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Today 19 August 10, 1978, the thirty-fifth birthday of my eighth child, Johnny. He is also my third son. I would like to start writing today interesting events that my beloved ones may enjoy reading about, especially when I an already gone.
Today, I am 64 years and 52 days old. on my 68th birthday - on Saturday.
June 17, 1978, my children made me extremely happy. The families of Rita & Junior, Cesar & Margie, Teddy & Felisa, Cesar a Jane, Libbie & Arleen came to Baguio, each in his family car, except Libbie & Arleen who flew in a helicopter ahead of the first four families. Percy, too, cane in his own car. The families of Romy & Lenny and Franklin & Cynthia together with Josie who stays with Pa & Ma, and with those who came from Manila and Mamboanca City completed the Presence of all our
children in the Philippines, when all arrived at 2:00 p.m. all gathered around the table which was stuffed with the salad that Ma made, the pie and the ice cream that la bought, and the goodies that the 4 families brought in their respective cars. with all the informality and sincerity, my loving family sang "Happy Birthday, Mama", There was no birthday cake nor candles for me to blow, but Ma's heart was touched with the love that ay grandchildren and their parents showed, so much so that Ma help could not out cry in Papa's arms, who understood my feeling. They made Ma very happy indeed. This is the first time in my dB years that everybody was present, except those in the U.S.A, to make me happy on my 68th birthday.
At night we all went to Lenny & Romy’s house, where my birthday was to be celebrated together with the baptism of Ferdie. There I had a beautiful birthday cake, but when I blew the candles, I did not feel the thrill and happiness that I had when my children and grandchildren sang to me at home around the table, even without a birthday cake and candles to blow. I was happier in the presence of only my family. Early in the morning at six, Carol & Johnny called from Ohio to greet me on my birthday. Because of inability to get connections, Matt, Zinnia and the Dayo kids were able to call us only the next morning - June 18 at 7:00 3.m. Boy & Lenore and Louie were able to contact us only on June 19 because of the difficulty of getting an overseas connection. All in all Mama was very happy to see my loved ones in the Philippines and to hear the voices of those in the U.S.A. on my 68th birthday. They all made my 68th birthday a very memorable one. Those who live in Manila for Zamboanga left the next morning. June 18, after taking pictures of Pa & Ma with each family. There was a convoy of 4 cars led by the oldest of the group, Rita & Jr., Arleen & Libbie & Bonbon left with Percy in Percy's car after lunch that same day. And again Pa & Ma are alone and lonely. August 17. 1978 - Zinnia's birthday As usual Pa & Ma were alone, and we only remembered the day when our first child was born and as usual prayed for her.
August 21, 1978 - Lenore's birthday
For three days Ma suffered from pain, high blood pressure and general weakness. Josie had a hard time putting down my blood pressure. On Auqust 20, Pa went to buy my usual B,P, medicine 0.25 mg. Serpasil. I took one at noon. I prayed hard that i would become well the next day so that I could write even a short letter to Lenore on her birthday. Thank God at night I began to feel well. On the morning of August 21, Pa brought me to B.Gol. to have my ERG by Dr. Juguilon. The EKG was all right except that my pulse was rather slow - only 60 beats per minute. So she prescribed 10 Brinerdinmite for me to take one tablet a day until my pulse rate becomes stronger. Now that I feel better at 3:00 p.m..
I am writing a letter to Lenore. Henceforth, my write-ups will be recollections of the childhood of my children as I remember them.