Goodbye to a Hero

I remember when Gabi used to go to a conventional school two years ago. He needed to cross a bridge with my Auntie (who is also our helper) to and fro school. This is not the main way but this is the easiest way to get there from our house. The bridge was made up of a long metal and a long wood log on the other side. It serves as a shortcut. The place where it will lead you is called "Ibayo", which is a relative's compound. It isn't a public bridge but people may pass giving their donations since it is private property. The river underneath is an extension of Pasig River where the water is black and during summer, it emits a foul odor. The local government is in the works of rehabilitating it by removing wastes and silting.

It was one noontime, my son was heading to school in the heat of the day with my Auntie. My son accidentally slipped from the bridge and fell on the river. My Auntie was in panicked, she can't swim and our son vanished quickly in the wide open. It was on that exact moment, a qarah moment when on the other side of the bridge was our Tito Jojo and his son heading towards them. They witnessed the incident and immediately ran and jumped off the water to where our son fell. He searched for him and was able to grab a hold of Gabi. He tossed him on the ground and Gabi immediately crawled up. Tito got wounded by a sharp object while rescuing Gabi but our son has been saved from what could've been a dreadful incident.

We are very thankful to God for using Tito Jojo to save our son. If he wasn't there on that exact time and place, our son could have been drowned. Or maybe, our Auntie might jump off and worst might happen to both of them. These are horrible thoughts that God did not allow to happen.

It has been three months since our Tito Jojo passed away due to hemorrhagic stroke. Gabi said he is a hero for saving his life. When he was laid to rest, Gabi cried and saddened that he will never see his Lolo again. He made him a thank you card a day before the interment. He put it on his Lolo's casket.

Few days after the burial, there are times when Gabi will stop with whatever he is doing and will say, "I'm sad, i will never see Lolo Jojo again".

As a Mom, i want to keep this incident in remembrance. This will remind me not to take for granted my eldest son. We could have lost him in that incident, but God did not allow it. Things may not be easy dealing with a strong-willed child, but God will always remind me to be gentle and to love him unconditionally.

I may not be able to say it personally, but thank you Tito Jojo for rescuing Gabi. We will be forever thankful.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4 NIV