I came from a family of superstars: Superduper Totoy Beebo (The Ultraelectromagnetic Final Installment, Part 4 of 4)

I think I will have to wait for almost 30 days more to see Totoy Beebo, the greatest brother in the world.

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I came from a family of superstars: Pop and his multiple lives (Part 3 of 4)

At this very moment, my pop is in the hospital, with all those tubes and machines. Probably he's been sedated again to be able to sleep.

By the grace of the Divine Providence, he'll be okay in a few days and everything will go back to normal.

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I came from a family of superstars: My Mama is a Super Momma (Part 2 of 4)

Name: Lucila Panela
Nickname: Lucy/Baby/Mama Bebe (to her pamangkins)
Hobbies/Interests: Insurance, Black clothes, Tagalog movies, food, Facebook, YM, Gumala
Favorite food: Cadbury chocolates and gulay from her gulay garden
Quotable quote: "Kung pagagalitan ka lang din, lubus-lubusin mo na!" (On convincing my friend to stay with us since she sneaked away from her house)


Whenever I tell people stories about my mom, usually about her internet-ing adventures, either people laugh or they'd say, "Nakakainggit naman mama mo." And those reactions are actually a pat on my back.

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I came from a family of superstars: Potpot the little beauty queen (part 1 of 4)

Potpot at 3.5 years old after the church thanksgiving

I remember about two years ago, in one of our exercises in Psychology class, we were asked to draw a family. When I showed it to my teacher, he said, "You're still the baby girl, aren't you?" And I just smiled.

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Just another bad day

Last Friday was just another bad day.

I woke up at around 4 am, waiting for my mom’s call to get up and get ready for the prayer meeting. But when she called, I knew exactly we would not be able to attend the prayer meeting.

I got a towel to cover my self and ran toward the nearest neighbor who owns a car. In my mind, I was praying that nothing will happen between my run until we finally reach the hospital. I was yelling at the doorstep of my neighbor, asking for help, pleading that they move a little bit faster so we can bring my pop to the nearest hospital.

Mom carried pop to the vehicle and off they went to the hospital. I changed my clothes, got my phones, a scarf, a wallet, our keys, and rode the bicycle to the village’s gate and hailed a jeepney. By the time I got to the hospital, the same procedure was being done—suctioning fluids from my father’s lungs, injecting dextrose and setting up the life ventilating system (respirator) and getting the oxygen tank ready.

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We're making it through

By now, my brother is probably doing his last minute preparations and research on his new job. Finally. My father is busy supervising some wood working jobs left in our house, and of course, reading messages on Dateinasia.com. My mother is trying her best to make up for what we have lost (financially) and is also opening her mind to other options (career-wise). My future sister-in-law, well, she's busy with her work.

And I must say, my family is lucky, the Divine Providence listens to our prayers. And I'm so happy, the Universe didn't fail me, just like what Cathy said.

I have faith in the Great Power in Heaven and in the capacity of the Universe to make everything fall into their rightful places.

:-)

P.S. I hope this is not just all about luck. Afterall, after we weather every storm, we always come back, ten times stronger, and greater.

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Family is Love

Indeed.

When you've got a father who fights for his life seven times (or perhaps, many times over),

a mother who braves every storm that comes into her life,

a brother who tries his best to provide everything he could for the rest of the family (and more, for others)

a (future) sister-in-law who never fails to save the day...

what more can you wish for?

This is my family.

And this is the meaning of love.

Even at your loneliest moment, you know, somewhere in this world, somebody loves you.

And whatever life brings, you know, with a family like mine, WE can get through. Tweet