Dearest Dad,

Happy Father's Day, Dad! How I wish you are still with us. Father's Day will never be the same again for us. We miss you so much. Everyday.

Send our love to everyone who has gone ahead - especially all the fathers on this special day. May you all feel our love from here up to the heavens.

As I reminded you on your last Father's Day from the plaque we gave you when we were kids:

For all you are
And all you've done
In my book Dad
You're number one

I love you. Thank you for being our Dad.

Love,
Che

Dad!!! Happy Father’s Day!!! I wish you were still at McCarty and we would see you in a bit! But that’s ok because we feel you all the time - thank you Lord! Like this morning your Old Spice scent filled the room again! Thank you Dad! And for the dream last Tuesday! I got to hug you tight for such a very long time!!! Dad one day we will see each other again. I can’t wait for that day. Meantime please always pray for us. Guide us with the things you’ve taught us. Thank you for loving us like you did - and you do. You were/are the greatest Dad! I love you so much and I know you know that!!! Mwah mwah!! Til we meet again Daddy!!!

Dearest Dad,

Happy 9th month in Heaven, Dad! Here's a feather for you. This always reminds me of Forrest Gump. Life, indeed, can blow us in so many different ways and directions.

Thank you Lord for giving us Dak as our father on earth. What a grand reunion they are having with you in Heaven. Thank you too that my ACIC engagement landed on dad's birthday. 

Dak - I know you somehow had your hand there and sent us a message of love and new beginnings.

We love and miss you so much, Dad.

Love,
Che

Hello Dak,

Happy 77th Birthday!! :) I hope you are having a grand time in Heaven! I thank the Lord that you are always in my dreams which really makes me HAPPY because I can feel your presence.☺ I truly miss you, Dak...'Til we meet again! I Love You!! ♥♥♥

Hi Lolo,

I Hope you're having a great time in heaven. I just wanna wish you a happy happy birthday Lolo!! We love you and miss you so much <3
Till we meet again Lolo !!

Love apo,
MJ

Happy happy 77th Birthday Dad ! I know in heaven it is all so different - but know that we remember you today in a very special way. I love you Dad! I know you are still always in my dreams. I pray that I will remember upon waking Praying the Lord will help us feel your presence later when we hang out together for your bday. Love you so much dad!! Missing you everyday esp today!! Smile, dad!! :)

Dearest Dad,

Happy 8th month in heaven Dad. Maybe you are aware of all the health (Tibs, Reggie, Umalis) and property issues here. What would you do or say Dak?

Enjoy your eternal bliss in heaven. We love and miss you so much.

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

Happy Easter in heaven Dad! Happy 53rd wedding Anniversary! ❤

What a good timing too...as today, I lit the last incense stick from the first batch. I started lighting you an incense every morning from your cremation and never missed a day. You have a fresh batch now from Ced. I hope it reaches you in heaven.

We love and miss you so much. Thank you for visiting mama in her dreams.

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

Flowers for you dad on your 7th month in heaven.  You must be having reunions with Kuya Jr Ilong and Tito Henry too.

My first batch of incense is now running low from my daily ritual of lighting one for you. That's how many I've got and how long you have gone. Cedric bought a new batch over the weekend in anticipation of the last stick. I hope the scent reaches you in heaven dak.❤

Please keep on praying for us.

We miss you so much Dad. We love you. See you in our dreams.

Love,
Che

Dear Dad,

Hello!!! Today as you know, is my FIRST DAY AT WORK with DHS!! Thank you so much for wishing me the best on my new job in your bday greeting video!! Magaling ka talaga mag predict!! I dedicate this day to the Lord, to you, to Ma and to Manon!!! I know you know all about this, and everything else that is going on. Dad, please pray that all goes well with my new job. Also please pray for Tboy for the second chance he is asking for his life to be normal again.

I love and miss you so much Dad but at the same time I feel you are just with us especially when we sleep you are always there in our dreams! Thank you Lord!!!

Mwah mwah!!!

Dearest dad,

Flowers and prayers for you on your 5th month in heaven, dad. I watched the 'Blessed Assurance' video made by Grace. We miss you so much.

Please pray with us as we lift Tibs in prayer. He's confined at St Luke's since yesterday.

Thank you for visiting us in our dreams. We love you so much.

Love,
Che

Daddy!!! I got my job today!!! Thank you for praying for me and wishing me well with my job Dad!!! God is good all the time to you and to all of us!! I love you dad!!! I know you are very happy for me!!!

Hi Dak,

Happy New Year! This is the saddest New Year’s Eve I’ve ever had, first time I shed a tear when midnight struck, while greeting everyone else. We miss you so much Dak. Celebrating Christmas and New Year will never be the same for all of us. I wonder how it is like celebrating Christmas there in heaven.

I love you so much Dak and missing you very much!

Love,
Ibet

Dear Dad,

It's now 2021 in Australia, Philippines and Barcelona too. We are missing you so much.

We didn't miss to do the rituals that you make us do every new year. We cleaned the house, threw out the garbage, lit the whole house, dressed up, created noise, turned on the electricals, served and ate 13 fruits, had money on our wallets etc. I changed the batteries to all your candles and Cedric lit another lamp for your corner. Of course, we lit an incense for NY eve on top of the daily morning ones. ❤

2020 was very tough for all for so many reasons. But mostly for losing you. But heaven gained you when the Lord called you home. And on that note, we will still give thanks to the Lord and the year that was.

Light, love and blessings for 2021. 

We love and miss you so much.

Love,
Che

Dear Dad,

How are you up there? Is there a Christmas day there too? As for me, this is the saddest Christmas I have ever known. I listen to our childhood carols so I can travel back in time. Our Christmases will never be the same again.

You know the traditional greetings to the apos? They are now simply signed 'Lola' instead of the usual 'Lolo and Lola'. It made me so sad and miss you so much. Last year, we attended the Christmas eve service in church. What a special moment. I will forever cherish the Christmas of 2019. 

Merry Christmas, Dad. I love and miss you so much.

Love,
Che

Dear Dad,

It's your 100th day in heaven. We are missing you more each day.

We know you are now enjoying eternal bliss with the Lord and so we try to be happy with that comforting thought. We can now smile and laugh when we remember you. But tears also come when we think of you.

We love you so much dad. Til we meet again.

Love,
Che

Hi Dad! This is Grace...today is the third month since you went Home. Around this time we were gathered around you, weeping, saying good bye, praying, washing your body, and finally anointing you with special Frankincense oil. You asked me to bring oil the day before - it is as if you knew what was going to happen. Three months went by so fast yet it seemed that so many things happened in slow motion over a long stretch. We know you are perfectly happy where you are right now.

I thank the Lord for my many dreams of you! In my dreams you are just around, within reach. It is very comforting. May He keep them coming not just for me but for everyone in the family who so desires!

We had a big turkey last Thanksgiving just as I dreamt you wanted us to do. It was good and now almost finished. We/They ate the turkey in remembrance of you and in Thanksgiving for your eternal peace and salvation. It was also my 51st. So many things to thank for!!

We love you dad!! Love you so much!! We will never forget you. You are always in our thoughts, hearts and we are with you whenever we worship the Lord, because that is what you are doing moment to moment now....

Rest and lean now in the everlasting arms of the Father! Love you Dad!

Hello Dad! This is Grace. I know you’ve been praying for us and interceding for our recovery and healing. Thank you very much, Dad. I join you in worship often by listening to your favorite album, Precious Moments. I miss you so much Dad! Especially now that I’m sick I cry a lot when I think of you. I miss all the precious moments we spent with you even the most ordinary and routine activities. But it’s ok, I tell myself. I am learning to smile instead of cry when I remember you. And we will keep busy and before we know it it will be reunion time! There will be great merriment in heaven because of all the family reunions that will take place at once. And ours will be one of the HAPPIEST families!!! See you again Dad!! I love you Dad!! And I know you loved and still love us all deeply. Smile over us Dad and please continue to pray for us and guide us.

Hi Dak,

I miss you dak, we all miss you everyday. Yesterday, we had a historic moment here in the US. We have a new president elect! Nanalo na si Biden, Dak! And we have the very first woman vice president. I'm sure if you were still here, we would be watching in your room together , as it unfolds, and we would be very excited talking about the new future of America and how Trump would be reacting at that moment. It's just sad that we didn't get to share that moment with you. We miss you Dak! Some days are still difficult, some days are lighter. I just hope you are still with us as we journey here on earth. It's just all different without you, but we also know that you are in a better place with the Lord.

We'll take care of Koig. We'll take care of each other. Please tell the Lord to keep us all safe. We will also keep on praying. We love you Dak so much!

Dear Dad,

Everyday, I pray to be comforted. I always ask the Lord to make me strong. 

Yesterday, Nov 4, I was strong. It was the first time that I didn't cry after 68 straight days. I have never cried this much in my entire life. The tears just easily form and roll.
Actually, I still cried. But it was already past 1am - so technically, It's a new day.

Last week, I randomly saw a plane flying by. It is now a rare sight in Australia that it made me take another good look at it. My thoughts quickly went to you and how we were not able to fly and see you. That will always hurt.
And of course, the tears just automatically flowed as I looked at the plane.

We are all trying to be strong and happy for you, dad. We all know you are experiencing love and joy in its purest form now. Enjoy your heavenly and perfect body. No more wheelchair. I love and miss you so much.

Hi Dad,

Remember the blue Nike jacket, the one with the Australian logo on the front left side? I got that for you some years ago and sent it from Australia to the Philippines hoping you'd like it. True enough you loved that jacket, used it frequently and fondly called it your “Australia” jacket.

I've always felt happy every time I see photos of you wearing this jacket. I know in my heart that as you wore it, it was like you were telling me that you appreciate and love me. Though I couldn’t be there with you, you wearing that jacket was the nearest I could be. Knowing that it kept you warm, warms my heart; as it gave you comfort, it gives me joy.

Yesterday I received a package from the US and your jacket was in it. As I was holding this jacket, my heart broke into pieces. Images of you wearing this jacket came flashing through and I missed you so much. Looking at it, I realized it is the only closest thing I could ever be with you. So I held it tightly, snuggled, and hugged it like it was you. I cried and cried as I felt pain and deep sadness. I will no longer see you in this jacket… I will no longer see you…

I chose to keep this jacket to remember you by. In time, I pray that thoughts of you would no longer make me sad. In time, I hope this jacket will bring warmth and comfort to me, as it did for you.

I miss you so much Daddy. I love you very much.

Love, Levi

Missing you, always praying for your peace & eternal glory with the Lord. Praying too for the healing & restoration for all of us who are left behind.

May the light of Jesus bring peace & salvation to your soul. For us who are left behind we always pray for strength & acceptance of the mortality of our earthly life. I love you & one day we will see each other in HEAVEN.

Hi Dak,

I am missing you so much Dak. I am always thinking of you, everyday. I know you are now happy with the Lord. Nothing is the same anymore here on earth since you left us..all I have of you now are our memories and I will treasure them forever. Bye for now Dak, until we see each other again. I love you so much!

From NONA

When someone you love becomes a memory,
The memory becomes a treasure...

October 7, 2020
Manong Leslie’s 40th Day

Hola Dak,

I remember 2 or 3 months ago when Yvette and I were singing songs while hanging out with you, you asked me to sing this louder so you can clearly hear it. This song ‘I will - by the Beatles’ will now remain forever in my heart, always singing it with love, and remembering you especially with these lines:

Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart

And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do, endear you to me
Oh, you know I will

I’ve been missing you more every day, Dad. And I’m having a hard time accepting the truth that you are no longer here with us. But one thing that gives me comfort is that I know that you are now with the Lord enjoying your new life, new body in heaven, without pain, and full of joy...

Te Amo, Daddy!!! Until we meet again...

Dear Lolo,

We remember you each and everyday, and we miss you always. We know that you are now with the Lord, and free from sickness. God has blessed us all, by having had you in our lives. Thank you, and good bye, until we meet again.

Love Darren

Dear Dad,

Did you enjoy your 40th Day? Are you now in the clouds? Hope you get to receive the message I sent up with the balloon! It was weird that we felt it was you and not mere balloons that zoomed up to the heavens! That is why we were in tears while waving at the balloons!

Bye Dak, I know you will be absent in the body but present always in spirit, and especially in the things you taught us and the guidance you will send us through the Lord. For me, you have become part of the “cloud of witnesses” to inspire and help us attain victory. Thank you for watching over us and cheering us on the right way so that we ourselves will complete our race victoriously. Just like you did! I love you dad and I bless your memory forever.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

A Tribute with Flower from NONA

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we deeply love becomes
a part of us”  H. Keller

Hello Dad,

Good evening.
It's cold here in Barcelona, ​​like when we visited you there In Oregon last December 2018. It was a joy and honor to be able to serve and take care of you during those days. I will miss accompanying you in your room watching TFC shows while eating some snacks.
Even though you were not able to visit Barcelona, I'm sure you are already in the most beautiful place that the Lord has prepared for you.
You will no longer say 'Meron ba tayo dyan" anymore...Because it has everything you need.
Enjoy your new life in heaven with the Lord.

Love you and miss you Dad :)

Today I light a candle for Dad in gratitude for God’s goodness to him. The other day, I read about the verse, “His lovingkindness is better than life.” I did not understand this before but now I know what it means. The Lord gave dad more than another extension to his mortal life (which He has done many times in the past). The Lord gave him more than “life” - he gave dad His Lovingkindness - which is way better than life itself! Because of His kindness, Dad is now in a place and in a state that is far, far better than we can desire or think of or imagine. One day, we will also receive such lovingkindness and will live and worship with Dad in Heaven forevermore. Amen.

I love you, Dad! You are now a new creation in Heaven. Looking forward to seeing you again when my time comes :)

Hello Lolo!

I'm so thankful I got to see you earlier this year! It wasn't the longest visit, but we got to spend some good times together.

Words can't describe the sadness, Lolo. In fact, words feel completely inadequate in articulating our loss, that it seems almost easier to keep it to ourselves.

But today, I just want to say good morning. The weather in Sydney's nice and warm... I think you'd like it. Love you, Lolo!

Good morning dad.

Here's a digital candle for you. It's safe - like your constant reminders about candles and fire.

Your Philippine obituary will be coming out tomorrow. In color! I remember how we would always spread out our Manila Bulletin newspaper and read all the pages. And on Sundays we'd look at the obit section to see if there's anyone we know.

We are missing you more each day, dad. We love you. 

Enjoy your walk with the Lord.❤

Love you lolo. Miss you. ♥️ I would like to dedicate this song to you: Little Wonders by Rob Thomas. I think of you everytime I hear it. I know you're very happy in Heaven.

Let it go
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know?
The hardest part is over
Let it in
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just remember how it feels
Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These small hours still remain
Let it slide
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
'Til you feel it all around you
And I don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by
It's the heart that really matters in the end
Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These small hours still remain
All of my regret
Will wash away some how
But I cannot forget
The way I feel right now
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Yeah, these twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
Yeah, but these small hours
And these small hours
Still remain, yeah
Oh, they still remain
These little wonders
Oh, these twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These little wonders
Still remain

Dear Dad,

I love you, dad. I miss you so much.

I will miss you everyday for the rest of my life. 

Til we meet again, dad.

Love,
Che

Dear Dad,

We are all missing you so much everyday so we put our hope in the Lord that one day, because we believe in Jesus, we will have a grand family reunion in Heaven - and will enjoy fellowship again above and beyond what we can even think and imagine! Enjoy the Lord's presence and glory, until we all see each other again! We love you, Dad!