SPEAKING OUT

Makati Medical Center June 24, 2023 6:20 p.m. My dearest Mira, It is with a heavy heart that I write this farewell letter to you. Today, we bid farewell to your physical presence, knowing that you have found peace after a nine-year battle with your  illness. Our children, Trisha, Dondi, Fran, and I were  by your side as you took your last breath. Mira, my love, I want you to know that your memory will forever be cherished in our hearts. We shared beautiful moments together as a couple and as parents. The laughter, the tears, and the unwavering support we gave each other will forever be etched in my soul. Mira, as our friends know, you have been bedridden for quite some time. However, there were brief moments when you could sit up and move around in your wheelchair. During these windows of opportunity, I would take you outside to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. We would go to the nearest church or visit the mall when you felt up to it. One Holy Week, we even managed to complete our visita iglesia, although it took us several days to visit all the churches. I remember that our first stop during that particular year was the St. Therese Church, where we exchanged our vows 55 years ago. Our courtship had its share of ups and downs, even experiencing a brief breakup that left us both heartbroken. Our wedding plans almost fell through, but we managed to overcome the obstacles and become happily married thereafter. On our honeymoon, we were invited to stay at the Baguio Country Club by our wedding sponsors, Tio Domeng and Tia Patring Sioson. However, due to poor visibility at Loakan Airport, our plane landed in Bauang, La Union instead. We had to take a taxi from there, and unfortunately, we encountered a landslide on the way to Baguio. It took three hours for the DPWH crew to clear the road, and we finally arrived at the Baguio Country Club close to 10 p.m. The following day, we were shocked to read the newspaper headline announcing the eruption of Mayon Volcano, which was our original  honeymoon destination. Our marriage blessed us with three wonderful children—Trisha, Dondi, and Frannie—who have now grown up. Later, we welcomed our son-in-law, Joy, into the family. You postponed your medical residency for almost 10 years to take care of our children, and once you resumed your practice, you became a well-respected pediatrician at the Makati Medical Center and other prestigious hospitals. Later, you opened your pediatric clinic at the Alabang Town Center and, eventually, at the Asian Hospital. You became “Tita Doctor” to so many children living in and around the Alabang area. One of them is now a doctor who  attended to you during your penultimate confinement at Makati Med. We always made an effort to spend quality time with our family, traveling together both locally and abroad. However, our family faced a tragic event just as everything seemed to be going well. As I neared the end of my term on the Monetary Board, you were diagnosed with a rare nerve disorder called progressive non-fluent aphasia in January 2014. This condition gradually robbed you of your memory and ability to speak, eat, or perform everyday activities. It left you bedridden and entirely dependent on others for assistance. I was devastated, and our entire family felt the weight of this affliction. We tried various remedies, including stem cell treatment, in hopes of reversing or delaying the progression of the disorder. With five months remaining in my term, I made the difficult decision to resign from the BSP. I knew that my place was by your side, providing the love and care you needed. Although this misfortune brought us great sadness, it also had its bright side. It allowed me to fulfill the vows we made 55 years ago, to love and serve each other  in sickness and in health. It brought our family closer together, and on a personal level, it deepened my connection with our Lord. In a peculiar way, I found myself fulfilling my childhood dream of becoming ‘Doc” Toting as I cared for you as my one and only patient. On our 50th anniversary, we renewed our vows in a simple ceremony officiated by Monsignor Tomas Gonzalez in our condo at the BGC. Monsignor Tom, our  close family friend and our former parish priest in San Roque Alabang, performed the ceremony using verbal and sign language, considering your condition. We were surrounded by our immediate family members—Trisha, Joy, Dondi, Fran, and your  sisters Charito and Girlie, who flew in from the States. Aware of your difficulty in ingesting anything orally, I forewarned Monsignor Tom that you might reject the communion host. But to our surprise, you received it without any difficulty. It was your first communion in four years. With heartfelt love and gratitude, I now say goodbye, my dearest Mira. Rest now in eternal peace in the bosom of our Lord. Until we meet again, Toting