RESPECT

An old word with a new perspective. An important word in any relationship. A word which could make a relationship endure whatever trials that may come its way. A word which could Make or Break a Family. A word which could change the way the siblings look at their parents as they grow up. A word which could spell life & death for a fellow driver on a busy highway. A word which could influence the working relationship of players in a team. A word which can determine continued acceptance and support for a struggling parent. A simple word which could win the heart of a person longing for care & attention. A simple word which could ultimately decide the outcome of a conflict. A seven-letter word with a multitude of applications. RESPECT. Life would never be the same without this word.

New Beginnings

Its an uncanny feeling reading through my past writings. It’s just as if it was just like yesterday when I started typing up my thoughts and now its more than two years since I have made an entry.
Just recently, I made acquaintance with somebody five years my junior. I had the honour of hearing out her thoughts and sharing her emotional baggage which made my own appear like feathers in the wind. Her fortitude made me look like a helpless, unsheltered orphan in the face of an impending storm. At a glance, she’s seemingly an armoured female gladiator but deep inside, she’s a child at heart.
She has the resolve to make it through whatever trials that may come: physical, emotional or mental. At times, she’s one candid person who never hesitates to speak out her mind, but her sociability often neutralizes whatever negativities her frankness begets.
She’s lucky to have found a second family to accept her as she is. She’s lucky too, to have friends she could turn to for support.
Her actions. Her decision. Her choice. The consequences. Her baggages. Her determination.
With you my friend, I deem myself blessed for affording me to see, once more, the light of a new dawn.
Thank you.
Godspeed. 





   

GONZALO S. GACHO SR. (1942-2006)

My father, GONZALO S. GACHO SR. passed away last August 14, 2006 at 8:45 a.m. at the Brokenshire Memorial Hospital.

The 70 days that he spent in the hospital was an uphill battle not only for him but for the entire family. He underwent hemodialysis 39 times before he passed on.

His hospital bill was unsurmountable and was both financially and emotionally draining for those who were left to take care of him.

Here is a copy of the Eulogy that was delivered during the Funeral Mass last August 21, Monday at St. Jude Parish, Davao City:

GONZALO S. GACHO SR. is fondly called “SAL” by his co-workers. He is also lovingly called “OTAY” or “OTIC” or "TECS" by close family and friends.

He was born on the 3rd of March 1942 in the town of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental to BONIFACIO EDANG GACHO and ASUNCION TAJANGLANGIT SALES. He is the third among the nine siblings. He finished his secondary education at La Carlota City High School. He graduated Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Accounting at the University Sto. Tomas, Manila. After the passing the CPA Licensure examination, he joined Pacific Banking Corporation in 1962 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. He rose from the ranks to become the Branch Manager of Pacific Banking Corporation Davao San Pedro Branch in 1979 until the bank closed in 1985.

I remember my Dad best for his integrity. He was a loving father and a strict disciplinarian. He was a man of few words yet he was a witty and delightful person to talk with. He touched the lives of not just one but many individuals, by his example. He did his best for us during the time that he was jobless and faced with a family of five to feed and four children to send to school.
But he managed to overcome all these adversities and was fulfilled to see, that me and my three sisters finished college and have lives of our own.

His last few years with us were relatively simple. He was contented in pursuing his daily fishing hobby and selling cellfone loads to neighbors at Matina Executive Homes.

“Kahit konting diperensya, larga…” is a trait of wisdom that I have learned from him but yet have to master.

In behalf of the family of the late GONZALO S. GACHO SR., we would like to express our hearfelt gratitude to each and every one present here today. We would also like to thank those who are unable to join us in this gathering who have, in their own way, supported our family as we pay homage and bring our beloved GONZALO “SAL” GACHO SR. to his final resting place.

Daddy, wherever you are right now…..

We Love You Very Much….

Thank You…

THE SILENT DEBATE

I would like to thank my good friend, Cris Cabe, for cheering me up and emailing me this amusing story.

Thank you very much, Cris.

Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal. He would have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy. If the Pope won, they would have to leave or convert.

The Jewish people met and picked an aged, but wise, Rabbi Moshe to represent them in the debate. However, as Moshe spoke no Italian and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they all agreed that it would be a "silent" debate.

On the chosen day, the Pope and Rabbi Moshe sat opposite each other. The Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Rabbi Moshe looked back and raised one finger.

Next, the Pope waved his finger around his head. Rabbi Moshe pointed to the ground where he sat.

The Pope then brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine. Rabbi Moshe pulled out an apple.

With that, the Pope stood up and declared that he was beaten ... that Rabbi Moshe was too clever and that the Jews could stay in Italy.

Later, the Cardinals met with the Pope asking what had happened. The Pope said, "First, I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there is still only one God common to both our beliefs.

Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us.

I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us of all our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin. He had me beaten at my every move and I could not continue."

Meanwhile, the Jewish community was gathered around Rabbi Moshe. "How did you win the debate?" they asked.

"I haven't a clue," said Moshe. "First he said to me that we had three days to get out of Italy, so I gave him the finger!

Then he tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I said to him we're staying right here."

"And then what?" asked a woman.

"Who knows?" said Moshe, "He took out his lunch so I took out mine."

REALITIES

REALITIES. An exciting word. A painful word. When the real score sinks in, then it is when reality becomes pain. Accepting pain requires a degree of maturity in each one of us.

This picture is a stark reality for our family. We were all gathered together, for the first time in so many years, during Dad's hospital confinement.

As of this posting, my dad remains at Brokenshire Memorial Hospital here in Davao City. As of today, we had no choice but to transfer him to a semi-private room. The family is financially exhausted and we are all deep into loans. His current hospital bill (and still counting) already approximates the cost that of a brand-new car.

The members of the family left here in Davao held a meeting last July 29, Saturday. We had to convene to discuss the harsh reality of dad's condition: he is not getting better and his condition is slowly deteriorating.

His malfunctioning kindneys have taken its physical toll on him and he is slowly becoming skin and bones. We have observed that despite his every other day Hemodialysis sessions, his blood creatinine levels remain high and he is urine output is slowly decreasing.

His high creatinine levels, declining urine output, frequent muscle twitching or cramps, confusion & delirium are symptoms of ESRD or End Stage Renal Disease. ESRD becomes FATAL when his kidneys totally shutdown - meaning zero urine output. It is then when we, the family members, must face the inevitable.

During moments of solitude, I often reflect on the series of events that have transpired with my Dad in the last seven months or so. During his initial confinement, I made a silent promise to myself that I wont give up on him, that I wont let go of him, that I would do whatever I could for him. I even asked him to be there when his eldest grandson goes to the altar for marriage.

I realize now that I am SELFISH. All of us are living on borrowed time here on earth. If it is God's Will that He takes back what He has loaned to us then there is nothing we can do about it. Advanced Medical Science & Technology can only so much delay the onset but in the final analysis, it all goes back to Him.

In this darkest hour, I fervently ask for your Prayers and for your support, to all who may chance upon this post. Even in these desperate times, I believe that there is still goodness in the hearts of people.

God Bless Us All

NEW TERMINOLOGIES

The months of May & June appear to be amongst the darkest moments of my adult life. My dad, GONZALO S. GACHO was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure (his kidneys are malfunctioning) last May 2006 and he landed in the Intensive Care Unit of the Brokenshire Hospital last June 04, 2006 with Pulmonary Congestion (he couldn't breathe).

He had his 15th Hemodialysis today and he's now back in the ICU, still intubated and hooked to a mechanical ventilator, and fitfully sleeping.

I've learned a lot of new terms ever since Dad was confined in the ICU last June 4. When someone dies in the ICU, the term "expires" apply. When you call the one in charge of your patient, you call the NOD or the Nurse-On-Duty. "DESAT" means you should be alarmed since the vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, & blood pressure) of your patient is below or off the normal range and death is knocking at his doorsteps. "Flat Line" also means that your patient's heart no longer has any electrical activity; it had stopped beating.

Such morbid new terms that I dread to hear.

SENSORIUM is defined as "all the sensory functions in the body, considered as a single unit". My dad's sensorium has changed ever since he was admitted to the hospital. He is now quite irritable. He is very sensitive to the things happening around him to the point that he senses other patients "expiring" in the ICU. This makes him restless and his doctors have to give him sedatives to calm him down.

Epinephrine and dopamine can do wonders to a dead heart... These drugs can make your heart beat again until their effects wear off...

I guess nothing else matters most when you have a loved one confined in the hospital and in critical condition.

My mind and body is taking a beating:from the rigors of securing his medicines; bringing food to my mom who is constantly in the hospital praying for his recovery; to the intermittent stress brought about when my dad "desats" during the wee hours of the morning; to the financial demands of his hospitalization and racking my brains out in securing funds for his daily needs; to the demands of my day job as a product promotions associate; and to day-to-day needs too of my own family.

But I am not complaining. Deep inside, I made a promise to my Dad that I wont give up on him because I know that he'll make it through this. The other night, I told him not to die on me yet because I want him to be there when my eldest, his 11 year-old grandson, brings his bride to the altar. I want him too to bring his grand daughters to the altar when the time comes.

I know he'll make it through this ordeal for I have dear friends who read this blog and who support me in prayers and in whatever means they can.

Calibrated Preemptive Response

Here's to the FOOLS inside the Arroyo Admin.....



The INQ7.NET headlines as of today, 7:55 am read:

SC rules Palace ban on rallies is illegal
Decision is unanimous: 13-0

BAGUIO CITY--IN A second major blow to President Macapagal-Arroyo, the Supreme Court yesterday declared unconstitutional her policy allowing police to break up antigovernment rallies held without permits.

"The so-called calibrated preemptive response (CPR) policy has no place in our legal firmament and must be struck down as a darkness that shrouds freedom," the high court said in its 13-0 decision.

"It merely confuses our people and is used by some police agents to justify abuses"....