Patay Tayo D'yan

During lunch time, napag-usapan namin ng parents ko at isang tita ang impending doom ng lola ko. She have breast cancer and undergoing chemotherapy sa US. Sabi ko sa parents ko, "sakto, isa ito sa mga paborito kong topic habang humigop ng sabaw at ngumunguya."

so casually, we talked it over. nothing anyone here in the philippines can do anything about it, other than praying that is. and since my religion is mikology, death for me is as natural as birth, pagkain at pagtulog. hindi sensationalized, pero meron pa ring celebration tulad ng lamay at libing.

Don't get me wrong, I love my granny, she's really cool. just last year, nakipaglive-in sya ulit sa dati nyang boyfriend (she outlive her two previous husband, including my granpa). Now that she's dying, magpapacute daw sya sa min and would like to talk about funeral arrangements.

Kaso, mahal ang overseas call, kaya kami na lang daw ang magbrainstorm dito sa pinas, at i-email na lang namin ung mapag-uusapan.

Personally, hindi ko alam ang taste ng granny ko sa magiging lamay nya, at
kung malaman ko man, for sure, magkaiba kami non, mejo classical kasi sya and that's too old-fashioned for me. So, i just told my family what I want to happen when I die.

#1. Gusto ko, cremated ako sa lamay pa lang. Nakaka-concious yata ung pagtitinginan ka ng tao habang nasa kabaong. Baka mamya, mang-okray pa sila. I don't wanna hear "Tignan mo oh, lalo syang pumayat" or "Hindi yata marunong ung make-up artist" or such things, di ba. Another reason kung bakit cremated, takot kasi ako sa bulate.
Iniimagine ko pa lang na pinapapak ako ng maggots, nnggiii, nakakakilabot.

#2. Maintain proper decorum. Ayoko ng may nagyoyosi malapit sa kin, everybody knows i hate smokers near me. Ayoko din ng may pasugal. Lamay ko po ung pupuntahan nila, hindi casino. Nagreact naman si mama ko, "bakit pa maglalamay eh nasa garapon ka na naman". Sabi ko, "Duh, siempre kahit nasa garapon na ko, meron pa rin dapat despidida, a farewell party that they won't forget!"

#3. Guest must enjoy their visit. Mahilig akong maglaro at magmagic ng baraha kaya dapat readily available ang playing cards para walang dull moments. Sa huling gabi ng lamay, ipapalabas ung Goodbye Video ko. Korny na kasi ung death letters.

#4. Ayaw ko ng may papalahaw ng iyak (mom, this is for you). Takaw eksena kasi un, dapat ako ang bida. sabi naman ng mama ko, "Nye, pano kaya un kung gusto ko umiyak ng malakas." i said, "Ma, nakakahiya kaya yun. Baka isipin ng ibang tao, namatayan ka ng anak." sabi nya, "Toinks!"

That lunch took 1 and half hour to finish, but we all know we accomplished something =)