Papa Felix

Papa’s heavenly name

I once told him, “Papa! I know your heavenly name!” His eyebrows go up as he sits up on his hospital bed. “Its GRACE! Think about it. Your whole life is God’s abundant grace.” We go through the years: he and his family survived war in Africa, he got to KNOW God with his wife through Mercy Ships, he saw so many places WITH his family through Mercy Ships (normally a seaman would have to work months without seeing his family), missionary for 12 years in Holland, returns to the Philippines through bestowed means, survivor of heart arrest.

His heart stopped beating over 11 times. And they still managed to resuscitate him. His head doctor says he must have some kind of work to do still here on earth because heaven barred its gates for him,  he says, amazed at papa’s recovery. His ER doctor’s name was Anastasio. “So, its GRACE, papa, that’s got to be your name.”  He laughs heartily at me.

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Somewhere in March we take a father-daughter stroll around the block. He points at the neighbours in their houses. “These are all Africans,” he says.

Papa acquired memory loss after his cardiac arrest last year October. He forgot our names (except mine. He never forgot mine). He thought he was still in Africa, Europe, on the ship, at the airport in Holland, in Russia during his seafaring days. Bit by bit, he remembers that he left Holland, and now lives in Mamatid, Cabuyao, Laguna. In the Philippines. He still forgets yesterday, and a few hours ago, but his memory of his return to the Philippines is stronger now. He even dreams of his return.

He never forgot his best friend Nonoy Ty. Or our family friends the ‘t Harts. He always remembered Pieter. Petra. Although he sometimes mixed the names of the kids.

Yesterday, Nanay says: “He used to not know any of the family members on this picture. But now he can name all of them!”

That was the night of his cardiac arrest – October 10, 2010. None of us will ever forget that night.

For 2 months they walked for an hour early morning. Until the doctor says that encourages coronary problems. So now every evening, they walk. Or papa bikes.

God is good.

Someday, he will be back. He’ll have had his andiogram – a heart test – and either a coronary surgery, or the placing of a defibrillator. His memory is completely restored. He’ll be working for PASALI again as he did before. He’ll have a small airconditioning business with my uncle in Laguna. He’ll be my mom’s inspirator for her baking business. Because God is good, I know he’ll be up on his own again.

See videos of Papa’s recovery:

The Felix Reality Shoow
Everybody goes Kungfu fighting/Healer

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Felix Pulmano is by profession a marine engineer. He worked as a seaman from 17. From 1993 – 1995 he served as third engineer on the M/V Anastasis of Mercy Ships. From 1996 – 2008 he worked voluntarily for Mercy Ships (repairs, dry dock), and for the Philippine Seafarers Assistance Program (PSAP) where he was a councelor, educator and writer for the PAROLA magazine. After dreaming for many years with his friend Nonoy Ty, they took the step to live it out in 2003 with an idea contest by Dutch CORDAID, ….., and STICHTING MONDIALE SAMENLEVING. They won 3rd prize, and started PASALI Philippines in 2005, an organisation for the development of local farmers and youth in the Philippines. Papa’s concrete part in the whole operation is the idea of the technical repair shop. That shop now runs on its own in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, employing former out-of-school youth.