Grandma Edeza's tears

"Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?" 
-- ERIC CLAPTON

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY --  Would a grandson know his grandma's name if he saw her in heaven?
Being emotional and namby-pamby are not supposed to be the traits of somebody born under the zodiac sign of Pisces like Edeza.
But the 69-year-old grandmother of six from Ajuy, Iloilo in the Philippines has been known to be comparatively a wimpy senior citizen, or someone who easily sobs in a slightest whiff of forlorn.
"When it comes to my family, I easily break down," confesses misty-eyed Edeza, who was 35 when husband, Rogelio, died.  

Edeza says the tears were not because she missed her husband, who was older by eight years. "Almost all my loved ones are gone now except for my three children and six grandchildren," she laments.
Her parents--Cesar of Pres. Roxas City, Capiz and Exal of Ajuy, Iloilo--separated when she was a baby. Edeza's only brother, Sundril, died of throat cancer when he was 72 last year.
Exal had seven children with her second husband.

MOTHER

"I grew up without any love for my mother because immediately after I was born, she handed me over to my grandmother, Restituta," Edeza recounts in tears. "But I was able to communicate with her and we reconciled before she died." 
Edeza and Rogelio have four children: Samuel, Regine, Shella, and Sarex, who died of throat infection when he was 40.
Samuel, 48, lives in Canada while Shella, 43, is in Ajuy, Iloilo. Regine, 47, lives with her mother in Maspeth, Queens
Edeza takes care of Regine's two children: Alvin, 16, and Pilar, 9.
Before arriving in New York in 2006, Edeza worked as domestic helper in Hong Kong from 1982 until 2001 where she became president of Ajuy Association.
"I love all my grandchildren, but I care more for Pilar because she is just a little girl; and Alvin because of his current situation," says Edeza.
She plans to come home in the Philippines "for good"after three years "because I missed my other granddaughter, Kate, who is 16 years old." Kate is Shella's daughter. 

JUVENILE

Edeza fetched Alvin from the Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn on December 1 five days after police "invited" the teener over a misdemeanor.
Upon arrival, juvenile center authorities chided Edeza. "You're not supposed to come over today. You're doing Alvin a favor. You should make him feel that he isn't a baby anymore; that he should start to behave like a grown-up," New York City Administration for Children Services chief Jody tells Edeza.
"But I need to because tomorrow I'm working and nobody will fetch Alvin," answers Edeza.
After being informed by a juvenile center staff that "Alvin had no clothes to wear on", Edeza hurriedly bought a winter coat from the nearest shop.
After waiting for about 30 minutes, grandma Edeza was reunited with Alvin in the center's waiting area. Grandma Edeza offered the coat placed inside a plastic bag.
"I don't need that," Alvin barks in a rude manner, pointing his finger at the plastic bag. Grandma Edeza repeated the offer and got the same admonition.

STAFF

A senior center staff came to grandma Edeza's rescue and tried to persuade the sullen young man, but was altogether rebuked.
Vexed by what she heard, Jody admonished Alvin: "You don't speak like that to your grandma. You better behave or we will bring you back inside (the center)."
Alvin soft-pedaled. Grandma Edeza wept.

Jody directed the center security chief to escort Alvin back inside the center's main area. Alvin protested to no avail.
When social worker Princess arrived, the tree-Edeza, Jody, and Princess-went inside the main area "to tell Alvin what we expect him to do once he has been released."
After 45 minutes, Alvin was a free man. As they walked outside the center going to the train station some four blocks away, Alvin's demeanor toward the old woman developed into belligerence. 

SLOW

"C'mon, you're so slow. Hurry up. Which way is going to the (train) station?" five feet and eight inches tall Alvin growled at the four feet and 11 inches tall grandma Edeza, who was gasping for breath amid the cold temperature.
"I'm too frail to walk fast and my legs are in pain. Don't be in a hurry. I'm not familiar with this place, too, because I'm also new here," grandma Edeza appealed in discordant voice.
"Terrible. So where did you pass when you came to the center?" the impatient grandson boomed further.
Apparently tired, grandma Edeza was writhing and complaining of chest pain. Alvin thought she was faking it. "You feel weak because you don't cover your head. C'mon walk fast."
Walking on wobbly legs, she stopped, gripped an iron gate in the sidewalk and closed her eyes. She was in tears.
"Alvin, I noticed you're not wearing the coat that I gave you. Please it's cold protect your body. Never mind me," grandma Edeza hisses.
Alvin ignored her and continued to walk.