_ eNiGMa_

Whenever I see this commercial, I hold back my tears. I remember my late grandfather. I grew up without a father and therefore he became the closest to it.

He died just right before I entered high school. When he was still in the hospital, I didn't care that much because I always thought of him as a super hero. I thought he could overcome anything. I was so oblivious to everything. I really thought he would recover.

When he died, everyone else in the family recovered fast. They say it's because they knew it was going to happen. I think what I thought back then was that-yes, tatay won't be around forever, but he won't leave us now, not yet. How wrong I was.

I still cry over his death even though so many years have passed because I wasn't able to tell him how much I loved him, how proud I am to have been raised by him. Even during his funeral, I couldn't say anything. I just cried and cried.

The difference between me and the girl in the video was that I never came back to give tatay the sandwich. And now I have lost the chance to do so.

Nagustuhan ko ang "Parisian's Life" ni Juan Luna hindi dahil sa ganda ng pagpinta nya dito kundi sa ipinapakita nito. Tingin ko ay napaka-misteryoso ng obrang ito. Nang nag-research ako tungkol sa "Parisian's Life", nalaman ko na ang tunay na paksa na mahalaga para sa ating mga Pinoy dito ay hindi ang babae sa gitna ng obra kundi ang 3 lalaki sa may likod. Ang lalaking halos naka-talikod ay ang ating pambansang bayani na si Dr. Jose Rizal. Ang lalaki sa gitna ay si Juan Luna mismo. Ang huli ay Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin.

Para sa aking ay napaka-misteryoso ng "Parisian's Life". Sino ang babaeng nasa obra? kanino ang jacket na nasa tabi niya? Alam kaya ng babaeng ito na nahuli niya ang puna ng isa sa pinaka-dakilang pintor ng Pilipinas?

Parang tadhana na lamang ang nagdala sa babaeng ito sa parehong lugar kung nasaan si Juan Luna, Jose Rizal at Ariston Lin. Sa obrang pininta ni Juan Luna ay naipakita ang isang walang kamuwang-muwang na babae na sa isang araw na walang pagkakaiba sa mga araw na dumaan sa buhay niya ay nakalapit siya sa isa sa mga dakilang pintor natin at sa magiging pambansang bayani ng Pilipinas.

Ang ganda ng obrang ito hindi ba? Para na rin sinabi sa obra na ang isang estrangherong naka-krusan mo ng landas ay may magagawa palang malaking "impact" sa maraming buhay.