THE WORD By Clemente Soriano

It was another day in the Philippines and its getting hotter and hotter.  I’m sitting by the table waiting for everyone to wake up when my grandmother sit down beside me. She tells me” You will be the only one that I know who will watch over your older sister and younger brother because I know someday I will not be able to watch over you guys. I want you to start being responsible in every decision you will make.” After listening to what my grandmother told me I ask myself am I old enough to that if I am just twelve years of age and how can I do that if we still have our parents and relatives can watch over us. Those words got stuck in my head and I will never ever forget that day because a week after my grandmother was rushed in the hospital during my grandfather and grandmother vacation back to their province. Before I received this message it was early in the morning I am not really feeling good, I feel like something bad is going on but I still went to school and attend my classes. During our lunch break my phone is vibrating and its very unusual because I never received any call during school hours, I answered my phone and I received a very disturbing news about my grandmother while listening to my aunt over the phone my tears fall from my eyes and my friends just stared at me and get shocked because they hardly see me cry like that and they asked me what happened and if I’m alright.

It is a very tough time for me and my family because nobody is expecting this to happen. My father called me just to say that he is flying back to Philippines and I need to pick him up to the airport so he can see what my grandmother’s situation is. As were waiting for my father’s arrival we cannot do anything because my father said don’t do anything and wait for me so we can plan everything but my grandmother’s life is in danger because the long time she wait there is possibility that she might die because all her blood are already in her head and her brain is getting affected. During our tough time I can’t concentrate in school so I decided not to go to school for a week and my school is starting to call my house but my other aunt explains everything to our dean and our school director so I can be excused for a week and give me a special work so I can catch up to whatever I miss and for my attendance I have to stay at least one hour for a week to make up those hours that I missed. When my father arrives the first thing that I do is to let him know what the update about my grandmother is. I feel bad to my father because that is the only time that I saw my father crying and cannot that my grandmother is on the hospital. After picking up father from the airport we went straight and headed to the hospital where grandmother is staying, we have to travel for more than twelve hours just to see her because she was at the place where they used to live. While we are parking the car, my big sister started crying and she told us,” I do not want to see Lola [1]because just hearing she is in the hospital is already breaking my heart apart now I’m going to see her is much worst.” When Lolo[2] notice that we are in the parking lot he goes down pick us up and bring us to the room where Lola is.      

Before we step inside the room there is something held me back that I don’t feel like to see Lola, my tears fall into my face without doing anything and during that time my heart is beating fast and I can feel the numbest throughout my body due of the crying inside the room and sadness because to what happen.  Since that day I give importance to everyone that is important for me and I realized that life is too short and we should cherish it. Remembering all the words that my Lola told me is the best gift that I will always remember and no one else can take that away from me even when I get older and have my own grandchildren. Lola’s word is the most inspiring word that I ever heard and I want to share that to my future family.

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[1] Lola-means grandmother in the Philippines

[2] Lolo-means grandfather in the Philippines