tatay

My grandfather, Nathael Mozar died July 23, 2001. I was on my 4th year high school back then. My grandfather had emphysema attack and it was a sudden death due the complications of being a diabetic.
I was living at my aunt's place at Marikina. My daddy arrived from the hospital to rest from a long night of pumping tatay's tube because there was no electricity at that time. A couple of hours later my auntie nelly arrived with a sad news that tatay already passed away. It was my first time hearing my daddy cried like a child. It's my first sad experience of losing someone I truly love.
A month or weeks before he died, I accompanied him to Recto to borrow money from a friend to pay for my brother's and sister's remaining balance for homeschool. For without it, our records won't be released and we can't go to school . He used his influence to send me to Marikina Tanong high school. I was a late enrollee back then.
Tatay is my ideal perfect gentleman. No wonder why my nanay loved him so much. My nanay used to say that tatay is a hard working guy. Providing the needs for his family. True enough, I can remember him going to us at Bukidnon despite the fact that they live in Mainit Surigao del Norte. When he visits us at Bukidnon, he cooks for us, he cleans our house, plants the trees, chop wood (we don't use gasul that time), he also would bring us to church.
He is fondly remembered when we visit them at Mainit. He prepares 'nilupak' (saging saba and calibre w/ coconut) for us.He prepares nilagang saging with ginamos. He also brings coconut from our mini farm (pacuyab). He is also a disciplinarian when he becomes guardia civil when he sleeps near the stairs to make sure we don't get away when he asks us to siesta.
I'm sure my Uncle Johnny, Auntie Elvira, Auntie Nelly and my Daddy have their share of stories and memories of Tatay. I'm sure my cousins have different experience with him too. And I hope this day, we reminisce and offer our prayers to him.
Tay, wherever you are. We miss you and we love you. Please guide us.ta