My lolo and lola

I want to write today about my paternal lolo and lola. They are Bernardino and Victoria Jayme. But for us, they are more fondly called Tatay Dinoy and Lola Toria. I personally did not grow up with them (unlike my maternal grandparents who lived with us) because they lived in Cebu and we lived in Manila. But ever so often they would come to stay with us for a few weeks for vacation. Other times we also go visit them in Cebu. There are times they we would go to Baguio with us. Those were fond childhood memories with all my grandparents travelling with us. Sometimes they would just stay in our house in Manila. Also they were there for special occassions in my life, like when I got my medal for being board top ten in Manila Hotel. They also came for my wedding. There was a time that I worried that never really knew them. Like I don't know who they were apart from my dad's stories of them. So one day while we were preparing for my Manila Hotel Awarding, I asked my lola to tell me a story about her life when she was younger. She told me about how she and her brother went with my grandfather to go up the mountains during the war. They weren't married yet, but her parents insisted that she and her brother go without them to hide from the japanese. She said that she and my grandfather had separate "sinaings" or pots to cook rice because they were not married yet. I found that endearing to stick to your values even during the most trying times. She also told me how when they went down from the mountains, she found out that her old home has already been bombed and her parents weren't there anymore. She also told me about the time that they were newly married and she lived in my grandfather's place. She was going to a far place to gather buli (fan palm) and then one relative of tatay dinoy asked her why she would go so far to get buli when every buli in that area was owned by my grandfather. She then asked my grandfather why he didn't tell her sooner and he said because she didn't asked! Her stories of their younger years still resonate with me as I have observed their marriage from afar. Somehow, it looks like my parents' marriage as well. My lola is very entrepreneurial. They aren't rich by society's standards but were financialy independent. They lived a very simple life in the province even though they could have jetsetted anywhere in the world. At 95 years old, my grandfather built a brand new house for my grandmother so she can be more comfortable. I always thought, when I become old, I'd like to be like them. Their life and love and how they conducted themselves will stay with me even though they are gone now. I am very blessed to have known my grandparents and also to have Caleb meet them even once. They have gone to be with the Lord this year. My lola passed away last January 23 and my lolo just last week March 21. They were both 99 years old. They were so close to being a hundred! We were even thinking of going home for their 100th birthday. But with the pandemic still here, it wasn't even possible to be there for their funeral. It is sad that we won't see them again. But I am glad that they have lived a full life and I know that God has blessed them so much in this life.