WHEN actress Gladys Reyes’ dad Sonyer de la Cruz Reyes died days ago, her brother JP who has autism couldn’t come to terms with the thought of death in the family.
“My brother PJ...di namin alam pano sasabihin sa kanya nung una na wala na ang papa ko, lagi nya sinasabi since na-angioplasty si (we wouldn’t know how to tell him at first that our dad wasn’t around anymore because he kept of saying since) Papa last January of this year, ‘wag mamamatay si papa mo, wag mamamatay’ (our Papa shouldn’t die, shouldn’t die).
“My brother has autism, kaya minsan paulit-ulit sya magsalita (that’s why he keeps on saying same things),” Gladys informed in her social media spaces.
The Reyeses which included the sons and daughters of Gladys and Christopher Roxas had finally told their autistic kin his father was already gone.
But it wasn’t an easy acceptance because PJ initially denied it for some sentimental reasons.“Finally, nasabi na namin na wala na si papa, na nagpapahinga na sya, sabi nya, ‘ay wag, wag, babalik pa si papa mo sa November 10’ birthday kase ng brother ko yunakala nya ata, parang nagbakasyon lang, pero babalik pa rin (We were able to explain to him that our dad was already dead and resring and he said ‘no, no, Papa will be back on November 10’ because it’s my brother’s birthday for he thought it was like taking a vacation and that our dad will still come back).
“Until, nung last day ng wake ni papa, nag-sink in na sa kanya, wala na nga ang papa ko (until the last night of the wake when everything had sunk in in him that his dad is really gone)... he will never come back again. He accepted it calmly,” recalled Gladys.
“Pa, you have nothing to worry about, di namin pababayaan si PJ. Hindi mo na kailangan ipagbilin pa. Tayo pinili ng Ama para kay PJ (We will take care of PJ. You don’t have to request anymore. The Father has chosen us to care for PJ). We always love him unconditionally. Pero Pa, siguradong mamimiss ka nya, mamimis ka namin habangbuhay (But for sure, he will miss you, we will miss you as long as we live),” the so-called Primera Contravida assured.