THE FATHER IN THEM

BlogPatrol, the traffic blog counter of this site tells me that Yahoo and Google Search had been leading net surfers here with "Felix Cabading" as the tag. Three from Canada, ten from the USA had visited us already and more are yet to come.

To us all, what a great lost of a friend, a relative, a father and how ever we may consider him. For my prior post here: MY UNCLE FISCAL FELIX CABADING , I'm sorry for not writing that Uncle Felix died of massive heart attack.
I'm sorry for not pointing up that he is Benguet's Provincial Persecutor.
That he was once an aspiring priest at the Saint Francis Seminary.
I did not tell you how he loves his Kalanguya culture. The tribe he was very proud of and in any way he can, tried to foster.
My apology for not enumerating all his achievements in line with his profession.
The list goes on for the many things I should and must have written.

I can only write why I held him close with the memories I want to remember such as these:

My father got preoccupied with our health when my mom died. Six girls he takes in turn for medical check up at Notre Dame Hospital. We always see uncle Felix who also takes any of his children to the doctor. So with our old family dentist, My Dad and Uncle Felix are regular "stage fathers" at Dra. Cutiyog's clinic. Most of the time, after our appointments, we give Uncle Felix a lift because he doesn't have a car.

Sometimes, he surprises us and arrives at our door in Tublay with his wide grin. He and my Dad would stay outside our home talking seriously while my Dad massages his fighting roosters. I wish I knew what they were conversing about. Dark falls and Uncle Felix would sleep over and always uses my old room.

Christian is one of his son who graduated from PMA. Among Uncle's Felix' children, only him became close to us and my sisters. When he was sent to Mindanao for his first assignment, his father always speaks of his worries and fears for his son. Missing him makes it even worse.

When I was in Malta, my sister Sharon phoned me that Christian's troop was ambushed. Uncle Felix who was holding back his tears as he tells my Dad, he had dreamt of his son before the incident. He continued that during the encounter, Christian was spared by the dead bodies of his troops that covered him. He got unconscious from his wounds and the enemy left knowing everyone was killed.


The Military man Christian had become is my Uncle's pride but frails him as a father. He would always and always talk fondly of his son when ever he sees my Dad or my late Uncle Alex, his co-seminarian back in the old days. Even when his son Christian got married, he came to my dad and asked him to go with him at his son's wedding in Mindanao. "Naka embaeng ngay ni naikamangan Christian, andi numan e maipanlastog ko"(Makes me shy facing Christian's in laws, I have no wealth to brag), he once said.

That's I guess the father in him...in them, always thinking they are not giving enough to their kids when they had given their all. Like my Dad said, "Felix and I may not be good husbands but our children matter most. We are not perfect but we are trying".

MY UNCLE FISCAL FELIX CABADING

In loving memory....

Atty: Felix T. Cabading June14,1948 - May 13, 2008

As a little girl, I thought his name was Fiscal. People call him that and I did too. Which, my Dad often corrects me, "Its Uncle Felix...!". But, I grew up calling him, "Uncle Cabading", and still was corrected to say, "Uncle Felix".

It was his beautiful eyes with the shade of brown so light or hazel sometimes, aside from his mestizo looks, made me want to be related to him. Its what we are NOT that we want to become, I convince myself on this part hahaha...

Wednesday morning, I received a text message from my sister that Uncle Fiscal is gone. May 13, 2008, he was called by the Greater Fiscal above. He was 60 years old.

I want to knock myself off for not writing this piece while he was still around to read it. He deserves to be "written". Not because he is my Dad's cousin from my grandmother's side of Buguias Benguet but for being a fair, honest, humble good hearted public servant. The ideal traits of a lawyer - a judge, that this world needed in more amount.

"Sig-ato bangat e Fiscal a agbinmak-baknang"(HE IS THE ONLY FISCAL WHO DID NOT GET RICH), my father often tells us and with that I often doubt if he is really a lawyer. Back when I was in college, our cousins from Trading Post in La Trinidad had to "pass the hat" to collect money for his medications. He had a heart surgery back then.

One thing I remember most was when my Dad came home after his visit from the hospital. He said, "Ay apo numan si Felix, maasyanak ngay. Naalambrian ima napugsat a tsinelas tu. Enak intunggalan adi."(How I pity Felix. His slippers(flip-flops) were tied with wires. I went to buy him a new pair). Then my Dad said he feels embarrassed for my Uncle Fiscal when great lawyers and politicians see him with those old and "wired" 'tsinelas'.

Maybe he is the only Fiscal who doesn't have a car. My Dad often ends up to be his driver and also our many other cousins with their vegetable hauling vehicles. From trucks, to elf and jeeps. Uncle Fiscal too, believes its cheaper to have friends than to own a car - just like my father in law.

My sister's husband was swindled with a car-napping scam and God knows, in clear conscience, he is absolutely innocent. Her Aunt who's helping him had already paid almost half a million for this case. She went to Uncle Felix and told him, instead of paying those corrupt "public servants", why don't he get the money and help fix the mess himself. " 'Padrino' system will surely help", she added. Then my uncle said, "Natken taku met ngamin aramid sa. Pasensya."(That's is not what we are used to. I'm sorry.) and gave her legal advices instead.

I hurt for my Dad. losing a cousin who is more than a brother is heart wrecking. For the passed two months, Uncle Felix had been tagging along with my Dad every Saturday and goes everywhere my Daddy goes. He texts or calls him saying, "Dagasen yu ak a"(come and fetch me). Now we know, it was his way of saying his farewell.

So much more to tell but it all leads to a person who died a poor man who is wealthy of wisdom and good principles. Still, he leaves my father feeling small during my uncle's wake, "Piman si Felix, his house was not even double walled and its not painted."... And for all these, I am more than proud to be related to him.

__________________________________________________

Fiscal's body lays at their residence at Kesbing, La Trinidad Benguet. He will be finally laid to rest in his hometown, Kapangan Benguet on Wednesday, May 20, 2008

FLORICOLTURA DA NATASCIA

I thought of narrating this entry with Lukie blogging. I have to give it to him, posing for my clicks with out the usual bribe of Haribo or Mentos. Overstimulated(hehehe) by pollens, perhaps.

Here are some or our flower talks and shots. Its the time of the year for it's turn to flourish. If only I could upload all our flower pictures...it would be "tending" exaggeration(lol) so I forced my self not to.

The flu season gave us a full blow before summer will completely take over. I caught it first when we went to Lukie's Pediatrician for his Medical Certificate (a school requirement before he goes back after his Chicken "Pops"). I thought it was just an allergy (pollen "springs") because at the same day, we went to buy flowers from Natascia. We're all fine now, except for Dylan who's in medication for mild Bronchitis.

Less than ten minutes walk from our home, there's these greenhouses for vegetables and two(greenhouse) were set aside for flowers. Which during spring and summer, they open for business. Its a small flower farm with an aura of - the owner just wants to share her hobby.
I asked Natascia what's the name of her 'negozio'(business) and told her I'll blog about it. "Floricultura Da Natascia", she told me.


She's one SuperMom. Before heading home, it was kind of her to drop all the plants we bought. Then another sack of soil and more plants the next day with her sleek car, a Mercedes Benz, not fit for dirt hehehe.

Natascia amazed me when she lifted the 15 kilos sack of soil from her car and I told her to wait for me as I was coming out of the house. We both laughed when I told her, "mama mia, che forte"(how strong)! She was even sorry for bringing it late because she has to water the plants, go shop for their food and get the kids from school. HooWaa! She's got all the right to be late for me hehehe....


Next post would be our flowers at home. See you there!

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UP CAME THE SUN

It had been raining today after teasing us with a sunny and cool week end. Our weather is undecided if it wants to be spring or a "displaced autumn". It should have started to warm up last month but was gloomy and the rain falls most of the time.

My family can't wait for summer, so, we dragged the season last Sunday. It must be the sun, everyone was out like thieves taking advantage of the freedom from the verge of a long winter.

These are some of the reasons why we are all rooting for the warm and bright sun to finally make up it's mind and stay. And, we all did and had it last Sunday.


Barbecue which Lukie associates with "festa"(party). He will ask whose birthday it is every time the grill is smoking. He also adds, "are we having friends?"

Little Dylan gets the bone and he stays quiet savoring every grease hehehe...

Spring cleaning slows down blogging and these has to be painted before hanging the geraniums.

Our walks at the beach specially moon watching at night. Just don't mind the sand on the bed so rough even though every one took a bath before jumping in.

At least Dylan knew now that the 'sabia' (sand) is not edible. Unlike last year, you can hear him with that 'eeky' sound grinding it with his teeth.

More outdoor activities for the kids to help mamsy and papsy shake off those fats.

One of the best part... for Lukie(lol)... is the 'gelato' (ice cream). Strawberry ding-dang doo, chocolate and stracciatella, YUM- YUMmmm.

Dylan says he wants ice cream too as he cries with out tears and turns green like Incredible Hulk.

Lukie and his fading chicken "pops" doesn't want to share his "icy" saying, "Dylan is still a little boy, he doesn't know!"

You can't get enough of so many things to do this coming months. Then it just passes so fast and you'll never know, winter is here again.

IZMA

The first time I visited IZMA in her nook,the Firefly In July, I saw this impressive and awesome video she posted. She's our CPA blogger, by the way, and my sister Noeda's batch at San Jose High School along with Hannah and Jane.

I'm posting your video Izma, a reminder that life goes on... keep on blogging my dear...for Perere.