Ka-Blog!

Pabbabalo-balo

My father was born into a hard life.  But Papa’s life was unqualifiedly succesful by the time it ended.  What a beautiful life my father had.

Neyana y yama mi ta ziga.  Ta oras na patay na, mapia ngana y paddian na anna familia na.  Anni nga kasta na pattolay na yama.

After a long and hard ailment my father enjoyed a peaceful death with his family by his side.  What a beautiful death my father had.

Nabayag anna maziga y pinattaki ni Papa.  Ngem natay yayya ta immammo nga egga y familia na ta biko na.  Anni nga kasta nga pappakannammu na.

My father’s wake was heartwarming.  His friends and family came.  Our neighbors did not abandon us.  What a beautiful way all of you are saying goodbye to Papa.

Y tarag na yama mi ay alappau ta futu mi.  Arian na kami pinanawan na familia anna kokofun na, kunne gapa ta karruba mi.  Kekasta na pappakannammu nu ngamin ta yama mi.

What a beautiful life my father had.  Anni nga kasta na pattolay na yama.

What a beautiful death my father had.  Anni nga kasta y pappakannammu na.

What a beautiful way all of you are saying goodbye to Papa.  Kekasta na pappakannammu nu ngamin ta yama mi.

We are burying Papa today.  Itanam tam sangau si Papa.

This early, sangawe paga lamang, ta nagan ni Mama, Jing, Karen, Pom anni ni Chloe Jillian…

MABBALO, THANK YOU, SALAMAT, MABBALO!

= = = = = =

Message of Thanks of the Family

Necrological Services for Novelieto F. Villanueva

(September 19, 1939 – February 8, 2007)

February 13, 2007

Auitan,

San Pablo

Isabela

ODE TO THE MAN WHO JUST DIED

How do I describe the man who just died?

His family were by his side

When he breathed his last

His widow wailed and his orphans cried

His relatives prayed and his friends grieved

His young grandchild was outside playing all the while

His neighbors streamed in

Through the kitchen door they came

The womenfolk swept the yard

And found where the pots and pans were kept

The neighborhood barber gave him a bath

A shave and clipped his nose hairs

The menfolk gathered bamboo poles and put up tents

The man who lived at the edge of the barrio

Donated firewood to boil coffee and cook food

The village chief gave a sack full of rice

His young grandchild was outside playing all the while

Phones rang and his relatives said

“Wait for us please.  We’ll be there soon to see Nobling”

For six days and nights the house filled

Mourners spilled out into the streets

Both the boisterous and the infirm

Came to pay their last respects

To the man who just died

Many strangers arrived to offer prayers

They have heard of the man who served them well

The village’s gay person adorned his coffin with flowers

While the drunkard remained sober.

Outside his young grandchild kept playing

It seemed the entire town came

When we buried the man who died

The church singer sang his favorite tune

While his younger brother gave him a salute

His young grandchild kept looking around

Wondering why everyone was crying

And when will his grandfather wake up

From his long sleep

                                --

Quezon City /

23 February 2007 / 4:21 pm

WHEN DEATH CAME

The awaited daughter has arrived

The family was starting its day

The dying’s burial concerns have been communicated

A good time for death to come

And it did

Death like a visitor

Came on a sunny morning

Unexpected yet expected

Swift yet slow

Painful yet sweet

Dreaded yet prayed for

One wishes to have done something more

But knows nothing more can be done

One wishes not to cry so much

But still does

One wishes it is not happening

But knows in his heart and mind it is

             --Quezon City / 23 February 2007 / 3:40 pm

TO JING

I only see you cry when angry

But your tears today were of love

Your eyes welling with tears

and your chest heaving with grief

you wielded syringes, tubes and pumps

you read blood pressures and timed drips

you drew phlegm out and massaged limp limbs

like a virtuoso

How you must anger death by now

How many times have you snatched Papa from it

as we did nothing but cry, watch and pray?

But there is some joy in my tears

As I watched my sister, the nurse

the tearful virtuoso

frustrating death

                    --San Pablo, Isabela / 8 February 2007 / 4:28 a.m.

LIKE A FRIEND

We struggle for death

not to be so quick

and painful

Death is not an enemy

It can sometimes be a friend

We want death to come

when it’s calm

when loves have been assured

when gratitudes have been declared

when goodbyes have been said

when it’s most needed

and prayed for

Like a friend

                       --San Pablo, Isabela

                         8 February 2007

                         3:50 a.m.