This is how I remember the house of Tita Emy in Bulacan.

A few weeks ago, I finally had the chance to visit my mother's hometown. If things had gone my way, I would have done it with only my dad and my special brother. I had hoped the three of us could visit Tita Emy’s resting place together. Our family will always share a special relationship with Tita Emy.

I will always remember Tita Emy as my mother’s optimistic, accommodating, and caring sister. We only saw her once or twice a year, but her concern for our family was deep and sincere. She always looked for my brother whenever we visited Bulacam. She was the only relative who eagerly awaited my brother's presence. Anyone who remembers my brother and shows him genuine care will always have a special place in my heart. One thing I’ll never forget about her is how she rushed to Marikina when she heard about my brother’s accident.

If Tita Emy were still alive, she would have insisted on regularly visiting my brother. She would have been there during his hospitalizations. But she went ahead to heaven with my mother. Losing Tita Emy felt like losing another mother in my lifetime. Aside from my grandparents, she remains one of the most meaningful reasons Bulacan feels home. 

Today, even Tita Emy’s house is gone. My cousin, who has started her own family, rebuilt the ancestral home to accommodate their growing needs. It was for the best since Bulacan has long suffered from uncontrollable flooding. They needed a flood-proof home for their family.

During our recent visit to Bulacan, I was filled with scattered thoughts and emotions. A part of me felt happy to be back, but another part felt deeply saddened by all the changes. It will never be the same. My cousins and I have lost our parents. Many of them now have families of their own and are thriving in different parts of Bulacan.

To some extent, it feels like everyone else has moved on. But I’m still here, grieving, holding on to all the things I thought would never end: Tita Emy’s home, the simplicity of life, fewer responsibilities, and how everything once felt calm and peaceful.

Today, all that remains are the heartwarming memories—a reminder that, somewhere in time, we had a home in Tita Emy and in Bulacan.