Blogs from Jupiter

Written yesterday, posted today.

I was in transit in Brisbane when I got a phone call from Manila that Dad passed away in his sleep. It was around 3:00 a.m. in Manila and around 5:00 a.m. here in the east coast of Australia. I am now in Gold Coast.

Tomorrow will be a busy day as we have to set-up an exhibition here in our hotel. My colleague and I here in Australia and our office in Manila are still working on the best way out of Australia the soonest time possible. I have to fly back to Manila either on a Thursday or Friday the most. As for my Jakarta trip, I had someone take over my stuff. Dad’s scheduled to be cremated on Sunday Oct 29. His body is at the Funeraria Paz in Araneta Avenue .

I’ve cried upon my arrival at my hotel room but nevertheless at peace because he crossed over solemnly. He has had seizures for the past days, and more restless every time he is in pain. We have to force feed him already.

I slept beside him while taking care of him for a few nights before I flew here. I told him how much I love him. And that he will be okay. I know he will be leaving soon because I know God is good, and that He will not allow my dad to suffer for a longer time. I embraced and kissed him. It felt like I was a five year old toddler, cuddling my ever dearest Papa.

He has had hallucinations. He’s been telling us that he was riding an airplane.

While still on board my plane last night, I prayed to God to allow me to celebrate my birthday on November 16 with Dad still around. It felt like I was connecting with home, just like astral travel. Inside my mind, the song "Heaven’s Face" from the album Angels was playing. This is what we play every time we administer dextrose or suction the phlegm out of his throat or chest or feed Dad using the tube. We would tell him to listen to the music, while we force the tube inside his body through his mouth or pierce a needle on any of his hands. He reacts violently every time we do something with his body, even changing his diapers.

When I received the sad news, I was about to put off my phone as our plane was about to take off for Sydney. It was almost sunrise in Brisbane.

Now I know why Dad has been hallucinating of airplanes. I was up in the beautiful Australian sky at the crack of dawn. The tangerine sun was right in front of my face, the smooth heat drying my tears. I put out Dad’s picture from my wallet and gave it a kiss. I hugged my pillow hard. I felt his presence on board the plane, a re-enactment of what he told us: he was in a plane. It was peaceful, serene, comforting and uplifting… uplifting, literally and figuratively. As the plane pass through the clouds, I could still hear "Heaven’s Face" still playing as if angels were really singing.