Remembering Papa Rey
11/07/2012 07:50:00 PM
“I am happy because I am home. All I want is to be
surrounded by things that are beautiful because they are meaningful to me. They
bring me comfort. They keep me safe, they safeguard my memories. There, my old
chair. My warm blanket. Flowers in a vase. Mouthwatering delights wafting from
the kitchen. Sunlight pouring in through the window. Familiar faces, familiar
voices. Whether from the past or the present. I am home, I am happy.” (Sense &
Style, July 2008) I remember being asked to have this short article printed out
and put it in a frame. He usually has this kind of habit, cutting out articles,
pasting it onto sheets of paper, scanning related stuffs and printing out the
others. But it was lately when I finally realized why he liked this one and
what it truly meant.
Being home is
a lot more than the fancy things around us. It is much more than the food we
are able to eat whenever Mama Mila cooks her healthy treats. It is more than
everything physically visible. Home is family.
Papa Rey is
and has always been a family man. No doubt about that. And being that family
man does not only apply to his immediate family but as well as to us, his
extended family. All throughout his life, he remained a loving husband, a
caring father, a supportive grandfather, a friend to everyone.
“Kalinaw!” as
what he would always start his letters and some speeches. He remained firm in
his stand for peace and development for Mindanao. Yet with all of the
extra-curricular activities and organizations he is involved with, his family
remained his top priority. He always wanted to serve his fellowmen but when the
time came that the situation gets even more complicated, he chose to stick with
his family and figured out some other way of to serve the people. He has a
brilliant mind, good leadership and compassionate heart.
One time, he
appeared in Mama Mila’s dream and was asking her to sing “Unchained Melody”. “Oh my love, my darling. I’ve hungered for
your touch…” Though it was just a dream, I could see the imbued joy in her
face while she was telling us about it. As she was telling us every minute
detail of the beautiful dream, I cannot help but smile as well.
I can still
imagine how he is able to turn the crowd up and sing to his all-time jingles
such as the Buyayang-buyayang. Who
could ever forget the song which goes like this, “May balay sa bungtod akong gilulantaw. May balay sa bungtod ang atop
anahaw. Tanom kong ma'sitas, pagsidlak sa adlaw, namunga ug pinya tambal sa
kamengaw. (Mengaw, mengaw, mengaw 2x)” It was one of his famous jingles
that made everyone laugh and sing along. All those good times takes a special
part in the heart of every person he was able to sing and jive with.
Rey Magno
Teves, Mr. Pideral, Elvis Presley of Davao, Sir, Manong, Tatay, Papa Rey –
various names but all represents the same exact person.
Three years has
swiftly passed by yet I still have a very clear picture in my mind of how he
was back then. It’s like he never even left. And every once in a while, we talk
about the times he was with us or even how he would react about the recent
social issues, then we would have a good smile. Some moments we shed little
tears but it never lasts long. We smile all the more.
Three years
today and still nothing has changed. He may not be present physically but his
memories remained with us and his love always in our hearts. Remembering him is
not a pain in our hearts. Yes, we miss him. We miss him every day and more than
we could express. But whenever we take a trip along nostalgia river, we find
ourselves smiling. We smile because we know that he has lived a fulfilling
life. He could have done more but still, he has done well enough. We smile
because we know he is happy he is finally home.
WE LOVE YOU, PA!
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