When my mother passed away on September 19th last year after celebrating her 100th birthday on January 13th , 2005 , my brothers and sisters and I were all devastated. My two nun sisters took very good care of her since her 96th birthday until her last moments. They were able to get dispensation from the congregation to be with my mother in Mangaldan alternately . Sister Andrea ( whom I still call Atchi Fina) , used her full knowledge in taking care of an elderly parent and used her cooking expertise , not only to create delicious food but also nutritious ones . She never left my mother's side, except for few occasions when she was needed at the convent in Baguio where she was supposed to be assigned. My older sister, Sister Severina ( whom I call Atchi Imelda ) would go home to Mangaldan very often from St. Joseph's College in Quezon City where she was assigned , to be with my mother . Nanay's death left a big void in their lives as well as ours. So many years ago when my two sisters were about to enter the convent ( one year apart ), my mother was beside herself with sadness thinking that she would not see them anymore . With aching heart , she reluctantly gave her consent . It was her deep religious beliefs that gave her the strength during those years that she did not see them . During her moments of loneliness for them , she was able to write and to compose poems and songs dedicated to them.. But ironically , they were the ones who were with her during her twilight years , up to her last breath ... Letting them enter the convent was a decision she never regretted ... 
My brother Andrew , my sister Lourdes and I decided to give them a break so we invited them to take a trip to North America and where ever they wished to go ...They would love to travel but they would have to get permission from the congregation and they had to take care of some few things . One place though that they would love to see was Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Lourdes , France .
It was early May when I received a fax from Sister Severina . It outlined the schedule of my two sisters in their trip ... First stop was Vancouver ! ! ! Hooray ! ! It was great news ! When they arrived on June 18th , my small family ( consisting of my spouse Remo , my daughter Charmagne and husband Allen and my son, Jeremy , Nora and husband Franz and their son Gabriel ) were thrilled to welcome them . A tour of Vancouver was the first schedule of the week after two days of rest. They met Mona and husband Pepe Tan , Atchi Tess C. Marier and some of my friends in my Parish of St. Anthony in West Vancouver , Baby Navarro Topham , Gemma and Lani Hebron and Nurieh .Then off we went to 
Kamloops to join our friends , Gertrude and George Sherlock .
We had three wonderful days with them. We were able to meet the Bishop of Kamloops , The Most Rev. David Monroe who gave us a tour of the Cathedral and the Parochial School . After a few days back in Vancouver , we ( my two sisters and brother Frank ) took the Greyhound bus to Sacramento to join my sister Lourdes and her husband Marc Sampaga. A day after our arrival , a family friend , Josie Pasaoa Calubaquib and her husband Jerome invited us all to their beautiful home in Tracy , California , to welcome my two nun sisters . Josie's older sisters , Dora P. Pio Roda ( from LA ) and Marivic P. Schuette ( from Hawaii ) were present . Food prepared by Jerome and Josie were sumptuous and delicious . Dora cooked her special Mangaldan version of the dinuguan ( bagisen ). We were almost lost on our way back home but with our stomach full , we did not mind an unscheduled " tour" of the surrounding areas . 
A family reunion with the Davids , De Veras and Aquinos was planned for July 4th ( US Independence Day ) , which is also the birthday of Boy ( Victorio Jr ) Aquino Salvatin , Atchi Lourdes' son. My brother Andrew's family all arrived two days after we arrived in Sacramento. "Man sanitsit so kawali nen Atchi Lourdes." We enjoyed so much the Filipino food " ala Mangaldan -style cooking "
. Kuya Marc was catering to everybody's needs ." "Nakad man , nakad dia so ginawa da." I wondered if he had any sleep at all . He was the last one to sleep at night and the first one who woke up in the morning to brew really good coffee . We did not mind the full house . As they say , the more the merrier...
July 4th came and we flocked to the new home of Boy , Eleanor and daughter Melissa , in Elk Grove , in the late afternoon. The Aquino siblings were all present except Kuya Pec ( who resides now in Mangaldan ) who could not make it . Bobby David , wife Mayette and their two children Eden and Christian arrived . Bobby is the grandson of my mother's eldest brother , Emigdio David , a Colonel in the Philippine Army , 
who was a war hero during the second world war . He was killed by the Japanese "kempetai" when he refused to collaborate with them ... It was the first time we met him and it was incredibly wonderful to meet a "long-lost " relative . Then came Bobby De Vera and his wife Pines . Bobby used to live in Mangaldan with his parents , Uncle Philip and Auntie Jean , sisters Leonie and Irene till they moved to Manila and finally to Daly City where Bobby and Pines now reside . Bobby's family lived, once upon a time , in Shanghai , China , where Laki Cornel De Vera , Bobby's Lolo or Laki and my Bai Todi's ( my mother's Ina ) brother , immigrated and raised his family .They all returned to Mangaldan when the Japanese invaded Shanghai .. What a story ! ! ! It seems more like a movie but it was reality ! ! With all these colorful past and movie-like scenarios of our forefathers being recalled and remembered , we could have talked all night long ...Some few relatives and guests ( within the area ) joined the celebration . 
My brother Andrew's family ; wife Inge , children Imelda,Yolanda, Andrea , Andre and Eric all live in Texas so we seldom see them 
specially his daughter Imelda ( Aquino Kerr ), her husband , and their two children . We finally met them all , Imelda and husband Robert , Kayla and Jessica . It was such a wonderful moment ! ! And of course , my sister Lourdes' children were all present , Arlene and husband Wilson , Boy and wife Eleanor, Dada and children , Peter and wife Joanne and children and Patrick and daughter Lorissa. The evening was capped with colorful display of fireworks prepared by Boy , Peter , Patrick and Wilson . It was truly almost an "enchanted evening" to remember .
A few days later , my two sisters and Kuya Frank joined Kuya Andrew and his wife back to Kingsville , Texas . They had a grand tour of Texas . After two weeks , they were back in Sacramento until their departure for France where they spent a week in Lourdes at the Grotto . They were back again in Sacramento after their trip from France . After a week's rest , they went to Los Angeles where they were entertained by Serafin and Rebecca Serafica and some Mangaldanians . Our dear Atchi Pinay De Vera was on hand to welcome them , inspite of the fact that she was still mourning the recent loss of her son , Steve .
September 19th was my mother's first death anniversary and my two sisters stayed with my niece Arlene Salvatin Catubig and her husband Wilson in Fremont . They remembered her with a holy mass and a simple breakfast with Arlene's family . That evening , they left for the Philippines by PAL . Sister Severina is back at Saint Joseph's College as the Dean of the College of Commerce and Sister Andrea will be flying to Bangkok where she will be assigned at the congregation's formation house . It was a great holiday for them not only because of the beautiful places they have visited but most of all because of the reconnection they made with families and friends who entertained them to the fullest and made sure they had a fantastic time which I am sure they did .
And for me , it was great to be away from the pressures of work and be with loved ones . I thank my sister Lourdes and Kuya Marc for being such gracious and generous hosts as usual . Thanks to all her children ( Salvatins)and their families . There was always the feeling of being welcomed with the atmosphere of being in Mangaldan again , as our home sweet home ...
. It was a simple family celebration . 
The Sarzaba-Torio clan , Lordwyn , Kristel T. Sajor , Claire T. Alejandria , Karla T. Sajor , Lita , Caloy , Julius , Carlo ( Joe Boy ) carrying daughter Keona , Jess ( Claire's husband ) Rachel ( Joe Boy's wife ) ,Christine T. Sajor and Clint ( Jan -Jan ) , at the table laden with yummy delicacies ...
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