Paeng to lolay, Daddy to Bessie, Beth, Boods, Rainier, Baby Helen, Papay to his grandchildren.
A lot has been said about how great a person Papay was. Allow me to veer away from that & instead honor his seven-year fight against cancer.
Papay fought hard, adhering to everything modern medicine can offer. He was relentless to find the cure & courageous to go through all possibilities. He prayed in silence for strength & faith to overcome the tumor that was eating up his body & his spirit. When it became clear to him that he was losing out, he accepted defeat. Papay’s death certificate read “multi-organ failure” as primary cause of death. At the last hours, only Papay’s lungs & heart served him well, slowly leading him to his very last breath.
We, ordinary mortals dread cancer. It can be synonymous to a death sentence. While the root cause of malignant tumor remains puzzling, practitioners say genetic predisposition is a factor at 25% & 75% is lifestyle. We are what we eat. We are what we decide to do to our body.
Our hurried life gives us little time to take those early morning walks. Food comes in quick & easy microwaveable packages or canned goods whose preservatives are a dietician's nightmare. The old wives’ tale of eating fresh fruits & vegetables are challenged by seemingly perfect varieties laced with chemical sprays. We only trust bottled water to quench our thirst. The whole landscape has changed. The very sources of our conveniences can be the same sources that will slow us down with cancer.
Our family is also drawn to these conveniences. Fast-foods are always handy. Processed meats in pop-up cans are regular staples in the breakfast table. Hot chocolates & coffee come in sachets complete with cream & sugar. The batador for the tsokolate i sipped during cold mornings in lipa has long out-lived its purpose.
Papay’s fight with cancer made us reflect on how our lifestyle has become a source of destruction to our bodies. “The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”, as the scripture says. Our bodies have to be healthy so we can serve our purpose on earth yet we forget basic tenets in exchange for instant gratification. We pray on our knees every night for good health yet we, inspite of the free will which is distinctly human & God-given, are carried away by choices which threaten the cells that fuel a healthy body.
Papay’s fight & ultimate death will not be in vain. Our family has decided to have healthy choices- balanced diet, physical activity, meditation & detachment from worldly goods. The next time we get the craving to drive-thru for our favorite burger & fries or pop-up our favorite Spam or feel sluggish to put on our walking shoes at dawn, we will do otherwise. It is a choice that will give honor to Papay's fight against cancer.
Papay, thank you for raising Boods well & for your love. Rest & find peace in the company of the angels. In your usual accepting demeanor, I can only hear you say “ O, Higue”.
We will miss you & we love you……
Boods, Mayet & Mattel
A lot has been said about how great a person Papay was. Allow me to veer away from that & instead honor his seven-year fight against cancer.
Papay fought hard, adhering to everything modern medicine can offer. He was relentless to find the cure & courageous to go through all possibilities. He prayed in silence for strength & faith to overcome the tumor that was eating up his body & his spirit. When it became clear to him that he was losing out, he accepted defeat. Papay’s death certificate read “multi-organ failure” as primary cause of death. At the last hours, only Papay’s lungs & heart served him well, slowly leading him to his very last breath.
We, ordinary mortals dread cancer. It can be synonymous to a death sentence. While the root cause of malignant tumor remains puzzling, practitioners say genetic predisposition is a factor at 25% & 75% is lifestyle. We are what we eat. We are what we decide to do to our body.
Our hurried life gives us little time to take those early morning walks. Food comes in quick & easy microwaveable packages or canned goods whose preservatives are a dietician's nightmare. The old wives’ tale of eating fresh fruits & vegetables are challenged by seemingly perfect varieties laced with chemical sprays. We only trust bottled water to quench our thirst. The whole landscape has changed. The very sources of our conveniences can be the same sources that will slow us down with cancer.
Our family is also drawn to these conveniences. Fast-foods are always handy. Processed meats in pop-up cans are regular staples in the breakfast table. Hot chocolates & coffee come in sachets complete with cream & sugar. The batador for the tsokolate i sipped during cold mornings in lipa has long out-lived its purpose.
Papay’s fight with cancer made us reflect on how our lifestyle has become a source of destruction to our bodies. “The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”, as the scripture says. Our bodies have to be healthy so we can serve our purpose on earth yet we forget basic tenets in exchange for instant gratification. We pray on our knees every night for good health yet we, inspite of the free will which is distinctly human & God-given, are carried away by choices which threaten the cells that fuel a healthy body.
Papay’s fight & ultimate death will not be in vain. Our family has decided to have healthy choices- balanced diet, physical activity, meditation & detachment from worldly goods. The next time we get the craving to drive-thru for our favorite burger & fries or pop-up our favorite Spam or feel sluggish to put on our walking shoes at dawn, we will do otherwise. It is a choice that will give honor to Papay's fight against cancer.
Papay, thank you for raising Boods well & for your love. Rest & find peace in the company of the angels. In your usual accepting demeanor, I can only hear you say “ O, Higue”.
We will miss you & we love you……
Boods, Mayet & Mattel
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