My Gramp's an actor

By George, I thought he was Clint Eastwood!

Okay, lemme tell you a few things about this old hag who really looked like that Hollywood film director (and actor) of The Bridges of Madison County, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino. I call him Lolo.

First off, he's my Mom's Tatay. Second off, he's such a badass grandpa that most of my recollections of him are his sentence enhancers (I mean, the swears) and endless capers.

Lolo Tirez and my grandma had an arranged marriage when they were teens! Wow. He went through the Japanese occupation alive though he didn't get to finish his studies because of the economic and social turmoil. But mind you, Lolo has always been the man who finds ways. Such tactic he has! You know those characters in films who need only sniff the air to know when a storm's coming? He's like that! Really street-smart.

Recently, I've just watched Trouble with the Curve starring, of course, Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams. It's a movie about relationship (Trivia: Most of Clint's films are!). Father-daughter, to be exact. Sometimes, kids don't understand why their parents did what they did until they're mature enough. Gramp and Grandma bore 8 kids and the rest is history. I don't know everything but when I tried to put the bits and pieces together, I reckoned that as the years passed, Lolo and Lola eventually grew apart.

Last summer, when I saw him, he has changed a lot physically. He got thinner and looked pale and sick. But his spirit was still the same! My old hag can still swear "God demmit!" :')

He confided that he wants to go home but he and Grandma are still on LQ mode (gosh) although I still believe they love each other. Dad and I insisted to walk him to his house but, of course, he's proud and stubborn. But we're more stubborn! Before we left his abode, the last words I told him were "Lo, tama na yang inom ah." Then I hugged him, never knowing that'd be the last time I'd see him alive.

This December 23, we received the sad news of his passing. We can't believe it. How can we? It's so, so unexpected. And it's almost Christmas Eve! Somehow I feel like Lolo had just waited for December 21 to be over so he can say "I survived the 'end of the world' you bastards!"

He swears a lot, yes. He is stubborn, yes. But he's also a survivor. He has natural humor. His smirk resembles that of Clint Eastwood. And he's my one and only badass Lolo!

I heard Mom telling her siblings over the phone, "Bring him home." It rips my heart to hear her cry and it's more painful to finally realize that there'd be no more Lolo Tirez to visit, to speak and joke with, to eat star apple with, to cheer for as he climbs a coconut tree to get me some dessert, to sing with during reunions, and to embrace before going back to Manila. :'(

I know he is with God now. But his restless and playful soul will definitely storm the peaceful place above with laughter! May God bless his soul.

Lo, no swearing in Heaven, okay?


*I do not own the photo used in this blog. No intention of copyright infringement.