Lately, this year of 2024, two of my grandfathers in my maternal and paternal side of my family died, respectively.
My grandfather on my maternal side died in June, and my grandfather on my paternal side died at the end of September.
On Thursday, October 3, 2024, my grandfather, on my father's side of the family, was rested in peace at the cemetery.
He was in the coma in August because I heard from my aunt that he slipped on the floor and got hit on the head, causing an internal hemorrhage.
He died at the age of 76.
In Lolo Ike's prime years, he served as a policeman in batch '89, to which I was afraid in my childhood days because I felt the first impression of him. He had an intimidating aura, full of confidence.
I never talk to him much, and I'm more close to his older brother, but I fully respected him as a person and as my grandfather.
After he died while the main family held the funeral, I was filled with sadness, pride, and awe because the policemen insisted on attending my late grandfather's funeral voluntarily after hearing his death. The policemen wanted to honor him that Lolo Ike served the country well.
I realized at that time that Lolo Ike was truly well loved and respected by his main family and the place he worked with even after his retirement from his work.
Screenshot from my video
Twenty-one policemen did the twenty-one salute, and they shot with their firearms above three times in quick succession, honoring their fallen comrade.
Screenshot from my Aunt's video
It was my first time seeing the twenty-one salute, and I was in awe.
I felt emotional after hearing my relatives sharing their stories with Lolo Ike when he was alive, and even my father shared his.
After Lolo Ike was buried on the ground, my family went to a restaurant to do 'pagpag'.
Pagpag means that after you visit the funeral, you should not go home first because any spirits will try to go home with you. So for the first stop, you can either go to the restaurant, mall, or any place first to confuse the spirits who were trying to go home with you. It is one of our cultures in the Philippines that was deeply ingrained.
Honestly, I don't believe in pagpag, but I respected one of the cultures of my country and what my parents believed in superstitions.
After we ate in the restaurant, we went home.
While on the way home, I began to hear my father telling us about the possessions of the deceased.
He told us that the main family would divide Lolo Ike's possessions, and my father called it treasure hunting.
After hearing that, I began to think deeply.
What the Bible says is true. In Matthew 24 verse 35, it says, "Heaven and Earth will pass away."
It means that all our possessions we have will pass away, even our life and the world we lived in.
We cannot bring any material possessions and our achievements on earth in our death.
Even though we have different goals in life, in one of my goals, what I seek is the eternal life that God promised.
Eternal life means that when life ends on earth, it continues somewhere else, in which case I choose to follow in Jesus Christ before and after my death.
Even though life as a Christian is difficult to live on because there are many sacrifices we have to face in life for Him, we have to run and finish the race. (2 Timothy 4:7)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.
While I'm still alive, I do hope to seek the answers I'm looking for on earth, and I hope to continue to share my testimonies and my stories with you.