“Huling Hantungan/ Final Destination" (Documentary by Cesar Apolinario)

Episode on August 30, 2010 Monday after Saksi! “Huling Hantungan" Dokumentaryo ni Cesar Apolinario On the recent death of his sister Cesar Apolinario wrote, “There is something about death that makes life come to a momentary halt." And halt, his life did. Although no stranger to death, dealing with grief was not an easy task for him and his family. Grief, he is reminded, is anything but easy to deal with for any family. In remembrance of the 40th day of his Ate Dolor’s death, Cesar Apolinario shares the feeling of loss with a grieving mother and with a dutiful daughter. Nanay Regina , the mother who has not visited her imprisoned son, is a picture of sorrow as she sits across his coffin. She has not left the chapel since his remains came in. Every minute leading to her son’s burial, Nanay Regina tries to muster strength to look into his coffin. Meanwhile, Sister Laura, the daughter who has never left her ailing mother’s side, fills their house with music and joy. Her face a picture of serenity, she and her family make sure that the wake is a celebration of her mother’s life, a well-spent life just a decade short of a century. Through these families’ wakes, funeral marches, and burials, Cesar Apolinario reflects on the meaning of life and death and faces the challenge to celebrate a life lost amidst the mourning. A story of journey towards acceptance and healing, “Huling Hantungan" airs this Monday on I-Witness, after Saksi.

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Sa kararaang pagkamatay ng kaniyang Ate, naisulat ni Cesar Apolinario ang mga katagang “Ang kamatayan ay nagagawang mapahinto ang buhay ng panandalian." At ang buhay nga niya’y huminto. Hindi man estranghero sa kamatayan, hindi naging madali ang pagdadalamhati para sa kaniya at sa kaniyang pamilya. Ang pighati ay hindi madali sa kahit kaninong nawawalan. Sa babang luksa ng kaniyang Ate Dolor, nakiisa si Cesar Apolinario sa isang inang lubos ang pagtangis para sa anak, at sa isang anak na patuloy ang panunungkulan sa inang yumao. Si Nanay Regina, na hindi nabisita ang anak noong ito’y nasa kulungan, ay larawan ng pighati. Taimtim na nakaupo sa tapat ng kabaong ng anak, ni minsan ay hindi niya iniwan ang kapilyang pinaglalagakan nito. Bawat minuto patungo sa libingan, nag-iipon ng lakas si Nanay Regina upang masilip ang anak sa kabaong. Samantala, si Sister Laura, ang anak na hindi nilisan ang inang sakitin, pinupuno ng musika at kasiyahan ang kanilang bahay. Ang mukha niya’y larawan ng katahimikan. Sinisikap nila ng kaniyang pamilya na gawing pagdiriwang ng kaniyang mahabang buhay ang burol ng kanilang ina. Sa burol, sa martsa, sa libing, pinagnilayan ni Cesar Apolinario ang buhay at kamatayan at ang hamon na ipagdiwang ang buhay ng yuamong mahal sa buhay sa gitna ng pagluluksa. Isang kuwento tungkol sa pagtanggap ng kamatayan, mapapanood ang "Huling Hantungan" ngayong Lunes ika-30 ng Agosto 30 sa I-Witness, pagkatapos ng Saksi.