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Dubai-based OFW dedicates emotional letter to her deceased father

A Dubai-based overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Maggie Reyes, rushed home last January 9 (Tuesday) to bid goodbye to her deceased father. The Filipina is under the heavy blanket of grief after her father died of pneumonia.

She told The Filipino Times that she wanted to come home and visit her father but because she still has a contract to finish in Dubai, her company did not allow it at first.

After pleading for the second time, Reyes ’request was finally granted. Her father was then in the hospital fighting for his life. Her family told her that her father smiled upon learning that she was finally allowed by her employers to visit him.

However, just moments after she booked her flight ticket, her father passed away. She said it’s one of the most difficult things to get past so far because she didn’t see it coming.

Reyes told TFT she knew that she was in ‘cruel race against time’ to see him for the last time. She added that her frustration comes from her narrow failure to fulfill her father’s last wish to see her in person.

letter 1
The Filipino Times Photo

Her heartbreaking farewell letter reads:

‘Tay, dati akala ko isa sa pinakamasayang pakiramdam bilang OFW ay ‘yung pauwi sa Pinas. Tulak-tulak ‘yung maleta at kahon na naglalaman ng pagod, puyat at lungkot. Akala ko masayang ngiti at pagbati ‘yung bubungad sa airport. Akala ko matutupad na ‘yung mga pangakong sinambit, ‘yung mga planong matagal inimpok sa bawat araw na malayo.

 

Pero hindi ko naihanda ang sarili ko sa pagkakataong ito, ‘’yung uuwi akong hindi masaya. ‘Yung higpit ng yakap na dala ng lungkot at patak ng luha hindi ko inasahang magiging ganito.

 

Sabi nila, ihanda ko ang sarili ko.

 

‘Tay, kahit kailan hindi ko maihahanda ang sarili ko sa paglisan mo.Sabi mo marami pa tayong pupuntahan. Sabi mo marami pa tayong kakaining masarap. Sabi mo ihahatid mo pa ako sa altar kahit mabagal, ‘di ba? Maghihintay naman si Jeff sa dulo ng altar kahit gaano pa kabagal ang lakad natin

 

Sabi mo hihintayin mo ko pero bakit iniwan mo ko? Bakit nauna ka sa dulo? Bakit hanggang tingin na lang ako sa’yo?
Hindi na ako magiging okay, ‘Tay. Lagi nang may kulang kasi wala ka na. Wala na ‘yung pinakapaborito kong Tatay.
Sabi nila okay ka naman na. Nakapagpahinga ka na.Napagod ka na siguro noh? Naiintindihan ko naman, eh. Ayaw ko pa lang tanggapin. Ang hirap tanggapin. Ang hirap para sa aming iniwanan mo.

 

‘Tay, patawad kung ang layo ko. Ni hindi man lang kita nahawakan sa huling laban mo.

 

But you fought a very good fight ‘Tay. Hanggang huli ‘di ka bumitaw. Sobrang ikaw pa rin ang pinakamamahal ko sa lahat. Wala namang makakapalit sa pwesto mo, eh.

 

Dala ko na nga pala ‘yung Dates [palm] na request mo. Hinanap pa namin ni Jeff ‘yung pinakamasarap na Dates. Mahal ‘yan kaya ubusin mo ha?

 

Nandito na si bunso mo, ‘yung kaisa-isang prinsesa mong maingay. Bangon na dyan! Tara na!

 

Para sa lalaking nagturo sa akin kung paano gumawa ng tula, ang pagmamahal sa obra at katha. Sa lalaking alam kong proud na proud sa akin kahit hindi pinapakita. Sa taong naging matatag na sandigan ko sa buong buhay ko, utang ko sa inyo ni Nanay ang lahat.

 

Salamat.

Paalam, Tay. Sa susunod, magtatagpo na tayo.

Pangako.

 

Nagmamahal,
Maggie

Staff Report

The Filipino Times is the chronicler of stories for, of and by Filipinos all over the world, reaching more than 236 countries in readership. Any interesting story to share? Email us at [email protected]

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