IBA'T-IBANG KULAY NG JEBS: Ang Talambuhay ni LELS

Bidding my Grandfather Goodbye

February 15, 2014

A/N: I just had to post this so I could always remember the life my Lolo has lived. At ako rin kasi ang magbabasa mamaya kaya sa phone ko nalang babasahin kesa sa bond paper 

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When I was told to write a eulogy for our Grandfather who just passed away, I didn’t know what to feel. Sabi ko kila Mama, mas effective kung galing sa mga Tita or Tito ang write-up para mas damang-dama. Alam ko kasing mahirap, lalo na I never really spent a significant time with him to know him well. I was too young when Papang Isko and Mamang Tessie left for the US. And by the time they retired here in the Philippines, college na ako and was so busy that the only time to see them both was during the Holidays. Pero I realized, it would be harder for them to do this. Baka hindi pa nagsisimula ang eulogy, nagdu-dung-ao na silang lahat, o kaya baka hindi na naintindihan dahil iyak nang iyak, hehe.

That’s why I asked the help of my Aunts, Uncles and cousins in the US and asked them of their best memories of our beloved Grandpa. I can’t promise to make this light for everyone, but I want to paint a picture of him that will forever remain in our memories.

Francisco Guillermo Lagrimas, better known as Isko, Lakay Isko, Papang Isko, Apo Isking or simply Grampa to his apos in the US, was born on January 5, 1934 in San Clemente, Tarlac. Bata pa lang, halata nang pabling si Papang. Halata naman sa picture niya na ginamit sa tarpaulin, gwapong-gwapo diba? Kaya rin maganda ang lahi namin. 

Growing up, Lakay Isko never liked injections. He feared them. Which would explain why he didn’t want to have himself checked kahit nung marami na siyang nararamdamang kung anu-ano sa katawan. Sa San Clemente nagtapos ng Elementary si Papang tapos sa Camiling Colleges nag-high school bago sila lumipat sa Cubao kung saan niya tinuloy sa Roosevelt High School ang pag-aaral. And while talking to Mamang Tessie, ngayon ko lang nalaman na sa University of the East pala siya nag-take ng Secretarial Science. Isa pala siyang Red Warrior. Kung alam ko lang, we should have taken him to a UAAP Men’s basketball game for a bonding time.

Anyway, Apo Isking wasn’t able to finish college anymore. Kasi na-meet na niya si Mamang. At ayon na nga, nagsimula na silang magpalaki ng pamilya… nagkaroon ng sunud-sunod na anak… and take note… not 10 or 11 but 14. Nine girls and 4 boys and 1 that unfortunately died soon after being born. Kaya ngayon, mahigit dalawang dosena na ang mga apo nila. May dalawa na ring apo sa tuhod.

To those who do not know, my grandparents were never born with silver spoons in their mouths. Naalala kong kinukwento nila Mama na naranasan nila ‘yung isang kahig-isang tuka. ‘Yung magluluto ng isa o dalawang scrambled egg tapos paghahatian nilang labin-lima. That’s why I look up to them for bringing up such a huge family despite how hard life was during those years.

At dahil siguro doon kaya bilang Ama ng thirteen na anak, Papang Isko was a ruthless disciplinarian. He was referred to as ‘naunget nga lakay’ or 'grumpy old man' especially by his own children. In fact, hearing their stories about how he disciplined them made me feel grateful that I didn’t get to experience that. Kwento ni Tito Sammy, minsan na raw siyang ipinasok sa sako ng bigas, isinabit sa kisame tapos tutusukin siya ng karayom ni Papang kasi matigas daw ang ulo. Kinulong na rin niya si Tita Melda sa loob ng malaking drum tapos kakaskasin niya ‘yung gilid at sasabihing darating na raw ‘yung mga daga para kagatin si Tita. I just hope now that he’s gone, he won’t scratch anything near us.