Kyla gamely poses on top of a rock at a beach in Surigao. 
Sarah, Kyla, Grace Corpuz-Gatpolintan, Babyrose, Kat and Ate Jasmin(photo taken by Ryan at a beach in Surigao)
SEPTEMBER 21, 2002. It was rather an ordinary, warm, balmy day in Surigao. It was one of those lazy post-fiesta days for the Gat cousins who were in Mainit for the town fiesta celebrations. Ryan, (the 2nd son of Rosendo "Uncle Onyot"Mordeno Gatpolintan Jr. and Teresa "Auntie Tess" Corpuz-Gatpolintan) however, was up early and was feeling a little bit restless. He wanted the family to get together one more time. He was scheduled to go back, the next morning, to Cagayan de Oro City, where he was an engineering student at Xavier U. It's as if he felt there was so little quality time left that he wanted to spend the rest of it with his siblings Rajiv and Grace (his older bother, Robert was in Baguio attending college and could not come home) and cousins, before they go on their own separate ways . There was no telling when the family could gather and get together again. Little did everyone know, that it was their last time to see Ryan.
He lobbied and convinced Manong Randy, Sarah, Grace and Babyrose to go swimming at a beach in Surigao, which was a good 40-minute drive from Mainit. Seeing Ryan's eagerness, Manong Randy acquiesced and immediately prepared his entire family for the impromptu picnic. And off they went on the Tamaraw FX. They had lots of fun, from what I could tell from the pictures and my conversations with them on the phone. A brother of Ryan's girlfriend, who's visiting from CDO, was their guest and it seemed like he was having a great time with the family as well. Ryan, an aspiring photographer, took pictures of everybody especially the kids. Kyla, most especially enjoyed playing model for his Tito Ryan. Babyrose and Ryan found time to catch up and talked about dreams, aspirations and what-nots.
I called them up when they were on their way to the beach, to check on what they were up to. I got to talk to my cousin Ryan(who is like a little brother to me) briefly. I was teasing and joking with him about his having a girlfriend and about the sarong he gave as a gift to cousin Babyrose. I teased him not to "play favorites" and that he better get me a flaming red sarong and have it ready when I come visit Mainit the next summer. He promised, he would. And then, the phone was passed from one person to the next. I felt like I was missing out again. I wished I was with them at the beach, but of course, it wasn't possible (I was working my butts off in the US).
That was the calm before the storm. The break of dawn proved to be a harbinger of a terrible, horrible tragedy in our family.
September 22, 2002(early A.M. Philippine time). Manong Roland and I(both of us in the US) received an urgent call from the Philippines. Ryan figured in a vehicular accident on his way back to CDO and he died on the spot! Somewhere near Butuan, the truck he was riding lost control and crashed. Ryan was thrown out of the vehicle and died instantly, likely from severe head trauma. He was only 20 years old. Papa, Auntie Nene, Manong Randy, cousin Dodong Rey, Babyrose and Grace drove up to the site of the accident to identify and claim Ryan's mangled body.
It was one of the saddest periods of the family's history.
It was devastatingly shocking and painful. I wanted to go home right away but circumstances would not allow me to go back then. All I could do was make phone calls and cry with cousins, aunties, Mama, Papa, Bingle, Manong Randy, and Sarah. It was very frustrating and depressing. It was hard for all of us to understand and accept losing Ryan.
Here was a young man, full of hope, passion and beautiful dreams. Here was a boy who was a loving son, brother, friend, caring cousin, conscientious hardworking person, full of potential and was so suddenly taken away from our midst. It was and still is hard to fathom God's plan. The family continues to mourn his loss and we hurt every time we talk about him.
We remember him as a kid who triumphed over adversity. When he was in his first year in high school, Uncle Onyot suffered a near-fatal stroke that left him hemiplegic and had difficulty in expressing himself. Their whole family(except Auntie Tess who was already working as a nurse in Dubai at that time) had to move to Manila and move in with us, and also with Manang Vic and Manang Sula. On some weekends, they would stay at Auntie Ramie's. Uncle Onyot needed to be in Manila to continue to recuperate, get physical therapy and be monitored by his neurologist. Auntie Tess had to continue working in Dubai to be able to support her family. The kids had to be enrolled in new schools and had to adapt to new environments quickly. There was a lot of adjustments that had to be done. Their innocent young lives were quite unceremoniously disrupted.
At first, the young Ryan found it hard to grasp the whole situation, but with gentle persuasion and constant communication from Auntie Tess, the uncles, aunts and cousins, he gradually eased thru the trials. It was not for long that he actually became an outstanding student at school and a very caring responsible brother, cousin and son at home. I remember him taking Uncle Onyot for his walks and reminding him of his meds and his exercises on a regular basis.
When Uncle Onyot's condition stabilized, he and his family decided to go back to Mainit. Ryan finished high school there and went to XU afterwards. He was growing up to be an even more responsible person. During sem breaks he would come home to Mainit and tinker around their house and did home improvement projects. One of his last projects was a small koi pond in their house.
During Paping's campaign for his first mayoralty stint, Ryan was there to help print banners and other campaign materials. He was a reliable help and he had the initiative to do good work and get things done right.
I could go on and on and reminisce Ryan's attributes but the undeniable fact is that, he is gone. I still don't know why he was taken from us so quickly. But I do know that God is omnipotent, all-knowing and loving and that I should never doubt His will and wisdom. I thank Him for the few, some trying, but generally happy years that He gave us to be with Ryan when he was still on earth.
We miss you, Ryan. We love you. May you rest in peace, dear cousin! May the good Lord keep you and may His eternal light shine upon you. Forever and ever.
Posted by Ann & JR Gatpolintan
No comments:
Post a Comment