“To love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
No doubt that this husband from Olongapo is upholding his vows to his late wife.
Almost everyday, Lolo Jaime travels more than 30 minutes just to visit and clean the tomb of his wife, Lola Elvira.
His family is a witness to his love for his late wife.
“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,” his daughter Marilou Alipio emotionally said.
His granddaughter, Maria Lhurdes De la Cruz, shared how her Lolo Jaime’s day looks like.
“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.”
Rain or shine, Lolo Jaime makes sure to drop by and stay for a few minutes to talk to Lola Elvira.
“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,” Lhurdes shared.
The compiled videos of Lolo Jaime visiting his wife went viral after Lhurdes uploaded them on social media.
As of this writing, the post has already garnered more than 830,000 views.
“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,” she said.
Lola Elvira died on September 18, 2021, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to the health restrictions implemented, Lolo Jaime wasn’t able to take care and spend time with 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 recalled.
“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.
For Marilou, she can’t help but feel sad whenever she sees her father longing for her mom’s presence.
“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 noted.
