“Ang Pagpauli ni Tatay”

"Ang Pagpauli ni Tatay”
(RETURN TO SENDER)
by Bp. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D.

Here are some messages I got these days from various friends: Happy birthing to new life for Tatay Felix... Halleluiah! He rests now where we all should – in God’s love... Last night we got the news of your Tatay’s “going home.” ...What a happy death your father had with his bishop-son preparing him to meet the Lord, a grace not given to many fathers or sons. Still I know how painful it is to lose a parent. ...For your father, I thank God that he raised a son in such a way that it pleased the Lord to anoint him to the fullness of the priesthood... We love you Bp Ger. Ari kami to embrace and hold your hand when you need us... Tatay is home, ginhulat ka lang niya nga mag-obispo... He had somehow accomplished his mission – that of bringing you to Iloilo as its Bishop and now he goes back to the Father with the words: “It is finished” A perpetual banquet awaits him and a special place among the blessed. May his memory live on in your heart as you live with his Ilonggo people and truly become a shepherd of the Ilonggos... He is now “Felix” in heaven as his name was here with us... Now you have two powerful intercessors in heaven... two angels watching over you... We are now your family... We will always be here for you because we love you....

One message came through this touching story of the little boy and the old man: Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.” Said the little old man, “I do that too.” The little boy whispered, “I wet my pants.” “I do that too,” laughed the old man. Said the little boy, “I often cry.” The old man nodded. “So do I.” “But worst of all,” said the boy, “I am afraid and scared to be alone... to be left behind.” And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand. “I know what you mean,” said the little old man, “But I promise you... I will always be here for you.” Am sure Tay Felix is saying the same to you... “I will always be here for you!” My family and I will always be here for you, too, Pads. With our prayers and love....

Pila lamang ini sang mga mensahe nga ginpahayag ninyo sa akon sining nagliligad nga mga inadlaw tubtob sang Enero 14, 2009 – ika-80 nga kaadlawan ni Tatay. Ini nga adlaw sang iya kaadlawan isa ka adlaw sang pagsaulog sang kabuhi kag paghigugma – a celebration of life and love – the life and love of Tatay, our life and love together, but above all, the life and love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit at work in the life of Tatay and ours. SALAMAT, SALAMAT, MADAMO GID NGA SALAMAT sa sining aton Dios nga naghatag sa aton kay Tatay! Paagi sa iya, natun-an ko paano mangin isa ka maayo nga anak! Kag tungod sini natun-an ko man paano mangin isa ka amay sa aton panimalay sang pagtuo.

Ang adlaw sang iya kaadlawan isa man ka pagsaulog sang pagpauli ni Tatay – pagpauli sa Alimodian, sa iya mga katigulangan, kag labaw sa tanan sa iya Tagtuga kag Manunubos – ang aton matuod gid nga paulian! Ang root word sang pagpauli amo ang uli – ginabalik sa ginhalinan, sa matuod gid nga tag-iya. Sa iya mismo kaadlawan, gin-uli ko upod sa inyo tanan, si Tatay Felix, sa iya Makaako, sa iya matuod-tuod nga Tag-iya upod ang daku nga kalipay kag pagpasalamat tungod sang malawig naman nga pagpahulam Niya sa kay Tatay sa aton.

Salamat sa Dios sa paghatag Niya sa akon sa kay Tatay kag Nanay 49 years ago bilang sabat sa ila pangamuyo nga maka-anak after waiting for almost 8 years. “Like Father, like Son” siling nila kag matuod gid ina. Daku gid nga bahin sa akon naghalin sa akon Amay kag gani matuod gid ang ginasiling, “To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die.” Tatay continues to live on in me since “All that we love deeply becomes a part of us...” Salamat nga ginpadala ako sang Dios diri sa Jaro kag tungod sini si Tatay nakapauli man sa iya mga partidos kag mga katigulangan. Salamat sa madamo nga kahigayunan nga napabatyag kag nahambal ko gid kay Tatay nga palangga ko siya tubtob nga nabugtuan siya sang ginhawa. I will always remember that loving look of Tatay right into my own eyes as he gave his last breath.

Ang Prefacio sang Misa sang mga Minatay nagasiling: “Kay ang kabuhi sang Imo mga tumuluo, O Ginuo, ginabaylohan lamang, wala ginakuha; kag sa ubos na maguba ining dutan-on nga puloy-an nga umalagi, ila ma-aguman ang walay katapusan nga puloy-an sa langit.” Life is changed not ended... So our relationship does not end but continues beyond death.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR TATAY AND ME!