A Cancer Survivor, Loved by All
April 11, 2021
She lived in Marikina until she moved to Pasig in 2017. But she remains a true Marikeña, whose favorite places were the Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, the Marikina Market, and Mercury Drug (Senior Citizens would understand why). She was the 6th child out of 7 of Gelang and Tandoy. All her siblings are now in heaven and she missed them dearly.
She had a succesful and memorable career at LRA, her only employer her entire life and where she met Daddy. She was an honest government official who, together with my Dad, never pocketed a single cent from the people coming to LRA. There were customers thanking her for "her swift and kind service, without expecting anything in return".
She survived breast cancer before she turned fifty. That made her an even stronger woman - with stronger faith in God and that grit to face life's challenges.
When she retired, she focused on serving the family, mostly through cooking. She was a fantastic cook, sometimes a perfectionist. She wont accept ingredients that were not cut similarly in size and in shape, because they will not cook evenly and will affect the overall outcome of the dish. Her famous dishes were dinuguan, menudo, pickles, sinigang na buntot ng baboy, and vegetable soup. The family always looked forward to see her and savour her dishes.
When Daddy passed away, she spent more time praying, seeking peace and comfort from God. She always prayed for our family and loved ones.
A few weeks back, we had a video call and she told me that she had 2 similar dreams - that her elder sisters, Ite Nora and Tita Lyd, were calling her to join them. She didnt know where they were going, but in both dreams, she refused, she laughingly narrated.
Last week, she asked my cousin to prepare her Golden Wedding gown, "just in case".
While I prayed for her protection, good health, safety, and peace of mind, I also prayed that if it's God's will to take her, let it be peaceful, painless, and when she's ready.
She would mention to me once in a while that she is ready to be with Daddy, though her love for us makes her want to be here longer.
On 10 April, she would have started the day by praying the rosary and reading the Bible, as she had always done. In the midst of the pandemic, lockdown, and all constraints that go along with it, it was a perfect way to surrender to and accept God's will of moving on. My prayer was answered. Hallelujah to God!
She had a succesful and memorable career at LRA, her only employer her entire life and where she met Daddy. She was an honest government official who, together with my Dad, never pocketed a single cent from the people coming to LRA. There were customers thanking her for "her swift and kind service, without expecting anything in return".
She survived breast cancer before she turned fifty. That made her an even stronger woman - with stronger faith in God and that grit to face life's challenges.
When she retired, she focused on serving the family, mostly through cooking. She was a fantastic cook, sometimes a perfectionist. She wont accept ingredients that were not cut similarly in size and in shape, because they will not cook evenly and will affect the overall outcome of the dish. Her famous dishes were dinuguan, menudo, pickles, sinigang na buntot ng baboy, and vegetable soup. The family always looked forward to see her and savour her dishes.
When Daddy passed away, she spent more time praying, seeking peace and comfort from God. She always prayed for our family and loved ones.
A few weeks back, we had a video call and she told me that she had 2 similar dreams - that her elder sisters, Ite Nora and Tita Lyd, were calling her to join them. She didnt know where they were going, but in both dreams, she refused, she laughingly narrated.
Last week, she asked my cousin to prepare her Golden Wedding gown, "just in case".
While I prayed for her protection, good health, safety, and peace of mind, I also prayed that if it's God's will to take her, let it be peaceful, painless, and when she's ready.
She would mention to me once in a while that she is ready to be with Daddy, though her love for us makes her want to be here longer.
On 10 April, she would have started the day by praying the rosary and reading the Bible, as she had always done. In the midst of the pandemic, lockdown, and all constraints that go along with it, it was a perfect way to surrender to and accept God's will of moving on. My prayer was answered. Hallelujah to God!