skip to main |
skip to sidebar
March 2015
Brenda says goodbye to Josh at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Anak 'wag matakot ha! may pag-asa, mahal na mahal ka ni mommy, tatawagan kita palagi ha… sasagutin mo ang cellphone mo ha, sige na, bye na pasok na ako. Alagaan mo si Josh ha, Franz, Brenda said, her voice cracking as she hugged her son one last time.
I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady.
Huwag kang mag-alala. Kaya namin ‘to. Mag-ingat ka doon. Tawag ka palagi.
Josh looked up at his mother with wide eyes.
Mommy, kailan ka uuwi?
Brenda knelt down and hugged him tightly, tears falling freely.
Si Tito Franz mo ang magpapaliwanag 'sayo ha. Mahal na mahal kita. Promise, babalik ako.
After she disappeared into the departure gate, I felt the full weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. Instead of going straight home, I took Josh to the cemetery. We stood quietly in front of Myra’s grave. The stone was simple, with her name and dates engraved. I placed flowers on it while Josh held my hand.
Tita Myra, I whispered, salamat sa lahat ng panahon na binigay mo sa amin. Mahal na mahal kita.
Josh looked up at me.
Tito Franz, Ano po ba ang ikinamatay ni Ninang Myra?
I knelt down beside him.
Namatay siya sa panganganak Josh
Eh 'yung baby namatay din ba Tito?
Oo
Nakaka sad naman Tito, 'di bale ako naman baby mo 'di ba?
(Napangiti) Oo naman
Tito nung pinanganak ba ako, nandun ka sa ospital?
Yup! (Kumindat)
Leaving the rows of headstones behind, we made our way toward the exit. That’s when Josh turned to me, breaking my train of thought, and asked..
Tito Franz, matatagalan ba si mommy?
13 to 21 months ang contract n'ya doon
'diba matagal 'yon?
Hindi naman, tsaka kasama ka naman ni Tito dito 'di ba? Ako ang mag-aalaga sa'yo 'di ba?
Thank You Tito Franz, kasi natatakot ako, baka… baka makalimutan na ako ni mommy
Josh, 'wag kang matakot, tatawag agad mommy mo 'pag dating ng airplane sa Qatar, tsaka may yahoo chat naman 'di ba?
Baka makahanap na siya doon ng kapalit ni Papa Rich?
Josh, mahal na mahal ka ng mommy Brenda mo, kaya siya nag-abroad para sa iyo, para sa pag-aaral mo, sa kinabukasan mo
Sabi mo ikaw ang mag-aalaga sa akin, may pera ka naman 'diba? Sana ikaw na lang ang magpa-aral sa akin para hindi na nag-abroad si mommy
Josh, bata ka pa, kung ikukuwento ko sa'yo ang lahat-lahat, baka hindi mo maintindihan, ganito na lang, kain na lang muna tayo sa Jollibee bago tayo umuwi
The sun was setting as we left the cemetery. The weight of fatherhood felt even heavier now. That night, as I rode the Love Bus with Josh sleeping on my lap, staring out at the passing lights, a quiet thought came to me… → story continues in Chapter 2 Live on July 8!
Love is not only about holding someone close. Sometimes it is about carrying their memory, their child, and their hopes when they can no longer be here. Myra taught me how to love deeply. Rich taught me what it means to stay. Brenda taught me patience and courage. And now, with Josh beside me, I am learning what it truly means to be a father. The road ahead is long and uncertain, but I will walk it. For Josh. For Brenda. For the family we are trying to build. The Love Bus keeps moving forward — and so must I.
Updated July 5, 2026 from original post date October 1, 2011.
Previous
