It was the Night on November 1 2014, 7:30pm, when My Mother, after she
prepared the altar for Novena prayer, asked me to get ready. Our lead for the
Novena, a distant aunt, did not arrived so my Mother presumed that she would do
the lead instead. Anyway, our dogs would bark at almost anyone so we will know
if the lead would arrive for she might just be late.
It was only me and her that time. My brothers and sister was in the
city and too busy with their jobs. So we started with my Mother prayed with 12
Our Fathers, 12 Hail Mary's, and some stuffs. That was just when I learned that
those are the supposed prayers for the Novena when you don’t have the Novena prayer
book. While listening to my Mother with her prayers, I just then noticed the
preparation of the altar. There were pork adobo that she cooked this morning,
suman and bibingka, a glass of soft drinks, a rolled tobacco leaf, and other food
stuff. I know exactly that those are my Lola Agring's favorites. My Lola died
just this year, on the first week of August. That was the first time I saw my
mother cried after a long time. The last time she cried was when she had a
fight with Papa. I know My Mother really got hurt when Lola passed away. That
is why I promised to myself that I would love my mother more because I can see
how it hurts to have someone you love most pass away. My mother once told me
after the burial, "wala na imong lola dong, dili na mahikap, dili na magakos
bisan unsaon, bisan kanus-a" (Your Lola is gone now, we can no longer hold
her, or hug her, no matter what, no matter when). That was an eye-opener for
me. Words that hurt me deep in my soul and opened my eyes how blessed and lucky
I am to have my mother. After that I promised to spend time more with my
Mother, and be more understanding for her, and be grateful to God for giving me
a loving mother.
My attention got caught back to the Novena when mother held the candle with
her hand, because the candle was melting and may burn the curtained altar. The
candle is the only light we had in the room as some of other bulbs were transferred
to our other house just adjacent to us. The candle gave a hint of highlight on
the altar in a dimly lit room where we prayed. When the Novena ended, mama
mentioned my Lola's name and that the altar was specially prepared for her, and
that she was so sorry for not able to prepare some of Lola's favorite food. My
mother said that if Lola (her soul) was there, the altar is ready for the food
offering. I could hear my mother in tears as she said those words.
All of a sudden, a gasp of wind blew on us. It almost put off the
candlelight that my mother held with her hand. We both looked behind us to
check if the door or a window was left open. But there was none. We closed them
before we started the Novena. Then all our dogs barked and howled at almost any
direction. It lasted for about like a minute. My mother asked me if I noticed
the gasp of wind, and it could be Lola was really there. I did not answer. All
I did was just observed and listen for any sounds dogs howling and barking if
it was really the Novena lead but there was no one from outside. But something
I saw that I have not told my Mother till now, or anyone but just on this post.
At the back of our altar, in an unlit corner of the room, I saw a silhouette of
a woman standing, unmoving. I know what I saw and I know who I saw. I saw love
and care and kindness from the aura of the silhouette I saw. But I glanced
away. All I felt was overwhelmed and unbelieving of the situation.
Then my mother put off the candle that she held with her hand.
