Garnering 1.4 million views on social media, this daughter shared a heartwarming moment among her father, uncle and grandfather.
On TikTok, Rhonna May Urbano posted a video when her relatives allowed her senior citizen lolo to swim during their beach outing last April 2, 2024.
“Story time: Lolo can’t walk anymore bu he said he wants to swim with us, So my tatay and uncle help him into the water, It was touching moment, reminding me when Lolo taught them to swim when they were,” she wrote on TikTok.
In an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR, Urbano recalled the special moment.
“Every time po kasi na umuuwi kami ng Marinduque, lagi po kaming nagsu-swimming. And sa beach po lagi po namin siyang kasama. Wala nga po kaming dalang anything na damit niya or pamalit niya that time kasi nga uupo lang talaga siya dun sa cottage. Kaso nagpupumilit po siya, gusto niya mag-swimming,” she noted.
“Binuhat siya kasama ‘yung wheelchair niya. Gustong gusto niya talaga mag-swimming that time. Pinagbigyan siya ng mga anak niya na mag-swim. Nakikita niya siguro ‘yung mga apo sa tuhod atsaka kami na nag-enjoy mag-swimming, and talagang miss na miss na po niya ‘yung dagat. Kasi matagal na po siyang hindi nakakapagdagat dahil nga po sa age niya,” she added.
Urbano said that she was touched by the small gesture of her father and uncle to grant their father’s wish.
“Si lolo ‘yung nagturo sa kanila mag-swimming, lumangoy. Si lolo ‘yung andyan para sa kanila noon. Ngayon naman baliktad na. Though kahit senior years na rin ang mga uncle ko at ang tatay ko, sila naman ngayon ‘yung nag-aalaga sa lolo ko,” she said.
She added how Lolo Gimo’s children work together to take care of him and give a comfortable life for their father.
Noting, “Tuwing birthday ng lolo ko andyan sila, kumpleto sila, nagre-reunion silang pitong magkakapatid. Sila rin ang nag-aalaga sa lolo ko ‘pag andun kami sa Marinduque. Lahat po ng pangangailangan ng lolo ko napo-provide nila, nagtutulungan po silang pitong magkakapatid para sa mga magulang nila. Hindi lang sa lolo ko, pati sa lola ko. Kaya po sabi ng lola ko sa’kin, hindi man sila mayaman sa kabuhayan, wala man silang pera, wala man silang magandang bahay, mayaman naman sila sa mga anak nila.”
It was in 2021 when Lolo Gimo had a minor accident. Since then, he had a hard time walking around. Due to his age, surgery wasn’t an option to ease his condition.
“Meron na rin siyang rayuma and then that time po is nag-iigib pa kasi siya. So, ang nangyari nun natumba siya, natapilok. After nun dinala nila sa ospital kasi hindi na siya makalakad. Wala na rin chance para siya operahin pa due to age na rin. Dahil sa buto niya ‘yung problem niya,” Urbano shared.
Urbano is based in Caloocan City. Whenever she has time, she makes sure to go home to their province to spend some time with her Lolo Gimo and other family members.
“I-treasure natin ‘yung mga parents natin and ‘yung grandparents natin. ‘Wag na natin antayin na mawala pa sila sa mundo bago natin iparamdam ‘yun,” she stressed when asked about her message to the public.
Urbano hopes that Lolo Gimo will have a healthy and happy life as she promises to visit him every now and then.
“Lagi kong dinadasal sana mabuhay ka pa nang matagal kasi every year talaga gusto ka namin puntahan, gusto namin lagi makita ‘yung presence mo kasi kayo na lang ni lola ang dahilan kung bakit kami umuuwi,” she said.
