Concrete Angel

This video was originally posted in my Facebook last December 05, 2010.

Lovingly dedicated to all the children in the world. 
And to all their parents and guardians. 
Our God above has entrusted to us the care and love for these angels of His. 
They were sent to us as gifts and blessings. 
They are the hugs and kisses of our past and the love and comfort in our future. 
They deserve every right to be kids. 
Every child retiring to bed happily at night brings blessings, peace and love to the family the next day, for the God who sent them is always watching and He never leaves them until the day that they go back to the place where they are truly loved.

Liezel Magno Castro

Song by: Martina McBride

Song revival by: DJ Bonnie

Can You Promise Not to Cry Papa?

She always wakes up late. And every time she gets up, she would ask "Mommy, where's Papa? Office already? Did he kiss me? Did he say he loves me? Oh, I miss Papa already".

Almost hundred times in a day, you will hear her say "I love you Papa" and "I love you Mommy" plus a bear hug each time.

When Harold and Shiela got married December 2010, during the reception, they played Bob Carlisle's Butterfly Kisses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgZftrobqlg

There's such a grand  bonding between fathers and their daughters. I, myself cried. Larry pointed at Leecia and said "I will never . . . . (cry)".

Can you promise not to cry Papa? We'll see . . .

Sixty Five

It was July of 1990, my birthday, and it was my first time to be far away from home. I was in a boarding school, Mount Mary Hall of Saint Louis University. Several days before the killer quake hit Baguio City, I bought that postcard (below) for Mommy and sent it through my school's postal office. Mommy regularly gets to receive a letter from me each week. Long distance calls were very expensive then, so I wrote letters and made personalized cards instead. But if it was really very important, I call 'collect' ;)


Early 1990s: There was no Internet yet then, not even cell phones and ATMs. We relied heavily on the services of the Postal office. 


Late 1990s: We get to enjoy the technology that has been brought about by the Internet and the Unlimited Calls and SMS by Sun Cellular. I stopped writing letters to Mommy, except only on Valentine's Day and her Birthday. 

September 2010: I found this 20 years old postcard from my younger sister Shirley's treasure chest. The chest that kept so many treasured memories, both happy ones and sad ones. The chest contains my late Mom's kept pictures, letters, greeting cards etc. Most of them were from me. I haven't realized until then how much I enjoyed making my Mom happy whenever she receives letters from me.  


March 10, 2011: I made this blog post for you Mommy. It may not reach heaven, I already offered my prayers for you. Happy 65th birthday Mommy. I love you so.

My Grateful Tab RANGO

It was a downpour August 1995. I was on my way to Cubao to take a bus going to Baguio City. I was doing my postgraduate studies every Saturday then in Saint Louis University. I was nearing Victory Liner station when I heard kitten cries under an overpass. I went to check it and I saw 2 abandoned kittens. They've got colds, their eyes were covered with their morning glories and they were soaked under the rain. I was always prepared in times like this. I always carried with me extra cloth (face / hand towels), water and food. I picked up the 2 kittens and luckily there was a shoe store nearby. I bought a box, fixed the cloth there and placed the 2 abandoned kittens inside. On my way to Baguio, I dried and cleaned the 2 fellows, gave them food and made warm bed for them. They stopped crying. They slept inside the shoe box, on my lap.


After Saturdays and my postgraduate schooling, I meet with my younger sister, Shirley and youngest brother, John Karlo who were both doing their engineering studies in Saint Louis University. Then comes Mommy on Sundays to visit us. I handed the box over to her and she knows exactly what were inside. My brother gave names to the kittens. The female kitten was named Ming (she was tri-colored). While the male kitten was named Gorang (he was a biscuit brown). He was named that way because he wasn't as cute and adorable as Ming. Gurang means old and ugly.


I've rescued no less than 20 cats in 3 years. All of these I gave to Mommy for her care. Mommy is a feline lover herself. Daddy and Mommy's place in Manaoag is the best place to raise pets. They lived in a farm.


A couple of years later, and several new cats as additions, Ming grew up so beautifully. Gorang, on the other hand has morphed into a dashing biscuit brown tomcat. He doesn't deserved the name Gorang anymore. My brother changed it to RANGO (just invert Gorang to Rango) and he personally took good care of Rango. 


2004, 9 years human age or 63 feline years for Rango. Ming has left the clan already and went to have a family of her own with her found true love and his human family. While Rango stood to be the father for the rest of Mommy's cats. 


It was a downpour late night August 2004 when Mommy heard kitten cries under the cupboard. She got up and went downstairs to check. Rango brought home 2 kittens and had rescued the fellows from the rain. Rango was drying (leaking) them on his personal bed (an old chair covered with foam and old cloth). Rango was worried and as if asking for Mommy's help. Mommy helped Rango dried the kittens and gave them milk to drink. Rango never left the 2. They all had wonderful days ahead. 


Rango was no longer at the pink of his health. Rheumatism hit him. And before the cats he once rescued could have families of their own, Rango passed away. Mommy dug a hole in one of the shady mango trees and laid Rango's body there.


Who could have said that pets like cats just eat, play and sleep all the rest of their lives? Who would have thought that such creatures could return the same favor(s) they once had from others? 


Here you go Rango. I made this just for you. You've inspired me to write your life story long ago and it took me years before I could finally write this. I'll never forget you. You've gone where no other cats have gone and you've done not most cats would have done. This one's for you my grateful tab. My Rango.

photo courtesy from chris pagalanan
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1309037679445&set=a.1309034679370.46102.1035688280&theater