Bye Dad

March 6, 2010: Got word from my mom that my dad passed away. Contacted my sister and brother right away to let them know. We then proceeded to make plans to go back. My sister, unfortunately, couldn’t leave so it was only gonna be my brother and I.

March 7, Sunday: My brother asked his wife to make flight arrangements (she works for CX) so that we were on the same plane from Vancouver to Manila. Asked Jojo if he can work from home the whole of the following week while I’m away so that he can take care of Finn.

March 8, Monday: Flight out from JFK was just before 10pm. Jojo and Finn took me to the airport. When the plane landed in Vancouver, my brother got on and we were seated next to each other.

March 9, Tuesday: Watched a whole bunch of movies on the plane, slept, and ate.

March 10, Wednesday: Landed in Manila before noon and was fetched by my brother’s in-laws. Had lunch out then stayed at their place for a while. A friend of my brother came by after 7pm to take us to Tarlac where my dad is. Got there before 10pm. Met up with our mom at the hotel to dump our stuff and then walked over to where my dad was. Wake was held at the house he was staying in. My paternal grandmother lives in the same compound with my dad’s sister.

March 11, Thursday: Visited the temporary resting place at Civil Cemetery, and then we went to the lot that my dad was paying for at the Garden of Ascension.

March 12, Friday: My dad was transported to the nearby chapel for a mass, then proceeded with the procession to the cemetery. My brother and I decided to walk with the hearse. We stayed until the coffin was completely covered, then headed back to have lunch. We left for Manila in the afternoon and checked-in at a hotel. Freshened up and then my brother left to meet up with his friends while I met up with mine.

March 13, Saturday: The three of us went to Greenhills for some shopping, had lunch and then hurried back to the hotel to pack. My brother’s in-laws picked us up from the hotel, went back to their place to hang for a bit before leaving for the airport. Our flight was after 8pm. My brother got off at Vancouver.

March 14, Sunday: I arrived at JFK after 7am, went home to freshen up and change, then we went to Church. Got back home and tried not to give in to sleep so that my body clock will adjust faster to the time zone.

March 15, Monday: Back to the normal routine.