God Is Our Guide

I was a bit shocked and saddened by the text message that I received last Friday that my first cousin Ka Viring passed away Thursday night. We’re not expecting news like that because my brother told us that her husband is the one who has been experiencing sickness in his body. Life is like that you’ll never really know who will pass away first. We got there (Me, Redge and Kuya) past 9pm last Saturday evening because bro had some bible study schedules during the day. It was a slightly dangerous travel because we have to pass the mountain road in going to and fro Laguna and Rizal. We’re just confident that God will guide us in our travel. We learned that our cousin didn’t tell her family of her breast cancer until such time that it’s too late to cure it. Maybe she has reasons of her own for hiding it but we and her family were so sad to learn that she knew of her sickness and never told it to anyone.

After more an hour or two we traveled back to our home and because it was already near to midnight we just took it slowly. We traveled in dark winding road with trust in God that He’ll hold us safely in His arms. It was a tricky road ahead of us with two instances in our trip that we encountered thick fog with us seeing nothing for a minute or two. Thanks God we crossed the mountainous road safely. We stayed awake the whole trip to avoid my bro from getting sleepy. We reached our home in God’s gracious guidance at 12 midnight.

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Malou's Father Passed Away

I've prepared early for office as I planned to go to my high school friend and distant cousin Malou. Her father died 3 days ago of heart attack. Actually I've scheduled myself last night to go there but when I saw that their house was full of people I backed out and visited her early this morning. I want to offer my condolences and talk to my friend in silence, it's been awhile since our last talk and I really want to console her.

Her father's heart attack was a complication brought about by diabetes and they were surprised by his sudden death because just last week he seemed very strong. Life is like that, you will never really know when sickness and death will passed or hit you. Important thing is you'll have strong faith and personal relationship with God so when your time comes you'll be ready to meet Him.

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Our Last Visit To Ma'am!

We’ve been to the wake of my Mareng Enyang together with my sis Redge yesterday night. She and her elementary classmates agreed to meet at a certain place and we’re there for about an hour before we were completed. Together with Cecile, Anna, Lito and Mayen, me and my sister paid our last visit to Ma’am Guirnalda. I saw Bless first and then look for my goddaughter Mado who was staying inside their room because she felt tired due to many people present there. It’s the last evening and today we will all bid our last farewell to her.

Most of SJES teachers were there and I came to sit with the veteran teachers, they’re my teachers when I was in grade school. I’m glad that they’ll stay for another two years because my daughters will experience their good teaching abilities. I’ve also seen many students visited Ma’am Guirnalda, students handled by her over the years. Ma’am was a good and kind teacher the reason why many students who are now working in their own chosen career has paid her a visit to see her for the last time. When I came to see her face I was happy that she looked in total peace and serenity. I can’t believe that I’m seeing a 58-year old woman who suffered from a killer disease, what I saw was a younger-looking beautiful woman who peacefully faced the sickness given to her. I know that she’s looking at us now, happy and no pain at all.

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My Science Teacher Passed Away

Got a call from my sister yesterday and she informed me that my grade school favorite teacher passed away already. She got the news firsthand as her grade school best friend was a close relative of the family. My teacher was known to be as Mrs. Guirnalda to students and teachers, and Mareng Enyang to my Mom and me as she picked me to be the godmother of her eldest daughter Madonna when I was in the fifth grade, actually my second sponsorship then.

Know why she had chosen me? Actually I’m not certain, all I know was she was my mentor when I was picked to represent our school in Science Quiz Bee. As science was her major subject and my favorite subject too I became very fond of her and sort of looked up to her as a good and patient teacher. That competition was never won but it gave me an experience and advancement on my science subjects until my college days because since then I was hooked up to science.

Since she chose me to be Madonna’s godmother they became close to us especially her daughter Mado who at times sleep on our house when she was younger. Every time I go to school and see her we always make kumustahan, she would ask about my mom her former co-teacher. One day she was diagnosed having a cancer and since then she has been fighting for her recovery with full support from her family. This was news that made my Mom cry but I told her we can’t do something about it but to include her always in our prayers.

The last time I saw her was on Mado’s wedding and I was happy to see her as beautiful as ever, my favorite teacher who remains elegantly beautiful despite what she had gone through. The woman who bravely fight against cancer was there enjoying the happy wedding moments of her daughter. It was a very beautiful day.

With her passing away all that remains are the beautiful memories of a great mother and a kind teacher. I know all of her students would be sad with this news but we shouldn’t be sad as finally she will be resting her tired body now.

Photo was taken during the wedding last Sept. 8, 2008

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Lola Cristina Passed Away

This morning we went to Lola Cristina's funeral, she's still as beautiful as she is and like what other people say always she looks as if she's just on a deep sleep. She's a cousin of my grandmother but we look up to her as a real close grandmother because she's always there for us in every occasion of our life. She's a great cook and she always help us when there's big occasion in our house like debut, anniversaries and even in our wedding. She's the one who catered the food for our wedding last may 4, 1996 and even though she's old already she has a very strong and healthy body not to mention the expert taste also in food. Her second daughter and youngest son were one of my sponsors then and their whole family supported us in every way they can help in our wedding. I truly appreciate their caring and thoughtful ways. She died peacefully at 97 years old and I know that my Lola is happy now wherever she is. God Bless her!

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Lola's Memorial

We've made ourselves ready early in the morning for final goodbye to Lola 'coz we didn't want to be late. Had my kids clothed with white tops as instructed by Ed's mom. Travel to Sandigan area was quite long, it took us an hour and a half crossing from Cainta to Marikina to San Mateo and finally to Litex. I'm all alone with my three kids as my hubby wasn't allowed to go onleave again as he's on leave for a couple of days already within the week. We've finally made it through Litex and there the whole clan of Abug was there, a big clan I should say. As we made our way inside the house we were introduced to relatives, aunties and uncles, Josh love the attention that he's getting, this kid is really not a shy one. After a couple of hours, we readied all things and finally made our way to St. Peter's Memorial Park, a 30-minute ride and there we found ourselves near the place they called "Erap City". Felt like you're in a park in a province, very new and serene place. With this ambience Uncle Floren, Auntie Lily, Tatay and Uncle Titoy said their goodbyes and offered their prayers to their mother together with all the nieces, nephews, grandkids and relatives of Lola. She's now rested in peace.

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Lola Has Passed Away

We were on Nanay Rosing's house last Saturday when we learned that my hubby's granny died early in the morning. It was a sad thing for me as Ed hasn't paid her a visit a couple of months now since his job took most of his time leaving him just the Sunday Fellowship to attend to, no more time for visiting relatives and his family in fairview. Lola Sima was a really nice granny, whenever I call her from my office she always has a lot of stories to tell, she even talked to me in Waray language forgetting that I won't be able to understand her but nevertheless it was always fun talking to her, I'll surely miss that.

After Sunday service we headed straight to Lola even if our backlight failed, we just traveled in moderate speed with hazard lights on. With God's guidance we reached the place safely but we never risked ourselves into traveling again at night, we waited for the light in the morning before we finally go home. We stayed the night there with Ed's Uncle giving hubby's important documents stored in their house, my hubby stayed with his Lola, Uncle and Auntie when he's still single before we got married. So his uncle is like a father to him also.

During our short stay there amidst the visitors who paid visits to Lola, Ed had a nice sharing with Uncle Floren about our faith and God's word. He has an open-minded heart so their sharing went smoothly. I just can't control my tired eyes and body and decided to rest for a while and after some minutes they also rested leaving Uncle and one relative to watch over. We wanted to stay more but the kids will go to school before 7am so at around 5am we headed home just in time for the kids' service and for me to prepare our things for our office works. Ed will be there later in the evening again and will stay the night again.

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