18 responses to Oscar N. Salunga

1. 

   Precy Kersten says:

   July 25, 2014

   In January this year, my parents went for a vacation in the Philippines and planned on staying there until July 20 with my Aunt Purichie and her husband Uncle Joe. I called them regularly just to see how they were doing. I was happy to hear that they were having a great, grand time. We built them a small house in our old neighborhood which we referred to as “Otang’s house” and that made my father so proud. My siblings and I did our best to make sure that our parents enjoyed their golden years. My sister-in-law, Joy, rented a stretch limousine just to take them to the casino. A white limousine picked them up and a black limousine took them home. She took some pictures of them laughing in the back of the limo acting like giddy teenagers.

   Three months later, in one of my conversations with my mother, she told me that Otang was losing weight and had stopped eating. He had to be spoon fed and bathed. That’s when I told my Ma to come back home, here, right away. My brother, Rey, was scheduled to visit the Philippines for three weeks so my siblings and I bought our parents one-way tickets so they could come back with him. When my brother saw my father’s condition, he was worried that he would not be able to travel. I prayed to God to please allow them to come home. By His Grace, they made it here safely.

   My husband and I usually spend the summer here in Mission Viejo, this year however, we had planned not to be here until the second week of June because Pete had some unfinished business to take care of. I became restless; I had to see my parents right away. Pete dropped me off here on the last week of May, and I spent every single day with my father except for a week when I had to go back to Henderson for a series of doctor’s appointments. I was present, together with my brother, Rey, and my sister, Teresa, when my father underwent endoscopy. We were called by the doctor after the procedure. Rey and I were unfortunate enough to hear the bad news about my father’s condition. The family always surmised that his diabetes or Alzheimer’s would have ended his life. So this was a total shock to all of us. It was discovered that he had a big tumor in his esophagus.

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2. 

   Precy Kersten says:

   July 25, 2014

   After the effect of anesthesia wore off, my father opened his eyes to see my brother and I by his bedside. There was a smile on his face as he said, “My two favorite children.”
   Rey urged him not to say that for the sake of my other siblings but he replied, “Oh, they will follow.” My brother proceeded to get the car ready, so it was just my father and I in the room when a nurse materialized and started to remove the IV. He turned to her and said in a clear and proud voice, “I want you to meet my first born. Her name is Priscilla.” I was amazed by his lucidity. Remember, he had Alzheimer’s.

   In the following two weeks, my father underwent more medical examinations which not only confirmed that he had cancer of the esophagus but also showed the cancer had spread throughout his body. The doctors all agreed that because of my father’s age and frailty all the odds were against him, that there were no corrective measures. The family opted to do nothing but make my father’s remaining days as comfortable as possible. Now we faced a dilemma on whether or not we should tell him about his condition. I felt that he was entitled to know what he was up against, and I just knew that when the moment was right that I had to tell him.

   My daily visits to him entailed sponge-bathing him, rubbing frankincense and miraculous oil all over his body, and dressing him up for the day. One day, after he was comfortably situated on his bed as I was lightly massaging him, he told me I should have been a nurse because I have soothing and blessed hands with dancing fingers. In reply, I told him he should have been a poet. I asked him if he knew what his illness was. His answer was “No.” I asked him if he wanted to know and he replied, “Yes.” So I painstakingly told him without holding anything back. I saw tears rolled down his cheeks and he said, “So there’s no more hope for me except Jesus Christ.” I told him that if the Good Lord is not ready for him yet, He can cure him by the way of a miracle, however, if He wants to take him then we would have to accept His Will in our hearts. In John 14:1-4, “Jesus said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.'” In John 3:16, he said “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

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3. 

   Romeo Salunga says:

   July 25, 2014

   MESSAGE OF ROMEO SALUNGA, younger brother of Oscar Salunga: O koyang, atatandanan ku pa ing pamiyabe tang keng makabang panahon king Tarlac. Ala kung asabi keka, maganaka kang tao. Buri da ka sanang puntalan keng libing mu pero ali miabut ing panahon para kang passport at visa ku. Pasensiya na ka koyang. Adyang atsu na ka keng kabilang biye, ali daka pa murin akalingwan. Dakal a Salamat keng masanting tamung pamiyabe.

   Komusta kareng alakwan mung pamilya ampo kang Atsing Ponting. Papadala ku ing lugud ku kekayu nga.

   Roming

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4. 

   Taani Suringer says:

   July 25, 2014

   In this increasingly selfish and materialistic world,Otang shone with his kindness,decency,integrity and respect for others.He kept his calm in the face of adversity and until the very end,he is still making jokes,trying to make it easy for those he is leaving behind.
   Every dad wants to give the best to his kids.I know that’s one of Otang’sfew regrets in his life.He was highly skilled in his craft but that skill was no longer in demand when the kids were growing up.For any self-respecting man,receiving help from others is very hard to take.But he let his pride take a backseat for the sake of the family and I respect him more for that.
   Otang,you may not have provided us much in the way of material things,but what you gave us was way,way more valuable.Your memories and examples will always be with us.Clear,intact and indestructible.
   Thank you for giving us life and more thanks for showing us how to live that life.You did your job Otang and you did it exceedingly well.Rest in peace IDOL.

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5. 

   Mark Salunga says:

   July 26, 2014

   My earliest memory of lolo was when I was about 7 years old. We would go to the old house in Dau and he would also be so delighted to see his grandchildren. He would always offer us something to eat, and would always cater to everyone. I remember him watching a movie, and at the same time we were watching it too, and since he notice us watching, he went out of his way to change the VHS so we can watch cartoons.

   Back in 2011, when lolo and lola were visiting, I went to see them along with my girlfriend at the time. I went and introduced my girlfriend to lolo and lola and lolo abruptly said, “ot eme pa buktutan!”(Why don’t you get her pregnant already) and of course this got lola so furious and telling lolo not to teach his grandkids such things. Lolo and lola’s harmless little fights were always so entertaining, lolo would always say something to make us laugh and this would always get lola angry and in the end lolo would always say “Ika naman mamiru kumu” (I’m just joking).

   Earlier this year, my brother and I went to see lolo and lolo when they were here in vacation in the Philippines, and as usual he was so delighted to see us, but something was different from when I was a kid, because this time, lolo does not remember our names anymore. Instead of recognizing us by our names he would just say, “reng pogi kung apo” and would give us a smile. It broke my heart seeing lolo’s health deteriorate, but through all this, he never showed any weakness nor gave any complaints and I will always admire him for that.

   In May, when I spent my summer vacation in California, I went to visit lolo for the last time before going back to the Philippines. I was in complete shock seeing his health plummet down so quickly since the last time I saw him. As usual, I would always go and bless to him. Since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I just always expect him not to remember my name or make up some other nicknames that he would think of. Right when I was about to leave, saying my goodbye to him, he said “metaba ka Mark.” I was so shocked that he was able to remember my name even when he was physically worst than ever before. Even though sometimes he doesn’t remember our names, I know that we will always be in his heart, just like he is in ours.

   Lolo you will always be my inspiration and my hero. I will see you again one day. I love you lolo.

   Love, Mark Salunga

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