From Mari: Remembering my sister, Malu
It was the end of July 2008 when I last saw Malu in person, a day before I left Manila for Toronto, Canada to pursue a future with my family. Though it was another busy day for her as head of the Metrobank branch at San Agustin corner De la Costa Salcedo Village in Makati, she still found time to attend to me and my requirements.
Banking was her life just as it was for our Dad. In the times I was at her office, I never saw our sister lose her smile, humor, composure and gentle voice when dealing with clients or her staff. If there was any one thing that completed Malu when coming to work, it was her signature tight blouse and tight skirt that were neatly well put together all the time. Only the slight suggestion of a spare tire in her mid-section, something I'd tease her about, marred the ensemble.
Because my office was just a few blocks away, she and I met occasionally over coffee and lunch to talk about her family and Metrobank where I too had worked for some 6 years. After she was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer, our conversations increasingly focused on the progress she was making in fighting the Big C using alternative healing protocols. She also shared her experience talking to other cancer victims who needed hope and encouragement. More importantly, she spoke to them about having faith in God as the foundation of the healing process.
Proclaiming the Good News of our Faith was not new to Malu. As many of you know, serving God goes back decades earlier. During her younger years, she was a member of the church choir. When mid life set in, she joined our mom as mass lector. It was at the Fatima community where Malu developed meaningful and enduring friendships.
Though faced always with a busy schedule, Malu's priority was her children, her life's purpose. From the time she gave birth to Dennis, then Joey and finally Andrea, she tirelessly made sure there was food on the table and her children were receiving proper education. She also made sure that her kids were as talented as she was in singing and dancing so they can perform in front of "Familia Maravillas" gatherings. Above all, she did as our parents taught us which was to always go to Sunday Mass as one whole family.
Our sister Malu went through life perhaps more challenged than many of us. Yet, what kept her whole and able to endure tons of difficulties, as well as, embrace endless sacrifices to becoming the loving wife, mother, sister, in-law and daughter that she had become, was her Catholic Faith which we so dearly received from our loving parents.
In one of my last overseas phone conversations with her while she was in her hospital bed at Cardinal Santos Hospital in April last year, she affirmed to me that she was also praying for those suffering like her. And I affirmed back by saying that she was blessed by God for becoming the reason for those of us whose faith in prayers were renewed.
I left the Philippines hopeful that my sister was on the road to getting rid of her disease. But as it turned out God had other plans. She was privileged and blessed to walk along side her loving and forgiving Christ on the road to Calvary. I believe that for each vital organ she lost to cancer forgiveness flowed out from her heart.
My dearest sister,
Dina, Jade, Lace and I, in unison with everyone here today especially mommy, your siblings and your children will miss you very dearly. Let not sadness fill your soul but rather eternal joy that comes only when returning to Him, our Creator. Do not worry for Andrea. Along with Dennis and Joey, she now has 9 parents and a loving Abuelita who will look after her as she enters womanhood.
Do kiss and hug Daddy for us.
To those who have been a part of our family especially during these difficult times and who had prayed for Malu, thank you so much. We can never thank you enough.