Ramon Waslik

ABOUT HIM

He knew a little Tagalog. One time when he was riding a ship on his way to Manila, a woman asked him, " Lolo, nasaan po ba ang kubeta dito?" He answered, " Ewan, nandito lang kanina yun eh, baka umalis. Hanapin mo na lang." I remembered when we were a kid, when we jumped over the sea without his permission, he would bring his dos por dos in the baybay which made as ran as fast as we could nakedly shouting, " "Dasiga nyo ara na si Pontio Pilato!" One afternoon, he saw me and Ate Garnet plucking our underarm hairs, he scolded us and said, " Nga-a gina barbasan nyo na ya? Regalo ina sang Diyos!" When he saw me in front of the mirror he would utter, " Atar, pa gwapa imo gina eskuwer ya." Every night after a bottle of shuktong, he started to maoy and his voice was clearly heard up to Kalye Onse and Payab-ok Street.

HIS GENEROSITY

Every children whether an apo or not that will ask his hand for a blessing received 1 peso from him. He's very generous to the needy to the point that he would give our last ganta of rice to a best actress relative who would perform an award winning drama on his front. He cooked food for everybody since we are all living in one compound. “ Ihawon ta manok sa birthday mo Sha, dakpa na to sa likod balay.”

HIS MEMORIES

Around June 2003 when he was admitted to St. Paul's Iloilo through a private ambulance. He was sitting like a healthy man at the front seat while chewing his mascada. Whenever he blew out his chewed tobacco, it would automatically go to our direction. When we reached the city, it seemed like we all had a mascada facial. After a week in St. Paul's, he was transferred to St. Luke's in Manila for a liver operation. Then he was sent back home. Month passed, we brought him again in our town hospital for emergency admission. Inside his private room, I saw him having a difficulty to speak. Yet, he called us one by one just by using a sign and gave us P500 each from his wallet under his white weak pillow. I don't want to accept but he insisted and added P100. I wanted to cry but not in front of him. I still smiled at him as if nothing happened and said, "Gracias Abuelo".

HIS LESSONS

August 19, 2003 when I received a call from my mother telling me my lolo has passed away. When I rushed home, I saw myriad volunteers who came to rendered their help in terms of service, financial and spiritual. His death made me understand that there is always a reward in helping others. On his funeral I gave him a pledge.A pledge to be generous in my own best way. He was called Waslik because he was carefree. He's now in peace for 6 years. I salute you Tatay Ramon!