If you want to help us out with Papa's memorial

UPDATE: Papa has sadly passed. Please help us out with remaining hospital bills and funeral expenses.

I am and always will be Papa's girl.

When I was about 5 until 6 (I did not go to school until I was 7) I loved going with him to their work shed where he and his co-artists were making the Ayala Museum dioramas. I would watch him and my "tito artists" sculpt and paint and I would marvel at how wood, chisel, and paint and brush could make miniature people, animals, furniture, trees, mountains in perfect accurate detail.

Unlike other kids who went with their parents to the office, I practically grew up in the said museum because Papa took me to work almost everyday. I would roam around the art galleries, look at artifacts, watch documentaries in the audio-visual room and hang out in the museum's library. I would go up and down the carpeted stairs and eat my lunch in the staff room.

Every payday, Papa would also buy me books for 1 peso each at Alemar's bookstore, but he would just choose randomly because he himself is not a reader (Mama is). I would be so excited to open that bag full of (not actually children's books but) medical books, religious books, cook books, travel books, etc. To this day, I always tell my students that this is how I became a voracious reader.

Papa and I shared a love for music and old movies and when I was a teenager we would listen to the radio and record our favorite songs on blank cassette tapes. We also loved watching old black and white films and talk about actors and singers from the 50s, 60s and the 70s. He loved Patsy Cline, Connie Francis, Joni James, Patti Page, Ricky Nelson, Pat Boone and many others. He could literally name a tune (title, singer and year) by listening to the first three notes of a song!

Papa did not formally teach me how to draw and paint, but I learned by watching him because he would always give me pointers. He loved to paint old houses and churches and so to this day those are my favorite subjects of art work. He is also the reason why I know how to mix primary colors to make ochre, pewter and other hues.

When I was in college living in a dorm, Papa would come to see me when he and Mama have had a fight. We would eat pares together and mull about life.

Papa could be sick but you wouldn't know it because he hardly ever complains. These past four years he took care of Mama so selflessly and lovingly even though he too was already old and frail.

When we left for Canada, some people made me feel that it wasn't a good idea to leave behind my aging parents, but you know what? Papa and Mama actually came here to Canada in the mid 90s to try and migrate but did not succeed. So imagine their happiness when we got approved and actually got here. We lived their dream for them.

Papa...I will miss you but I'm also at peace knowing that you did not have to suffer long and that now you are free from pain.

I will always be your little girl -- your "Yan." ♥️

Hi, my name is Yanna and I’m in Calgary, Canada as an international student studying Early Childhood Education. Although I’ve worked very hard as a teacher for the past 23 years, I have used up all our savings to come here to Canada from the Philippines with my husband and daughter only 9 months ago. We came here because we want a better future for our only child.

My 76-year old dad Rico has been taking care of my 77-year old mom Tess since she suffered a stroke in 2020. He feeds her, gives her baths, medications, changes her diapers, and adjusts her home-based hospital bed constantly – day and night for the past 4 years. My brother and sister both have jobs in the Philippines, but they have their own families and expenses to take care of. We cannot afford a private nurse for mom and she prefers only dad to take care of her.

Papa has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer that is causing him to be in pain, bloated, jaundiced, and unable to eat or sleep well. He also has severe edema in his legs and numerous lumps all around his neck. He has a low-grade fever almost every day and is unable to get up. He has also lost considerable weight in the past several weeks.

Papa is a quiet, kind, hardworking, and uncomplaining person and we didn’t even know he was sick because he never told us until we noticed his health rapidly deteriorating. In case it interests anyone, he is an artist. When he was younger, he was part of the team that made the DIORAMAS at The Ayala Museum in Makati, Philippines. He has also held several art exhibits. he taught me and my siblings to paint and even his grandchildren.

Being the eldest child I feel helpless because I cannot help out financially. I am currently a full-time student (so I can graduate sooner) so my husband is the only one working right now, on a minimum wage. We can barely make ends meet with the high cost of living. Things will be better when I am done studying and can work, but right now, we really need all the help we can get.

We have incurred huge medical bills for Papa's ERCP procedure, trips to the E.R. and now he is in the ICU. We would greatly appreciate any amount that you can send our way to help get Papa the medical attention that he needs.

Thank you very, very much!

Yanna