Pagbabalik ♥

What would you do if you're left alone in the office with this song playing in the background?

Sa gitna ng dilim

Ako ay nakatanaw

Ng ilaw na kay panglaw

Halos 'di ko makita

Tulungan mo ako

Ituro ang daan

Sapagkat ako'y sabik

Sa aking pinagmulan

Bayan ko, nahan ka

Ako ngayo'y nag-iisa

Nais kong magbalik

Sa iyo, bayan ko

Patawarin mo ako

Kung ako'y nagkamali

Sa landas na aking

Tinahak

Sa pagsibol ng araw

Hanggang dapit-hapon

Malamig na hangin

Ang aking kayakap

Huwag sanang hadlangan

Ang aking nilalandas

Sapagkat ako'y sabik

Sa aking sinilangan

Cry.

Not because you're alone. Not because of the song. But because you miss your father. Because you remember that every time he hears this song, he cries. Why? Long story. But I'll try to make it short and sweet.

Papa left Negros Oriental in 1979 to escape his painful past and to start a new life in Manila. Years passed. He married Mama, they had me, my two other brothers who are already in heaven, and Arnold. Thirty years after, I got a job and promised that I would bring Papa home.

Papa's first flight. Going home after 30 long years.

Truly, God's timing is perfect. Never too late. Just in time. Always.

October 30, 2009.

From Dumaguete, we traveled for around 8 hours to Bayawan where Lolo Banoy and Lola Santa resides. It was a long journey but it was all worth it. Seeing my paternal grandparents for the first time, seeing Papa fulfilled and happy, seeing all our other relatives was such a great privilege.

And as what Papa's siblings told us, Lolo and Lola were just waiting for us, for Papa to come home and be reconciled with the whole family.

Lola Santa died peacefully on the day that we're about to go back to Manila. Papa and Mama decided to stay until she was laid to rest. Two years after, Lolo Banoy joined her in heaven.

Now as I listen to Noel Cabangon's version of Asin's original song, I cry and smile at the same time, thanking the Lord for giving my father (and our family) the opportunity to come back home before it's too late. He still cries when he hears that song, but no longer because of sadness, but because of the joy that his homecoming has brought especially to Lolo Banoy and Lola Santa.

When our family made that big decision last year, the thing that we (my brother and I) assured Papa is our constant communication, and that we would always come home as often as we can, especially during Christmas and New Year. His greatest fear was to be away from us for a long time, and we totally understand why, having known what he had gone through since he left his hometown more than thirty years ago.

Kaya kahit pa sabihin ng iba na ginagawa ko lang Quiapo ang Iloilo, I don't mind. I am just being a daughter to my parents. I am just keeping my promise. :) Kung pwede nga lang na buwan-buwan nakakauwi ako e. For Papa. For Mama. For our family. ♥

Okay. Tama na iyak. Get back to work now. :D

Hay. Noel Cabangon kasi e. Hehe. Salamat sa iyong musika. Nakakakilig. :)

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