Marcial's Wake (from Noemi Baysa)

Our classmates went to Marcial's wake, unfortunately I was not able to come. Below is an e-mail from Noemi, our class president, she send this for all of use who were not there. While reading this e-mail, I was touched and was silent for the whole day, one of my best friend Rowena Tongco who also was not able to go to the wake texted me on how she was touched by this.

Hi! last night (Friday) nagpunta kami sa wake ni marcial sa bahay nila sa Tanza. It was truly a very sad moment for all of us. dumating sina donna (just arrived from japan last april), leah, marilyn, sion, cherry, mary jane b., michelle (with husband ross), rico jay (just arrived from singapore), fidel, rodel, roldan, bona, reden, percy solis, ralph and marvin. sobrang nakakalungkot nung marinig namin ang story ni marcial na kinuwento ng ate nya. he had fought his sickness (chronic kidney failure) for the past four years. he showed strength daw and the will to live. despite his sickness, he continued to work as a graphic artist until after holy week na hindi na talaga nya kaya pang bumiyahe. he even tried joining a contest in painting kasi may malaki daw na prize about 500,000 in the hope na makatulong sa continuous medication nya. it was so sad na wala tayong naitulong sa kanya nung mga huling sandali nya. he had financial difficulties and we thought nga na kung nalaman sana natin we could have helped him kahit paano. personally, i felt a bit guilty na parng nakalimot tayo sa kanya knowing na may sakit sya. his wife annie, according to marcial's sister wasnt able to help that much financially and it added daw to marcial's sadness na naging madalang ang pagtawag nya kay marcial. She is in japan right now and di sya makakauwi para sa libing ni marcial. marcial's parents daw also separated and he even told his mom na isa sa mga huling kahilingan nya bago sya mamatay ay magkabalikan sila ng father nya. para bang premonition. pinaakyat din kami ng kapatid ni marcial sa room nya. Nakita namin yung cabinet na nilalagyan nya ng tv. Sabi daw ni marcial noon pag napuno na nya ng dvd yung cabinet na yun pwede na syang mamatay. Napuno nga nya yung lagayan. Sabi ng ate nya kahit daw wala ng pera si marcial, basta after ng dialysis nya kahit paisa-isa ng pirata na dvd bumibili sya. Lahat daw ng dvd's don napanood ni marcial. Mula sa room nya tanaw yung baba nila. Nung mga last days ni marcial di na daw sya bumaba tinatanaw na lang nya yung mga dumadalaw sa kanya mula sa window ng room nya. Sabi daw ni marcial ayaw nya daw na makita sya na ganon ang hitsura. He changed a lot. Wala ng trace nung marcial na kilala natin yung marcial na nakita naming sa loob casket. He looked older, tapos umitim sya tapos payat na payat. We could not recognize him. We couldn't help but cry. He suffered a lot. The day na namatay si marcial, may nadaanan daw sila na mga tambay na nakahubad sa 5th avenue and nasabi daw ni marcial na pag nakakakita daw sya ng mga ganon naiiinis sya kasi bakit daw yung mga yun, wala namang silbi pero malalakas samantalang sya, wala namang bisyo pero bakit sya ang nagdadanas ng ganon. Sobrang nakakadurog ng puso ang mga kuwento ng ate nya. The only thing that comforts all of us there is the thought na finally marcial is at peace and now all his pain is over.

We were also reminded nung nandon kami na yung sister ni marcial na namatay noon also died of the same sickness. And ngayon si marcial naman. And the sad part is, yung isa pa nyang sister, si anna (2 yrs ahead sa atin sa hulo) has also been undergoing dialysis for about a year now.

Sa tuesday ang libing ni marcial sa sta. maria bulacan. Baka only a few of us would be able to go kasi may pasok karamihan. Sabi ng ate nya may magkukuha daw ng video don sa paglilibingan and I-po-post daw yun sa website nila. Ibibigay na lang daw nya sa atin yung website para mabisita natin particularly yung mga nasa abroad na di man lang nakita si marcial. I'll keep you updated na lang.

Let us just all pray for him.