From Mid-Year to Mid-Life

It's almost June and I haven't posted. That's not to say that not much has happened. In fact, so much has happened that I haven't really had the time to sit down and write.

But in these few minutes in front of the desktop, I've realized that, in the past few months, my days have not only come to be measured time-wise (mid-year) but have suddenly come to be measured life-wise (mid-life). Why?

In March, Kokoy graduated from Grade 7 at the Ateneo. The celebration began with the baccalaureate mass in early March, where Kokoy gave the introduction for their Thanksgiving Song:

On March 27, 2008, Kokoy marched proudly up the stage at the Graduation ceremonies held at the Ateneo High School, and received his St. Ignatius Award, Medal for 1st Place in Elocution, and Academic Excellence medals and certificates.

In March, my younger brother Paolo got married to his fiance of 5 years, Tin Rodriguez. It was a picturesque wedding in Tagaytay. Kokoy got to look dashing in black tie (as seen below with his Papa-lo, my father-in-law, Atty. Rolando de Castro). However, a tragedy of sorts befell us and me, my wife Rox and my mother-in-law were not able to attend the wedding - story below.

In mid-March, actually just before Holy Week, I fell sick. I caught a particularly bad cold or flu virus that really brought me down. I had fever, a sore throat, burning eyes, aching body and joints, clogged sinuses, cough and just about everything related to colds and flu. Probably because of that very weakened state, I don't know why but it seemed to have triggered my still-undiagnosed-then seizures. Early one morning, I woke up to go to the bathroom and before I knew it, I collapsed unconscious. But because I was trying to fight it, it must have been only an instant. Nevertheless, from a standing position, I found myself sitting on the floor. I also remember just before that split-second blackout that I tried to grab hold of the refrigerator beside me. Maybe that's how I sort of broke my fall. I was able to get back to bed however and told Rox about it in the morning.

Since I was already taking medicine for my colds and flu, we thought that as soon as I got better, everything would already be okay. On Black Saturday, we had to go up to Tagaytay for my brother's wedding. I made the trip although it was certainly tiring because of the very heavy traffic and the stressful last-minute concerns that arose from my brother's wedding. On Easter Sunday, ironically, the resurrection of the Lord, I together with my family and my in-laws went to hear mass at Lourdes church. And then it happened.

After the Gospel reading, I already told my wife that I thought that I should just sit down. I told her that it might be better if I go outside since I felt like the church was stuffy and suffocating. She said that it might be worse since we didn't know where the driver had gone with the car. In a few more seconds, I told her that I would just lean on her and lay my head on her shoulder because I was really about to pass out.

Next thing I knew, I was lying in the pew and my father-in-law was in front of me, trying to wake me up while Rox was beside me crying. My son, Kokoy was sitting at the other end, helpless and shocked. Apparently, it appeared that I had a seizure. I had lost consciousness and slumped forward onto the kneeler, my eyes rolled up and making weak moaning noises (I wasn't jerking or stiff or having spasms). But I was fully unconscious and could not be awakened until I myself woke up. Fortunately, because of the commotion, a doctor in the front pew saw what was happening and assisted my father-in-law and my wife. They laid me down on the seat, loosened my clothing and started massaging my extremeties to get my blood flowing. In a while, I had warmed up and the color had returned to my skin.

It wasn't over yet. They almost carried me out of the church to make sure that I didn't collapse again although I managed to walk already. Outside, the vehicle was already in the driveway. Inside, we found my mother-in-law sitting in pain. All that time, nobody knew that she had rushed out when I had my seizure, to call the driver. In her haste, she had slipped in the steps of the church, fell and fractured her arm. Fortunately, there also were doctors outside who had assisted her to get up and get into the vehicle.

And so we were both rushed to the emergency room of the Estrella Hospital in Tagaytay. I was given a quick examination while Mommy's arm was put in a cast. She was in so much pain. Because of that, Papa had to call my sister-in-law and brother-in-law for them to rush up to Tagaytay to help bring us back to Manila. On an Easter Sunday. With all the traffic. Because of what happened also, Rox and I had to leave Kokoy behind with Papa since they had parts to play in the wedding of my brother. By mid-afternoon, we had been fetched and, after sad good-byes to Kokoy and Papa, were on the way to Manila. I had no time to even really advise my brother anymore because they were themselves already engrossed with the wedding at 3:30 pm. By late afternoon, we arrived in Manila. Mommy was brought straight to another hospital for further treatment and check-up. I was brought to the house where I tried to rest. It was so disheartening and I felt so guilty.

In the next two weeks, I tried to regain strength and rest. I also underwent a number of tests, , i.e., MRI for seizure protocol, 24-hour heart monitor / holter, etc. At this point, it is still pretty undetermined but there is a stronger likelihood that I what I had experienced were seizures, more nervous-system related rather than cardiovascular-system related. By this time, at least Mommy has had her cast removed and it seems her arm has healed well. She still has to undergo therapy though to regain full motion and strength for that arm.

Then, in April, we learned that my sister, Camille, had passed the 2007 Bar Examinations. She was inducted last April 29 and so is now a lawyer. That only highlighted to me the fact that I had taken up law in the early 90s but had to stop because of work considerations. Then in the past years, it really has been quite impossible because of the financial constraints since I have been supporting my family (living accommodations and utilities for my parents, brother and sister) in addition to my own family. So looking at that recent development, it just makes me wonder if I'll ever get to realize some of my other aspirations as well.

And that is how "mid-year" changed, literally, in a few unconscious seconds, into "mid-life". Of course I'm trying to look at the positive side of things and that's one of the reasons why I want to continue working on this on-line record. I need to keep this for my wife, Rox, and my son, Kokoy.

While I'm posting this only this year (2013), I wrote this draft actually back in May 2008 (just to put things in perspective time-wise and life-wise hahaha)

2007 Round-Up

Well, its official!

It's finally 2008 and I think this is going to be a great year.

But first, here's a little rejoinder to the year that was: 2007.

Milestones:

1. Kokoy and his soccer team, RIFA Ateneo born 1993-94, bested teams from all over the Metro to represent the National Capital Region in this year's Palarong Pambansa at Koronadal, Cotabato. It was a hotly-contested series of matches between Southridge and Ateneo during the eliminations. Kokoy and his power team managed to beat Southridge, but just. In the Palaro itself, it was the teams from the Visayan region that, expectedly, won in their division. Nevertheless, Kokoy and his team put up a good fight. More importantly, all, including us parents, enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships made. Who can forget the daily pig-outs at Mang Goryo's?!
2. Kokoy (again!) finally succeeded in his battle against the 'bulge'! Over part of summer, after the Palaro, while in Cagayan de Oro, Kokoy shed off about 30 to 40 lbs! by dieting and burning all the excess with soccer and being hyper-active. Of course it helped that he had all the fun-filled activities with his soccer teammates and cousins at Duka Bay Resort and CDO as well.
   
3. Towards the latter part of the year (actually in December), I got a hefty salary adjustment and a promotion to boot. My hard work paid off!
4. Rox finally got a laptop (a birthday gift from me!) for her to be able to finish her masteral degree in Education. Whether she will actually get to use it, however, is the burning issue now as the laptop is 'eternally' with Kokoy because he needs it 'daw' for his IM, Multiplicity, Limewire, etc.
5. Kokoy won the grade level Elocution contest on the piece, "I am Proud I am a Filipino". Just watch this! (am working on uploading the video still)
6. On a personal note, I have a lot to thank God for, especially for spiritual blessings in our journey of life that helped us overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.
7. Kokoy ran for the presidency again of his class and for the first time since Grade Four, he lost. Having been a president for the last three years in grades 4, 5 and 6, it was a very painful loss, seeing as this was also his last year in the grade school. But what he may have lost in terms of formation by not being a class officer, I think he gained equally, if not much more, in terms of the life experiences, challenges and especially free-wheeling fun that he had again as a "regular", non-officer student. We saw Kokoy regain his old bibong-bibo, charismatic, ma-kuwento, humorous and open self. Ultimately, seeing him relaxed, becoming the much-loved guy in his class once again (free from having to play "teacher's eyes and ears" and disciplinarian to his classmates) and enjoying everyday of his last year in grade school is worth more than the "yearbook-friendly" achievement and "list-worthy" distinction of having been elected president of his class.
8. For me, also, Rox and I going to the Palarong Pambansa games with Kokoy this year was the best time we had in years as a family and, moreso, as a married couple. It was truly a second honeymoon! Getting to Koronadal, alone, was an adventure! After planing in to Gensan from Manila, we had to take a "shuttle" - really a medyo broken-down FX - to the Yellow Bus station. From there, we (obviously) took the Yellow bus to Koronadal. Then a short motorella ride to the hotel. It was a bit of a herculian task seeing as we had two 30+ kilo luggages, umbrellas, portable chairs, and even a palanggana! They told us that we'd be out in the boondocks, and there might be little or no amenities. Thankfully, it was not at all what we expected! The Hotel Romana where we were booked, was just along the main road in Koronadal and just opposite the big KC Mall, which, by mall standards, was not too bad! At least there was a well-stocked grocery together with Chowking and Jollibee, which was a big relief to the boys. The hotel was also near the "famous" Mang Goryo's, which Rox and I discovered and which became the instant hang-out of the parents. We'd begin our tiring but fun daily laundry routine in the bathroom after which we'd have the morning breakfast in the KC Mall. Then we'd serve as the pep squad, cheering for Kokoy and his team in the morning match, if there was one, then we'd have lunch again at KC Mall or at the Notre Dame University. Then in the afternoon, we'd provide the gatorade and moral support to the boys again and finally end the day with the sumptious chicken barbeque or grilled seafood and halo-halo at Mang Goryo's! Back at the Romana Hotel, we'd do the day's laundry and wash up after having ridden the motorelas the whole day, then plop into a small bed with the blankets shaped into swans! After the Palaro, we travelled cross-country ("sort of") from Cotabato to Cagayan de Oro. The road trip was also something to experience. It wasn't a typical "honeymoon" but the togetherness we celebrated just being by ourselves and the simple joys we experienced as a couple - focused on just the two of us - was priceless.
   
9. This year we were also able to have the roof of the house at Fort repainted. It was a bit early, as we would have wanted to have it done after 5 years. But the original paint of the roof apparently was not up to par so the roofing company had to re-paint the roof. Good thing was at least it was free and we got to have the roof repainted the color we wanted next which was chocolate brown. We were also able to have the gates repainted chocolate brown as well. So what remains is for the exterior of the house and, hopefully, that will be done in 2008.
10. Last, but definitely not the least, Kokoy "officially" turned into a teen this year. Maybe it was his turning 13, maybe it was his Palaro experience, maybe it was his shedding of baby fat, maybe it was coming into Grade 7. Whatever it was, Kokoy is definitely on the road to becoming a young adult and both Rox and I are excited to be on this journey with him.