“To love and to cherish, till death do us part.” This husband is holding on to his vows to his wife up until the very end.
Despite Lola Elvira’s death, nothing can stop Lolo Jaime in showing his love and care to his wife as he continues to take care of her even if it means maintaining his wife’s grave.
“Araw o umulan man eh, nandoon siya. Isang bagay na talagang nagpapatotoo na ang pagmamahal, hindi namamatay. Kulang na lang talagang hukayin para lang masilayan niya uli ang nanay ko,” daughter Marilou Alipio told The Philippine STAR.
For three years, Lolo Jaime travels less than an hour from their home to reach the cemetery in Olangapo where Lola Elvira was laid to rest.
On TikTok, his granddaughter, Lhurdes, was able to compile all the videos that her lolo sent to their family group chat every time he’d visit his wife.
“Every day, makikita po namin sa GC [group chat] namin, magme-message lolo ko. He would send videos na nandun siya sa lola ko, rain or shine. Imagine like for three years na nakalibing po dun ‘yung lola ko. He’s been doing that,” she said.
Adding, “He would bring flowers for my Lola. So I just want to share it with everyone. I just want to give an appreciation post for my lolo for doing that and showing us the kind of love that he’s been not hiding, pero hindi po kasi vocal or showy ‘yung lolo ko.”
At first, their family was a bit worried about Lolo Jaime’s safety and health in his daily routine to visit his wife.
“May mga ganong scenarios naman na hindi siya nakakapunta. Especially kapag po may sakit, ‘yun. Pero kung wala naman pong sakit ang lolo ko, and he really wants to go there, pupunta po ang lolo ko. Kahit sabihan po ng, ‘yan, mga tita ko po na, ‘Tay, maulan.’ Hindi din po minsan nagpapatinag. Parang ‘yun na din po ‘yung way na siguro, ma-lessen ‘yung lungkot, pangulila,” Marilou and Lhurdes recalled.
For Lhurdes, her grandfather’s act of love was a good reminder for the younger generation that true and eternal love still exist even after death.
“It gives hope especially to the ones na nababasa ko po sa comments. Like sana ganitong love, sana this is an eternal love. It’s not about till death do us part, but it’s about life after death. ‘Yung hindi mo siya pabayaan after death, even after death, it’s special. Hindi man perfect ‘yung love story po ng lolo’t lola ko. But then, even after life or even after whatever happened, they still chose to be with each other’s lives,” she noted.
Lola Elvira died in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic on September 18, 2021. Due to health restrictions, Lolo Jaime wasn’t able to take care and mourn the death of his wife.
“Hindi po naburol ang lola ko. Hindi po nakita talaga ng lolo ko, ang lola ko. Kasi, the family had to make sure na ang lolo ay safe din. Through video call na lang nakita ng lolo ko, ang lola ko, in her last moment. It was really sad and it was heartbreaking for everyone. And especially sa lolo ko,” Lhurdes shared.
“My lolo, he didn’t cry na sobra-sobra during that time. Pero ang sabi po ng lolo ko noon, hindi na naghihirap ang lola ko. Which is isa sa gustong mangyari ng lola ko. Ayaw niya ng painful death. And ang lola ko po is namatay lang siya na natulog during that time,” she added.
Recalling her childhood, Marilou stressed how she saw genuine love between her parents, “Sila ang nagpakita ng kung papaano ang isang mag-asawa na kahit na anong hirap ang tahakin, anomang problema, talagang hindi sila nagbitiwan, lalong-lalo na ang nanay ko. Mahal na mahal na talaga ang tatay ko.”
While the moment was very touching for the family, Marilou admitted that sometimes it breaks her heart to see her father longing for her mother.
“Kapag nakikita ko siyang pumupunta doon at nagdadala ng bulaklak, kinakausap ang nanay ko, talagang hirap na hirap din ako kung gusto [pwede] ko lang na pagsamahin uli sila at buhayin ang nanay ko para makita ko uli ‘yung just being together. But hindi na mangyayari ‘yun eh,” she emotionally said.
