Eulogy for my Ninong
My ninang approached me before the prayer service to ask me to say a few words. I frantically wrote a eulogy in a pew using sanTouch during the rosary, because I was the first to speak. It went like this :
My Last memory of ninong clouds all my other memories of him.
I could barely look at my Ninang Josie and Sheena. I could only imagine what the last few days have been for them.
Something wasn't right in the hospital when I visited him. I couldn't figure out what it was. Suddenly it was silent and only the beeping of the machines remained.
It was too quiet. My memories of Ninong Mario were anything but quiet.
When you arrived at a gathering you could tell exactly where he was.
His voice was strong. Some may call it loud but I think of it as strong. Many confused the power of his voice with anger.
Growing up many of our parents used Ninong Mario as a scare tactic. They told us to behave or else uncle mario was going to get us.
We all quickly learned that this was nonsense. Uncle mario was the sweetest thing. He would call us his gulz.
"Hey gulz. How are you?" I never found out where the R in girls went nor did I care to find out. We liked being his gulz.
I remember Ninong Mario always saying "where's my inaanak?" I'd show myself and he would ask me about school and if I was behaving. My answer was always something along the lines of "yes I'm bahving and school is fine"
He genuinely was interested in what I was doing and how I was doing, but what I loved about Ninong was that he supported me 100% in whatever I did.
I told him I was a studio art major. Most people immediately ask me "what are you going to do with that ?"
That I should just become a nurse instead. No offense but the medical field is just not for me. People told me I was wasting my time and money.
Not Ninong. He asked me what kind of art I liked and that I should work for Disney doing animation.
I laughed and said I wish. He firmly said "No! I'm serious. You can do whatever you want. You're my inaanak!"
This is why I love ninong Mario.
Thank you for your love and support. I'll miss you ninong.
Feb 22. 7:34 pm
I was shaking the whole time. It made reading difficult, but not as difficult as trying to keep it together every time I looked at my ninang and Sheena sitting in the front row, bawling.
Rest in peace, Ninong.
My Last memory of ninong clouds all my other memories of him.
I could barely look at my Ninang Josie and Sheena. I could only imagine what the last few days have been for them.
Something wasn't right in the hospital when I visited him. I couldn't figure out what it was. Suddenly it was silent and only the beeping of the machines remained.
It was too quiet. My memories of Ninong Mario were anything but quiet.
When you arrived at a gathering you could tell exactly where he was.
His voice was strong. Some may call it loud but I think of it as strong. Many confused the power of his voice with anger.
Growing up many of our parents used Ninong Mario as a scare tactic. They told us to behave or else uncle mario was going to get us.
We all quickly learned that this was nonsense. Uncle mario was the sweetest thing. He would call us his gulz.
"Hey gulz. How are you?" I never found out where the R in girls went nor did I care to find out. We liked being his gulz.
I remember Ninong Mario always saying "where's my inaanak?" I'd show myself and he would ask me about school and if I was behaving. My answer was always something along the lines of "yes I'm bahving and school is fine"
He genuinely was interested in what I was doing and how I was doing, but what I loved about Ninong was that he supported me 100% in whatever I did.
I told him I was a studio art major. Most people immediately ask me "what are you going to do with that ?"
That I should just become a nurse instead. No offense but the medical field is just not for me. People told me I was wasting my time and money.
Not Ninong. He asked me what kind of art I liked and that I should work for Disney doing animation.
I laughed and said I wish. He firmly said "No! I'm serious. You can do whatever you want. You're my inaanak!"
This is why I love ninong Mario.
Thank you for your love and support. I'll miss you ninong.
Feb 22. 7:34 pm
I was shaking the whole time. It made reading difficult, but not as difficult as trying to keep it together every time I looked at my ninang and Sheena sitting in the front row, bawling.
Rest in peace, Ninong.