Missed Reunions

Reality check is a bitter pill to swallow especially when you are looking forward to spending time with your loved ones.

Last Monday, just before my routine medical check-up, we had lunch with our niece, Mia Lopez-Cruz who came from Iloilo. Knowing that my daughter, Malou and granddaughter, Alex, who are now based in Singapore were coming home on a Thursday to celebrate Malou’s 50th birthday, we planned to have Mia’s dad, my cousin, Graciano “Gacing” Lopez come for that affair to meet the rest of the clan after such a long time.

Both my daughters, Malou and Mate’ stayed with the Lopezes in Iloilo while they were in school there and the last time I saw Gacing was when he came over for the funeral of one of our cousins more than five years ago. It was longer for my brothers, Bert and Oscar, and we were looking forward to reconnect again.

But as soon as I stepped into my doctor’s clinic, I was asked not to leave the hospital and was admitted for pneumonia. It was surprising, since I was not feeling ill except my daughters would sometimes comment I was short of breath.

One of the children even asked if I can be allowed to finish the party and then be admitted but my daughter, May, who is a doctor, insisted we have to follow doctor’s orders or risk more complications.

In the end, I had to miss the party and missed bonding with Gacing who really took pains to cross the sea to be with us. At 86, Gacing is the oldest living descendant of our grand-uncle, Graciano Lopez Jaena in Iloilo. Here in Bacolod however, that title belongs to our aunt, Independencia Lopez who will turn 100 this year.

I also learned that Gacing has turned over the Lopez Jaena Foundation responsibility to his youngest daughter, Mia. While here, as the most active senior among the clan, I passed on the torch to my niece, Tanya Lopez.

Another cousin, and Gacing’s sister, Nena Martelino also attended the party and plans of an upcoming reunion in Bacolod this May were discussed. The Iloilo clan will host the same by December and I hope I will not miss both reunions this time.

I did miss spending time with Malou and Alex. Although they visited me in the hospital in all three days they were here, it would have been different at home and with the other children and grandchildren around.

We were supposed to celebrate her birthday in Singapore initially but upon learning that they had a long weekend due to the Chinese New Year, Malou opted to come home instead, so that she can share her golden day with her siblings.

Her party became a joint celebration for February celebrants in our family including my brother Oscar, my sister-in-law Edith Espina, my nephew Dennis, my granddaughters, Alex, Erika and Misha and another daughter, Mary Anne and my late wife, Nene.

As soon as Malou left, my other daughter, Inday, also flew into town for a speaking engagement at La Salle. It was heartwarming to hear messages coming from well-wishers who saw Inday’s posting of my hospitalization. A daughter’s friend and former media practitioner, Avelyn Agudon Maranon sent her wishes for my fast recovery so we can start jamming again, a word that Inday had to translate for this old man.

When Inday left after a couple of days here, my two other daughters, Nenen and Mary Anne, flew in as well for a concert today at the University of St. La Salle. Nenen, based in Manila was recently so blessed to have been chosen as part of the closed-in party at the University of Sto. Tomas for Pope Francis. A soprano, Nenen will sing together with the USLS Chorale in two performances today, the same chorale she used to coach while she was then based here in Bacolod.

Mary Anne, our pianist, is presently on hiatus from her Phantom of the Opera family where she plays Piano I and the productions repetiteur. They just finished their Hong Kong run during the holidays and she will leave us again soon for Istanbul where they are set to perform till April.

Incidentally, they were also invited by Gov. Freddie Maranon to perform during the province’s celebration of the EDSA Revolution this Wednesday at the Provincial Capitol.

I initially felt sad that I had to miss all those occasions but looking back now and seeing my daughters while I was sick made me realize that perhaps, God planned it that way. It may not just be coincidence that they had various functions here. Perhaps it was meant that they come home at the time that their presence and affection was needed.

And just maybe, it was also designed, for me to see that I had to take it slow and relish life with my family.*

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