Alejandro Dumas Delano Poblete Manalo

my Lolo

January 8, 1947 – April 9, 2022

My Lolo holds a special place in my heart. Through processing my grief with the passing of my Lolo, I was surprised at how angry I felt towards dementia. My Lolo lived with dementia for the past 9 years. I was angry for all those years that he couldn’t garden, couldn’t plant all his flowers, stopped taking photos, was not able to continue recording his CDs or do the projects that brought him joy and purpose. I was angry for the healing in my family that couldn’t happen because my Lolo was not cognitively able to have those conversations.

As I open up to acceptance and appreciation, Ecclesiastes is ringing in my mind. There is a season and a time for everything under the heavens, and God is sovereign through it all. Dementia was so challenging AND I got to learn a new side of my Lolo. I got to learn how to be present in the moment and appreciate each day.

I am shaped by my Lolo. The ways I find joy in singing, taking photos on film cameras, working on projects, eating crunchy foods, gardening, being creative, my work ethic and bent towards perfectionism, stopping to appreciate the flowers, saving everything because it might come in handy later, and being present with people are all qualities I got from my Lolo. Who he was before his dementia and with his dementia. And honestly, I could use a little more of his boldness and care free nature as he belted out into song whenever he had an audience.

There are so many things that I could say and memories I want to share, but for now, I will leave it as this. Salamat po Lolo for teaching me how to see all things beautiful and lovely. I love you forever.

~My first film camera was from my Lolo. I took all of these photos of my Lolo on film between 2016-2022. I appreciate them as much as I appreciate all the photos Lolo took of us growing up.~