Someone I love and I (series #18)...HOMAGE TO JAG, MY NEPHEW JOAQUIN AGUSTIN SIEGA ESPINA.. Joaquin, Jag, Jagging, Wakenboy, Goy, Agoy-oy, etc...my nephew, with any name we call you, your Auntie Mimi, Auntie Ann, me and my cousin Bebie (Venie Rine) and every one who were blessed enough to take care of you as a child, YOU are our beloved. To me you are always my Goy. I call all the younger men in our family Goy because of you. You are my #1 Goy. Another blessing which was bestowed to you by the Almighty was your good looking face. It was you who looked like Papa Joaquin, your mestizo Lolo Joaquin. I thought that was the reason why you were named after him. As a child , you were not in the best of health. Your parents and all of us, especially your Auntie Mimi, Auntie Ann, your Mana BB, put more attention in taking care of you. From our arms, you went to Papas lap and to your Uncle Boys shoulders. We bestowed on you an ever sheltering love. I left for Manila and college when you were still a little boy. I looked forward on semester breaks and vacations so I could see you again. We all thank God that you grew up to be a good looking and healthy young man. No more Asthma! However, your tender heart was subjected to bereavement, one after another. You were only about 13 yrs old when your Tatay Toting passed away. Few Years later, Inday Lyn, your beloved sister passed away. Two years later, Papa, your Lolo Joaquin passed away. When I left the Philippines, I was very sad because I also had to leave you. I was always praying for you and hoping you would meet someone to share your young dreams and aspirations with. You finished college and still deciding what you would do in life. At this point, your Nanay Betty had to visit me in Texas and took residency in Houston after a few months. It was at this point that your younger brothers; Dan and Jogie had to leave to be with Mana Betty in Texas. You must have felt like almost everyone had left you. Your elder brother Odong, got married, had children and was spending most of his time in church . Four years later, your Nanay, my sister Mana Betty passed away. That must have a mega blow to you Goy. Because of Immigration papers not ready yet, you could not even come to her funeral. You must have felt that it was too soon for her to depart. She was not around to meet the woman of your heart and the beautiful family which you and Gie would build. Few months later you finally succeeded in coming to Texas to join with the rest of your siblings and nieces and nephew, with me, in my home. There were 10 of us in a three-bedroom house. Somehow, we managed to get along and survived with the help of the Almighty. At this time, you were already planning really intently about your future. Shortly, you worked in a warehouse in the packaging department. Your salary was meager but you were always good in managing your budget. Few months later, you decided to join the U.S. Navy. With your perseverance and resolve you were able to hurdle the rigorous training in the boot camps and other programs which made you ready and fit to serve. We were all praying for your safety Goy. When you were with the Navy, you have transformed into a very strong, determined, motivated and responsible young man. At this time, you got married to a very beautiful girl, named Virginia Gie and you were blessed by God with two wonderfully beautiful daughters; Jenny and Jovi. Goy, as I type this, I remember how much you love Nanay, my mother, your grandmother. You always provided her with your love and attention. You made it sure she had an unending supply of Bengay a massaging oil for her elderly limbs. She could not forget the Transistor Radio that you gave her. She could follow up her favorite show, Flor de Luna . She knew that you saved your allowance monies so that you could buy her a transistor radio. When Nanay, my mother, your sweet grandmother, Lola Onor died. You moved mountains just to attend her funeral, but of no avail. You didnt obtain a much awaited approval to take a bereavement leave of absence. In a telephone conversation we had, you expressed your deep sentiments like you were really left out. In your words dripping with regret, you mentioned that you were never given a chance to be able to say goodbye to your father, grandfather, mother, grandmother! WHY? As I listened to you expressing your deep disappointment Jagging, I felt your sorrow, I felt your self pity, I felt your pain. My heart was heavy, heavy enough to shed my own tears because I felt for you. In retrospect, I think the spirits were protecting you from too much grief. There was a reason why you were prevented from seeing them go, away from your sight. Maybe God was sheltering you from shedding your hot bitter tears because you had been through a lot in life. Since you did not see our loved ones lay inside their coffins and entered into their tombs, what you saw in your minds were the good times of their loving you, the smiles when you held their hands for their blessings. What you felt was your Lola Onors deep inhaling hingos kisses and her beautiful glistening smile when she saw you. You were assigned in Europe and other parts of the globe, defending the American flag. You were taking care of the service equipment and yes you were not far from the line of fire. When you were in Iraq, there was no night that I didnt pray for your safety. Because of privacy, the information of your whereabouts was limited. I just left you in the mercy of the Lord. I always read Psalms 91, your Lolo Joaquin and Lola Onors favorite Psalms which they memorized verbatim. When you came back from Iraq, every promise in Psalms 91 was fulfilled because you were not hurt physically. If you were hurt emotionally because of war, you were able to deal with it your own little way. You came home to your family and your two daughters growing and blossoming into beautiful women. With your beloved wife, Gie at the helm, in your absence, she was able to manage her household with flying colors and we are all very proud of her. Goy, somehow you were able to deal with your own disappointments and the source of your happiness was your beautiful family. Your 2 daughters are now grown. Both of them are happy with their own beloved sweethearts. Jenny met a good man who became her husband. They are blessed by God with 2 beautiful daughters. God is good! Last Christmas, the last time I saw you, you said you wanted to go home to Nahaong, Libagon Southern Leyte and launch your candidacy for Mayor of Libagon. Jokingly, you said your name Joaquin Agustin portrays 2 Mayors of Libagon. Your Lolo Joaquin Siega, my father and Agustin Espina, your father. That is indeed a distinct privilege. I know you take it with pride that you are JOAQUIN AGUSTIN SIEGA ESPINA. Actually, it is a good idea that you should follow through. You have all the qualities to be a good leader because you are a wonderful man. You are generous, sensitive, thrifty, hard working and above all loving. You are a man of integrity and I am sure you will start a new breed of honest politicians who might follow your lead. You are very tolerant to what people do because you see yourself in their shoes and you wont stop thinking of what to do to make a situation better. Jagging, Goy, I am very happy you are here, just a phone call away. Be happy and enjoy being a grandfather to Jennys babies. There will be more wonderful episodes of life that we will all share as long as we live. I hope you can feel my love and my pride for having you as my nephew whom I love so much.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 03:45:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015