A Toast to Onin

Subject: A Toast to Onin November 3rd 2007, 11:20 am

November 01, 2007 01:05:00
Patricia Palea Orjalo
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines--It has been more than a week since that fateful
Friday, and I still hear his voice when I sleep at night. I wake up and
stare at the ceiling for 10 minutes -- or is it 20? I think to myself,
“I’m going to be late.” But I don’t move for another five minutes.

I stare blankly at my breakfast plate and finish my coffee in
hurried gulps. I walk my usual path, listening to the usual morning
sounds. I strain to hear his familiar laughter wafting through the air.
I work my sadness off. I tire myself trying to drive the negativity
away. Oh, and I smoke again; it seems to me that every puff brings me closer to him.

I just cannot believe that he’s gone. After all, he’s Onin. Onin who
made each day at work seem like playtime. Onin who brought an extra sandwich each morning, because he knew I rarely ate breakfast before I left the house. Onin who made me laugh at the oddest times: at lunchtime while standing in line at the cafeteria, in the sleepy hours of the afternoon, and in between sobs. Onin -- who bugged us to buy Happy Meals for merienda so that he could have the free toys that he would bring home to his 4-year-old son.

He loved his family so much. His stories were always about his
little one, or his Mommy and Daddy, or his brother, or one of his
cousins. He always put them first on his list of priorities. His plans
were always tailored to what would be best for them.

Complete Story

Subject: Re: A Toast to Onin April 23rd 2008, 6:23 pm

sana pag ako namatay..
meh gagawa rin ng ganto para sakin..
haay.. :angel 2:

Subject: Re: A Toast to Onin April 23rd 2008, 6:38 pm

Marya hindi iba ang gagawa ng ganyan para sa atin kung patay na tayo.

tayo mismo ang gagawa ng mga bagay na kanilang isusulat. maniwala ka sa akin na kung ang ating buhay dito sa mundo ay naging maunlad hindi lang para sa ating mga sarili sigurado akong aalalahanin rin tayo ng mga minahal at pinaglingkuran natin.

May magagawa ka kasi Filipino ka!