TOP TEN
in memory of our papa on his 10th year in heaven, here are my top ten should’ve-would’ve-could’ves if he were still with us:
10.
my papa is a kutingting freak–from cars to radios and anything electronic. if it’s broken, he’ll fix it–or at least that’s what he says 
if he were still here, my car from lolo andeng would’ve looked like it sprang from from MTV’s Pimp my Car. promise, kulay purple pa yan.
9.
malamang nanood yan ng pussycat dolls [sexy eh!], o sumama sa min kahit nasa ‘bay area’ na kami nung reunion concert ng eraserheads–if only to express his love for dance and music. naka 32G iTouch pa yan with all the latest grooves and songs, pero di pwedeng mawala ang Beatles, Jive Bunny at si Andrew E.
8.
sobrang happiness malamang yun dahil nag-return of the comeback ang chuck taylors–paborito nya yun eh at di rin yan papatalo sa mga hava-havaianas at crocs na yan. at malamang-lamang, naka skinny jeans din yan! ’spooting’ kaya tatay ko, kahit naka old spice lang cologne nyan, pogi pogi na nun!
7.
layas ba si papa? hmmm… pwede din. so malamang sumama yan sa mga adventures ng barkada sa bora, palawan, kahit sagada siguro. yun lang, mumurahin kami dahil malayo. pero basta wag mong gugutumin si papa, go-rah yan!
6.
syempre, mangunguna pa rin yan sa lahat ng inuman sessions at kung ano-ano pang excuse para mag party. but this time, isa na ako sa mga kainuman nya, at malamang kasabwat para buksan yun pinaka malaking alak sa bahay. patay tayo kay mama, pero sige tagay pa!
5.
gadget boy din yang si papa. during his time, i think he’s changed our family computer like 2 or 3 times in a year. iisa lang naman nilalaro 
if he were here, chances are mas magara pa ang cellphone nya sa akin ['wag mo kong i-text, tawagan mo ako!]; may digital camera din sya ['teka, wala ipin ko!']; baka naka netbook pa yan [igawa mo ako ng account sa Facebook Tiny]; at malamang bukod pa ang Wii nyan sa PSP nya. pero mas magmumura na sya ngayon, kasi 3D na ang paborito nyang super mario bros. hehe.
4.
oh how he would’ve loved playing with this boys: Robert, Miguel and Justin. there will be trees named after them, they will be pampered like crazy. yun lang, mababarino sya kasi i-english-in sya ng mga apo nya, at malamang sasabihin ng mga apo nya, but papa obet! it’s our turn to play!!!
3.
he would’ve loved walking Ate down the altar, and would’ve been proud to carry Justin when he was baptized. he may not say much, but i’m pretty sure he would’ve come up with something if only to cheer me up when my heart got broken [battle city tayo Tiny!]. pero mababarino pa rin yun, i-english-in na naman sya ng son-in-law nya eh
2.
to be with papa would’ve been mama’s ‘happy place’. she’d be less stressed, less paranoid, less freaked out. she won’t worry about driving, and she’ll never think she’s alone. no, not with papa.
1.
if papa were here, things could be different. maybe happier, or lighter, or at the very least, something that made sense. we’d be a family, though sometimes–or most of the time–dysfunctional
he may not be rich, he may not be famous, but i know in his own little way, he’d show his love. and we’d be proud, and i know i would’nt have it any other way.
we miss you papa, everyday. and we will keep on missing you for the rest of our lives.
