Ali Sotto sa Madrid na mamamalagi

 Ali Sotto left today for Glendale, California, but left with a heavy heart.

Dadalawin muna niya roon ang anak na si Chino en route to Madrid, Spain to reunite with her husband Omar. Bukod sa naiwang programang Double A sa Double B (with Arnold Clavio), Ina Foundation and Eye Bank Foundation (spearheaded the latter following the death of her son Mico in December 2003), mabigat ang naging pag-alis ni Tita A, ‘‘Dahil pati ’yung puntod ng aking anak, hindi ko na mapupuntahan.’’

Ali won’t be back until 2010, pero this early she has already bargained (if not pleaded) with her Papa Omar to return to the country ahead of him. If it’s any joy in her heart, alam daw ni Tita A, ‘‘Later on, I realized na mas gusto ni Mico for me to celebrate the 21 years of life at yung time that we shared. Hindi niya gusto that I focus on the day that I lost him.’’

As a still-grieving mom, inaalam din daw ni Ali ang damdamin ng mga kapwa niya who have lost their children, tulad ni Alicia Alonzo whose son Jonjon Hernandez perished in a car crash during the mid-90’s. ‘‘Sabi ko, tita, hanggang kelan, two years, three years… parang hinihintay mo na matapos ’yung pain, pero wala palang ganun. Until now, I feel that when I cry it’s a celebration of my love for my son,’’ sabi niya in tears.