To My Other "First True Love" (and the first to break my heart)

I was only fourteen years old then, but I had it all planned already. You said you can peacefully go when you reach the age of 80. So I thought that you would still be around by the time I graduate from high school, and it would only be fitting for you to come up to the stage with me. You know you have always been my inspiration. And you're actually the reason why I studied so hard to earn all those medals. Your achievements were my motivation. I wanted to be just like you.

I once told you I wanted to have as much medals as you had.
You told me to study and work hard for them. And I did.
Thank you for the inspiration, Lolo. ♥

But everything changed on that Good Friday, fourteen years ago. I woke up to Mama's voice, crying inconsolably. I knew something happened. You left us to join our Creator. 13 April 2001. From then on, I hated Friday the 13ths. Because it was Friday the 13th when I first had my heart broken. And it remains to be the hardest to deal with. I guess it's true, "the first cut is the deepest."

Today, you would have been 92. I celebrated it by eating your favorite merienda, palitaw, and by repeatedly listening to your favorite song, Love Story.

Where do I begin

To tell the story

Of how great a love can be

The sweet love story

That is older than the sea

The simple truth about the love she brings to me

Where do I start

Lolo, I miss you. I still wish you are here.

Marami na pong nangyari sa nakalipas na 14 na taon. Ang magkakapatid na Porras (Rey, Rhea, Roy) ay may mga sarili na pong pamilya. May dalawa ka na pong apo sa tuhod, isa kay Rey (Rhence), at isa kay Rhea (Rhianne). Si Arnold po magpapakasal na rin sa susunod na taon. Mabait po ang mapapangasawa niya. Sigurado po akong magugustuhan niyo rin siya. Malapit na rin pong magtapos sa kolehiyo sina Key Rhose, Sally Mae, at Key Bhen. Alam ko pong kung nabubuhay pa kayo, ipagmamalaki niyo rin sila. :)

Naiyak po ako sa mensahe ni Reymhar kagabi. Sabi niya, mag-iingat daw po ako lagi rito kasi wala siya rito para bantayan ako. Mahal na mahal po ako ng mga pinsan ko, Lolo. Gaya ng pagmamahal ko sa kanila. Kaya wala po kayong dapat ipag-alala. Bilang "ate" nila, gagawin ko po ang lahat para maging mabuting ehemplo, at para matulungan sila sa lahat ng aspeto, sa abot ng aking makakaya.

Naalala ko po, madalas makwento ni Mama dati na nung pinanganak daw ako, sabi mo raw po magiging ligawin ako at paliligiran ng mga lalaki. Ang totoo, Lolo, mabibilang lang sa mga daliri sa isang kamay ang mga nanligaw sa akin. Ang marami lang po ay mga multo na hanggang paramdam lang ang kayang gawin. Pero totoo pong naging malapit ako sa mga lalaki. Ilan po sa pinakamalalapit kong kaibigan ay mga lalaki. Nakilala pa po ni Lola yung best friend ko mula elementary, si Ronald. Pero sa ngayon po, mga kaibigan pa lang ang meron ako. :)

Marami pa po akong gustong ikwento. Marami rin akong gustong itanong. Higit sa lahat, marami po akong gustong ipagpasalamat.

Salamat po sa inspirasyon at magandang halimbawa.

Salamat po sa lahat ng sakripisyo niyo, lalo na sa pagsagip sa buhay ni Papa.

Salamat po sa mga aral tungkol sa buhay at pag-ibig. Hinding-hindi ko po makakalimutan lahat ng payo niyo.

Salamat po sa pagtitiwala na kaya kong abutin ang mga pangarap ko, na kaya ko rin maging dakila.

Salamat po sa pagmamahal, pag-aalaga, at pag-trato sa akin bilang isang tunay na prinsesa.

Lagi ko pong pinagpapasalamat sa Panginoon na kahit kailan, hindi ako nagkulang sa pagmamahal ng isang ama.

Salamat po sa inyo ni Papa.

Mahal na mahal kita, Lolo.

Alam ko pong hanggang ngayon, patuloy niyo pa rin kaming ginagabayan.

#TheLeaderIWant: Benjamin Guisper Martinete ♥

Let me end this letter with the closing lines from your favorite song:

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now
But this much I can say
I know I'll need YOU 'till the stars all burn away
And YOU'LL be there

I love you, Lolo! You (and Papa) will always be my first true love. ♥

P.S.

Pakiyakap din po ako kay Lola. Mahal na mahal niyo talaga ako, ayaw niyong makalimutan ko kayo. :)

You will forever be remembered. ♥

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