Lolo Rudy and Lola Myrna’s granddaughter, Kyla Macantan, shared the story behind her grandparents death.
Kyla said that Lola Myrna died on Lolo Rudy’s birthday on June 3, 2004.
“Batang namatay ‘yung lola ko eh. Pwedeng ‘yung lolo ko, naghanap muna ng iba, di ba? Wala, walang ganun sa lolo ko. As in kung paano umalis ‘yung lola ko. Ganon pa din siya,” she recalled during an interview.
She also narrated how her lolo showed his love to his wife even after death.
“Si tatay talaga sobrang tiyaga niya na pinupuntahan sa sementeryo.‘Yun ‘yung way niya na siguro, makapag-communicate. Talagang gusto niya doon mismo siya nakatambay. Kasi imagine, every day, walang mintis, pumupunta siya doon, naka-bike lang siya. Tapos, sobrang tarik talaga. Ang tarik talaga ‘yung parang ako kahit lakad, napapagod ako.Siguro ‘yung kanila ‘yung type ng relationship nila, masasabi mo na quiet. Kasi hindi sila ‘yung parang madaming stories, ano nangyari sa kanila,” she shared.
Kyla lived with her Lolo Rudy when she went to college. She admitted that she wasn’t able to visit him in Muntinlupa after she got hired and assigned in Mandaluyong.
Kyla described Lolo Rudy as a loving and kind grandparent.
“Nagte-teatro pa ako. So, madaling araw ako lagi umuwi because of rehearsals. Tapos siya, kahit sobrang anong hina ng pagbukas ko ng gate, bigla ka na lang magugulat. Marinig mo siya bigla na, ‘Kyla?’ Ganyan siya. ‘Kyla, kauuwi mo lang?’ Tapos sasabihin ko, ‘Opo ‘tay,’ Tapos kahit na ano oras na ‘yun, 12 AM, 11 PM, sasamahan niya ako. Parang tatabi lang siya, magtatanong lang siya. Tapos gabi-gabi niya tinatanong. ‘Hindi ka natatakot, bumiyahe?’ ‘Kumain ka na?’” she said.
Adding, “Tapos kahit sabihin ko na oo, magugulat kakakatok siya sa kwarto, may nakasandok na siya na pagkain. So, hindi man siya vocal na masabi, pero ‘yung parang acts of service, talagang papakita niya sa’yo na he cares about you.”
Kyla said that due to her lolo’s old age and comorbidities, his health deteriorated. She looked back on the last few moments of her Lolo Rudy.
“Days before siya mawala, natutulog na lang talaga siya. Birthday nga nung lola ko, parang nagpabili pa ‘yung tita ko ng handa. ‘Yun na pala ‘yung last day din ng lolo ko na parang may cake pa. Parang nag-react pa daw si tatay na ba’t naghanda pa raw, ba’t bumili pa raw ng cake.Gabi siya nangyari. Inatake na siya sa puso.Natakbo pa siya sa hospital. Siguro mga 10-11 PM mga ganun. Talagang, alam mo ‘yun, parang nahabol pa ‘yung date,” said Kyla.
Their family later realized that Lolo Rudy died on his wife’s birthday.
“Sa amin nangingibabaw pa rin ‘yung pag-grieve. Pero kung iisipin mo talaga, nakaka-amaze talaga siya na sakto, talagang saktong-sakto. Until, last breath, pinatunayan nila na soulmates talaga sila,” she said.
“I’m happy na wala man siya dito sa amin. At least, ‘di ba? Finally, sila naman ‘yung magkasama. At least nitong birthday niya, this year, sila naman ‘yung nag-celebrate nang magkasama,” she noted.
