Pinay Still Grieves 3 Years after Husband’s Tragic Death
Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
Posted at 10/31/15 10:45 AM
KEARNY, N.J. – Filipina Malou Mananghaya visits her husband’s grave at least three times a week, without fail.
“Alam natin na ‘pag namatay ka na wala na, hindi na babalik, di ba? Pero yung love, yung happy memories, nandito yun eh. Hindi mo pwedeng kalimutan yun kaya I’m always here,” she said during one of her recent cemetery visits.
It was love at first sight for Malou and Michael Tristan Mananghaya when they first met in 2006.
“Sweet, very sweet yan, lalo na pag may sakit ako. Wala, para akong reyna. Pagka-birthday ko, I have breakfast in bed. Yun ang nami-miss ko sa kanya. Saka dun ako na-in love masyado. Very sweet,” she said.
But tragedy came just a few months after their church wedding. Michael was killed in a freak accident.
In 2012, Michael, an electrician, was guiding a crane operator to lift a 40-foot industrial air conditioning unit at the Bronx – Lebanon Hospital when a chain broke. The massive refrigeration unit crashed, pinning him to the wall.
He was dead on arrival at the hospital’s emergency room.
Malou said that on that same morning, Michael said his goodbyes three times before he left for work.
“Ang hirap maka-move on, lalo na alam mong hindi siya nagkasakit — bigla bigla na lang. Pagmulat ng mata mo, wala na asawa mo. Yun ang pinaka-masakit,” she said.
It has been nearly three years, since her husband’s tragic death. But Malou said the case against her husband’s employers is still in court.
“Talagang dapat may justice right away di ba? Pero until now wala pa rin eh, wala pa rin akong naririnig. Masakit para sa akin, saka sa pamilya ng asawa ko,” she said.
On Nov. 1, Malou will be spending hours at the North Arlington Cemetery in Kearney, New Jersey.
“Ang pinaka malaking natutunan ko dun, give your family more time, be happy, don’t waste time. Always give them love kasi hindi natin alam kung anong mangyayari kinabukasan,” she said.
(Source: ABS-CBNnews.com)