They go altogther in one school. Its a chinese school in Manila. My mom works there as an educator for like 10 years. My sisters are enrolled there as well. They were in high school.

After they left my dad told to my uncle and aunt, "Why don't you take your breakfast?" dad said with all smiles. "Go ahead, I am not going anywhere though" said with a giggle.

"Alright then" uncle said "Dont try to escape" uncle said jokingly

"You showed a huge improvement! Thank GOD!" aunt said with tears in her eyes.

So they took their breakfast as what my dad said to them.

All was left was me and him. I asked him "Does it hurt?"

"Of course" he said.

Then he told me "Why don't you go to sleep, seems to me you are tired"

After he said that, its like a magic thing that my eyes felt so heavy. So I did closed my eyes.

July 2,2007 7:00AM - Few seconds after I closed my eyes, I suddenly opened it up like someone just woke me up with urgency. I saw my dad lying on his reclined bamboo chair. He left us.

I tried reviving him using cpr. I did what I have been seeing on tv. Tried my best but to no avail. I called my uncle and aunt who had their first bite on their breakfast. They saw me trying to revive my dad. My uncle hold me and told me, "He left us"

"He leaved with nobody around" said with a frightening voice.

"He does not want to see us crying when he leaves." now with a teary eyes and voice.

"Your father is a joyful person!" uncle said

My mother was informed just as soon as she arrives from school. She rushed through the door and straight to my father. Of course she cried a lot. She cried like she lost half part of her life.

I witnessed how mom and dad loved each other. They showed us how a couple should have a relationship. Both should know how to sacrifice. Both should enjoy the fruits of their labor. Love is not being a slave to someone. Love is a lot of things. Respect, dignity, sacrifice, joy, understanding and everything else.

LOVE is a four letter word. But it can mean lots of things. Value the person you love. If you said "I love you" mean it. Embrace the meaning of it. Let it freely flow in your body. For this is the greatest gift we can give.

Our Lord Jesus Christ gave his love to us unconditionally. He never gave a meaning to his Love. He did what he wants to do. He did it for no reason but for LOVE.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son"