Rough Groove

My aunt

One of the reasons that I went home here in Cebu was to visit my ailing aunt. She’s suffering a complicated case of cancer and is already at an advanced stage. Tonight, on the eve of my departure back to Manila, I visited her at Cebu Doctors Hospital and I told her that we will still be seeing each other once I get back. But then, motioning me to come close to her, she hugged me and whispered in my ear: “This will be our last time to see each other again.”

Prayers please, please, please

Janet’s birthday

My cousin Janet is celebrating her birthday today, 3 August. I just hope she’s spending the day with herself and her family instead of working at the hospital. Anyway, happy birthday Net :p

Still without my father’s proper death certificate

After more than a month after my father’s death in Mumbai, India, the death certificate has already arrived but one crucial information is missing: no cause of death. Without this piece of detail, claims and other important dox and benefits for us surviving family members will just be put on hold. And what adds salt to the wound is that we were told that because of the bureaucratic red tape in that country, we have to wait for another 6 months (hmmm, now its already 4 months) before that data will be available.

Kind of a let down really considering that my mother is hoping to settle all these once and for all and move on. But I guess, we’ll just have to wait for it. Once that piece of document arrives, another thing to contend will be the insurance claims.

Series 33: All About My Father

Capt. Jose A Cabigas II, 1949 - 2006. This is a tribute to my father who just recently passed away. 15 photos of his things that I have found at home and in his luggage that came a few days after his body was brought back to the country. Things that make me remember and what represents him. Shuffling through his belongings, reading his notebooks, I just can’t help it but be emotional. I admit, I’m not that close to my father. In fact, he’s been away for more than half of my life braving the seas to give us a better life.

I hope that with this 15 photos, I can present my father through my eyes. And thanx to Pedro Almodovar, I borrowed his Todo sobre mi madre (All About My Mother) title which is a very good film.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers out there!

A loss

Its really a terrible loss. Sometimes, thinking about it just would make me cry that I wanted to do other things, distract myself. While I was still in Makati to wait for the body, I watched X-Men and strolled at the spanking and newly opened SM Mall of Asia with my amour. I was burning to DVD some of my photos that are archived in CDs. Read books and magazines. These things also helped. But when calls and information came from time to time, I again feel so sad, so alone.

Outside, just now, its really raining very hard. Maybe the heavens are crying in sympathy?