Looking at it’s structure made me wonder how much is the development cost and how long is the ROI (lol, the business-side).

Each gandola can accommodate up to six(6) passengers (minimum of 4). With two other guys (Sir Shirley and ?, can’t remember), we took the ride. The gandolas are air-conditioned and little you would feel the motion that you are going up in a circular manner.

Up the wheel you will the MOA structure, the nearby hotels and of course the classic Manila Bay. It amazed me to see the whole thing and I wished to stay up a little longer. It would be great to take long exposure photographs.

The ride took ten(10) minutes until it can complete a single round. Unfortunately, the Php150 ticket will only allow one round. I wish that management will change it to at least twice to make the experience even more worth it.

Dr. Elio advised me to undergo Cystoscopoy Retrograde Pyelography. At first,  I was thinking twice if we will still proceed with the procedure but I decided to continue it to completely diagnose what causes the dilation of my ureter. Since we went home last June 27 for the 40 days memorial of our Dad,  I asked my Mom to come with us in the city to accompany me during the procedure.

Five in the morning of Tuesday, June 30, preparation for the procedure begins. I ate as early as 5am because I was told to fast (again and again) for 8 hours before the procedure. 7am, my Mom and I are already in St. Luke’s Medical Center for admission; processed papers and finally I got a room. It’s just that it was a ward because there’s no available semi-private room.

Oh No! I can’t tolerate staying in the room (even my Mom) with 4 patients who have severe illness. One with cancer, the other undergone operation, the 2 others  I don’t know. It feels like I get more sick staying there. I don’t even want to lie on my bed, even my Mom. So I called the attention of my nurse to transfer is a private room. We really can’t take the environment any longer.

Simple conversation with Mommy. We laughed at little things – our observations, experiences, anything! I really miss being with her. Maybe if I’m not hospitalized, I wouldn’t have time like this with my Mom.

11am, my nurse have to give me dextrose so I have to change my clothes with patient robe. The pain started when the first needle was inserted in my left hand and it was bulging so they have to remove it and do it again with my right (ouch!)

12nn, the Operating Room staff came to take me to the OR. ‘T was My first time to ride a stretcher and I felt nervous ‘coz this is also my first operation ( at least I am conscious ). My Mom with a prayerful heart walked with the staff to bring me their and she was told that they will just bring me back to the room after the procedure.

Inside the OR, I saw a lot of medical equipments for monitoring patients condition. Nurses, doctors, come to talk to me one after the other to brief me on the procedure that will be done. After about an hour, liquid for sedation was injected and few minutes after I was brought to the main room; I fell asleep; lost my consciousness and the procedure was done. Then, I woke up the staff told me, we’re bringing you the the recovery room.

With half of my body numb (since Regional anesthesia, spinal to be specific was used), waaah! I can’t move my hips and my legs and got back of being asleep as I force to do it. After four hours, finally I can feel my lower half and was able to move my legs so Iwas brought to my room (this time a private one ) with my Mom worrying why it took so long for me  to be backand Vin waiting. Our dear Ms. Aly and my Ate also came to see me.

It really feels different having our Mom around. She take cares of me so well from urinating, fixing my hair and my clothes, changing my undies, preparing my food, giving me my water, handing my phone and the tv remote control, plus all the advices and words of faith, everything! I just can’t imagine how could it be without my Mom in this critical procedure.

Afternoon the next day, I was discharged from the hospital together with my Mom still and this time with Sir Jorge. Thanks to Intellicare, our HMO service provider. It shoulders the more than Php70K bill. I only paid P2K plus for the excess in the room that I stayed.

Bonding with My Mom

I still need rest to recover so I spent one more day at home with my Mom.

She prepared our food (that I miss about her. She’s good in cooking).

She nagged at me when I opened my laptop (haha!).

She washed our clothes (after so long time, because I’m not used of asking her to wash them since I was in grade 1 and I really feel shy asking her to do it unless she volunters) *happy*.  For the first time, I felt being dependent to her (since we were taught of being independent kids).

We looked at old photographs, we recalled memories of our Dad, we shared stories of life. It was really fun and I felt so happy spending the day with my most loved Mother.

I remember the words I told her, “ngayon nga lang ako maglalambing sa’yo”. And it feels great having her to kiss before going out the door, hugging her when I arrive and embracing her good night.

Yes, I got sick and I don’t like it. But this moment, unfortunately I was sick is very precious and memorable to me. Special times spent with a dear Mom, the best one!

Natumba si Daddy. Uwi kayo.

About 2:38am, Ate Gina sent another text message.

“…please pray for Ptr. Pedro Casana…heart attack”

Ate Ruth woke me up. She called Angkay Tony to ask what happened. All he said,

“Kasay na…kasay na…(he’s gone, he’s gone)”

The silence of the dawn was broke. We were shocked. Ate Ruth cried so hard.  The only words that I uttered “Daddy, bakit ngayon pa?” After few minutes of shrill and cry of Ate, it was then that I have absorbed the message that our Dad is gone. Our beloved Daddy is gone.  That time tears fell from my eyes and I started saying,

Good thing I bought him his belt. At least I was able to keep my promise on his last birthday (April 29).

I haven’t even told him I’ve been promoted. He should even felt more proud of his child.

We haven’t even experienced to travel riding a plane or a ferry (either to Bohol or Boracay).

We haven’t celebrated his birthday yet in an “eat all you can” restaurant. As I’ve promised him before.

Our house is still under construction (few months more and it’s done). He should have experienced living in a house where he need not to worry even in the midst of a strong storm.

It made me remind of his words that he told me last New Year(2009), “Fulfilled na ako”. I remembered when we happily celebrated a bountiful New Year, happy and blessed. When he drunk the red wine that he wished; the grape fruit, the ham. He was so grateful that all he wished from us for Christmas and New Year were granted.

I could still feel his embrace when he arrived home when I felt bad about some words that my siblings jokingly said. His warm embrace, his love, his way of making me feel that he understands.

Our Daddy, our ever patient, honest, prayerful and hard working father who so faithful to the Lord up to the end. That even his last day on  Earth he did his best to preach to God’s people. He was able to declare to the world that he is prepared to die; that he have already imparted all his teachings to us, his children.

Our Daddy, our ever loving husband to our mother, a very supportive partner.

Our Daddy, a very generous Kuya to his siblings.

Our Daddy, our GREATEST Dad who is the BEST of all.

We are very grateful to God for giving you to us; for bringing us up and guiding us. For inheriting us the faith that God has gave you, thank you so much. With all these things, we all grew strong, high spirited children.

Daddy, Happy FATHER’s Day! ‘Though we can’t celebrate with you anymore. We love you so much!