June 2008
Goodbye, Ate Lita
Filed Under Personal
I just got the news that my cousin, “Ate Lita”, passed away last night. Right now, I am not sure of the cause of the death though we know that she had thyroid problems. But my brother was informed that it could have been a cancer. Of what type, we still don’t know as of the moment. All we know right now is that she wasn’t admitted in FEU in Fairview because she needed isolation but the hospital don’t have vacant facility for that. Accompanied by Ate Mel and Arianne(her eldest) they then had to rush to PGH in Manila where she succummed to death.
At mid-40s, she’s the oldest of the grandchildren of our beloved Mamang. She’s a very good dentist and was working under the health bureau of the provincial government until lately. I can still remember my tooth being extracted by Ate Lita at a makeshift clinic at the back of my grandparent’s house. That’s when she’s just about to graduate. There were times that our Lolo had to tie us on the seat in order for Ate Lita to do her job. For a time, she practiced and maintained a clinic in Panggulayan until she went into government service. Even while in the health bureau, she still maintained a clinic in their house in Bansud where she settled together with her family. Even at faraway Bansud, we would travel there for any dental problems just as everybody does from Panggulayan. Heck, I even asked her if she can do the braces of my wife which she politely declined as she isn’t an orthodontic(needs further studies for this).
Her death came at a very challenging times at on a very unappropriate time. It came as a surprise to everybody. She had to quit her job to be with her three children who are all studying in Manila. That includes the youngest who needed to transfer to Manila to be with her other sisters. I said “unappropriate time” because her husband has just left the country for work in Saudi Arabia. A brother, who until lately tends for the two kids, left for Italy for a job. Their youngest sister left in June for London to work there also together with their brother who has been there for several years already. In Quezon City where they stayed, the family is staying just beside their sister whose husband is currently in the high seas as a chiefmate. Another brother-in-law left in May for overseas work. So you see, all the men in the family are out of the country. I could have helped them if I were in Manila as what I did before. But I’m also an OFW now.
Ate Lita sacrificed a lot for her family. When I last saw her, she’s not in good shape and a lot of people are advising her to seek medical help. However, she said that she’s not feeling anything unusual. That could be true but if you look at it, she may be shrugging aside whatever she feels. She has two kids in college and money is too hard to earn. At the same time, some cancer are undetectable until it kills you.
At this time, my brothers are rushing to Manila to aid my niece (Arianne) for the wake. They are there to help whatever they can. As for me, I can only offer prayers. Oh God, I can’t even send money they badly need to bring the body to Mindoro.
I beg you, please join me in praying for her soul.
