On June 12, 2009, while the rest of the Philippines celebrated its 111th year of independence, my dear Auntie Leddy, younger sister of my mom, wife of Uncle Ben and "Nanay" to Benjie and Yahmin, celebrated her independence from the pains of this world and went home to our Father in heaven.
Auntie Leddy bravely fought acute myelogenous leukemia for 10 months. She endured 6 rounds of chemotherapy and all the effects that go with it (falling hair, loss of appetite, bouts of infection such as pneumonia, reverse isolation which meant limited visitors who had to wear masks, etc.), and was declared in remission last March after her last round of chemo.
We joyfully celebrated her 67th birthday last April 22, with a thanksgiving party and concert participated in by her loved ones --- she sang with her husband Ben and her sisters Lily and Nievi plus their spouses Gani and Leo the song "Love Divine", which sounded like a shortened version of her name, "Ledivine", short for "Ledivina". My sisters and I sang "All the Things You Are" while Mommy accompanied us on the keyboard. My cousins and I from the Vidallon clan sang "My Tribute", "I Will Be Here", and backed up Ate Aileen Cura who wonderfully sang "Light of a Million Mornings". We also sang "Shine Down" as an encore after the audience seemed to want more music. In between song numbers, Auntie Leddy and her immediate family members (Uncle Ben, Benj, Yahmin, my mom and Auntie Nievi) gave out testimonies of thanks to all those who watched over her (the caregivers and "super bantays"), donated blood, prayed, gave financial assistance, and simply supported us with their words of encouragement and hugs. It was truly a night to remember, and we all saw how happy and beautifully radiant Auntie Leddy was that night.
I remember rehearsing for her birthday celebration during my own birthday on April 12, ten days before the big day. My aunts, uncles and cousins from the Vidallon side of my family came, as well as Ate Aileen and Kuya Dan Cura. Some Youth Choir members also came (who simply devoured the kare-kare and crab meat) to celebrate with me. We rehearsed (or tried to rehearse) the song numbers even if there was no competent pianist to accompany us. Thankfully Ate Aileen saved the day by singing "Light of a Million Mornings" with little effort in reaching those high notes. Auntie Leddy later confessed in an e-mail that she "couldn't sleep with Aileen's soaring Light of a Million Mornings reverberating in my ears." She also thanked us for the wonderful rehearsal.
So imagine the shock we felt upon learning that my aunt's cancer was back, a mere 21 days after her birthday. My family and I were still in Europe then, and when I got Auntie Nievi's text messages that Auntie Leddy has had a relapse, I had to go to the bathroom and cried my heart out. I was given instructions not to tell Mommy yet, since we knew she would be so devastated and we wanted her to enjoy the remaining days of our vacation.
On May 20, the day after we arrived from Europe, I told Mommy what had happened and we proceeded to visit Auntie Leddy at her home. She calmly told us that the cancer was back with a vengeance (her blast cells or leukemic cells grew to 30, compared to only 3 when she was 1st diagnosed last August), but she did not want to undergo chemotherapy anymore. She figured that in her weakened state she would not last long with or without chemotherapy. She preferred a good quality of life, even if it would be for a short time, and did not want to be isolated from friends and family (which would have happened if she chose to undergo another 6 cycles of chemo). Instead, she explored alternative medicine, and diligently took vitamins and minerals, herbal teas and changed her diet. She was so full of life and insisted that we take time to eat cake and ice cream in celebration of her granddaughter Maya's 1st birthday. She also strongly admonished us, "walang sisihan", and kept reminding us that it was her personal decision not to have chemo.
A few days after that, we all converged at Bubba Gump for Maya's grand birthday celebration. I was the host and although I wasn't able to talk to Auntie Leddy that much, I could see how happy she was to have witnessed that event.
On June 5, or some 2 weeks later, she was back at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI). I remember visiting Auntie Leddy after work in her big hospital suite and teasing her that we could do ballroom dancing in her room. She was not able to eat much, but the presence of her 2 sisters seemed to lift her spirits.
The next day, after Youth Choir practice, I rushed again to NKTI to visit her and fetch Mommy, who was there for almost the entire day. Mommy told me that I ought to congratulate her, since she was able to open her laptop and play the videos of auntie Leddy's 67th birthday celebration without any difficulty (for a non-techie person as my mom, that's a major accomplishment). As a result, my mom was able to watch the highlights of the celebration with Auntie Leddy, Uncle Ben, and Tita Liling Briones (who was not there during the celebration since she was out of the country that time). They enjoyed the song numbers and teased each other during the "Love Divine" portion. I left Auntie Leddy that night thinking that she would be out of the hospital in a couple of days, and promised that I would ask Bobby to come visit her on Sunday to give her communion.
I wasn't able to visit her on Sunday, but Bobby did, and he said Auntie Leddy looked fine. But come Monday, June 8, when Mommy and I visited her after office hours, we noticed that she was having difficulty in breathing. She often seemed out-of-breath and had to formulate her words very carefully. For the first time in all her hospitalization, I heard her wonder why God has kept her alive, when all her other leukemia "batchmates" had already passed away. She also said that she has had a blessed life, has a wonderful family, and could not ask for more. She even confessed that she sometimes felt guilty that she was praying for her own healing, when there were a lot of people suffering as well. She said that she felt so selfish. My mom told her that we do not understand God's plan, and that it's ok to pray for our own needs, for God knows our heart's desires.
On Tuesday, Auntie Leddy had to be given oxygen to help her breathe. Her white blood cells were rapidly climbing and she was starting to feel pain in her legs. Yet, despite being on oxygen, she managed to tell the entire Pastoral Team of Ellinwood (yes, all 5 pastors -- Pastors Gane, Raul, Ron, Linda and Edwin, plus Teacher Ellen Morada) her life story, from her childhood days to her being awarded University Professor Emeritus by the University of the Philippines back in 2005 (only a chosen few are given this title upon their retirement). She spoke for an hour or so, and told them that she was ready to go anytime. That night, after our Psalm Ensemble practice, I rushed to NKTI to find her semi-conscious, disoriented and unable to eat. Despite medication similar to chemotherapy (aimed at lowering her white blood cell count), her white blood cells kept on rising, from 99 to 120 in just one night. When she saw my cousins and I arriving in her room one by one, she shrewdly asked ate Gail, "Bakit andito kayong lahat? Mamamatay na ba ako?" To which ate Gail said, "Auntie, lahat tayo mamamatay, hindi lang natin alam kailan."
Once she fell asleep, we had a family meeting at the canteen. Ate Gail listed down the scenarios and all that was happening with Auntie Leddy, and whether she would want to be placed on a respirator. We decided to let Auntie decide, since she was always aware of what was happening to her body.
On Wednesday, June 10, Auntie Leddy took a turn for the worse. She was hardly responding and could no longer talk. My mom rushed to be at her bedside after bringing me to the office. And when I saw Auntie Leddy that night, I knew that pieces of her were slowly being taken away. She was rapidly deteriorating. I remember hugging her that night as she lay on her side, while her caregivers and I took turns rubbing her back and forehead as Auntie Nievi and I hummed hymns to her. She only ate a few spoonfuls of Glucerna (similar to Sustagen), and often closed her eyes while her breathing became more labored. Sometime after midnight, she opened her eyes and said "hi" several times. She smiled at Uncle Ben and Tita Menchit, one of her best friends who was also Maya's pediatrician, and raised her hand as if waving to them. Soon after that, she opened her eyes again, looked at me with a smile and reached out to touch my cheek. It was the last time I would ever see her with her eyes open. We went home at around 2 in the morning, since we waited for Ate Gail to arrive from her late clinic hours.
The next day, Thursday, my mom stayed at the hospital the entire day. By mid-morning, my mom, Auntie Nievi, Uncle Ben, Yahmin and Benj decided not to pursue extreme emergency measures anymore, which meant not placing her on a respirator or resuscitating her if she stopped breathing. After Pastor Gane prayed for them over the speaker phone, and after Bob emphasized that Auntie Leddy was going home to a far better place, each of her immediate family members took turns to say goodbye.
That entire night of June 11 to the early morning hours of June 12, Auntie Leddy's family, my parents, Ate Gail, Uncle Leo, Auntie Nievi, Lenelle and I took turns watching over her and singing to her. When Ate Gail decided to give her Valium to help ease her difficulty in breathing, we knew that the time was near. Uncle Leo led us in prayer, and then we gathered around Auntie Leddy's bedside as we sang hymn after hymn after hymn. While the rest of us had a hard time singing through our tears, my mom and Auntie Nievi kept on, even singing songs that were known only to them from their childhood. Ate Gail, Lenelle, Benj and I then sang a couple of Psalm Ensemble anthems, such as "Ride the Morning Winds", "As We Sail to Heaven's Shore" and "The New 23rd". When we were all spent, we read aloud Psalm 139 and a devotional from Our Daily Bread which fit Auntie Leddy's condition. At around 5:30 AM, Yahmin told us to go home so that we could rest. We left Yahmin, Lenelle and Benj to watch over Auntie Leddy. Before I left, I whispered "God be with you" to Auntie Leddy, that we loved her very much, and that it was okay to go.
I fell asleep once I got home, only to be awakened a little after 10:30 AM by my mom, who tearfully said that Auntie Leddy was gone already. And then my mom wailed like she had never cried before. It was as if the reality of the situation had finally sunk in. I hugged her as tightly as I could and then thanked God for Auntie Leddy's life. I quickly showered and went with Mommy back to NKTI. My cousins told me that as soon as Uncle Ben, who had also gone home at the same time as us, went inside the room, Auntie Leddy breathed her last. Auntie Leddy seemed to wait for him to arrive before leaving this world.
As I write this, it dawned on me that for every milestone in Auntie Leddy's journey through cancer, there was a corresponding joyful event to celebrate --- my birthday, her birthday, Maya's birthday. God seemed to show us that no matter what happens, we should give thanks and be joyful. He is always in control. I remember that devotional in Our Daily Journey which reminded us to trust the Healer, and not the healing... to trust the Savior, and not the impossible miracles that He can perform.
Auntie Leddy is now home, free from war, pain, fear, harm, sin and grief. As Pastor Gane said in his message last June 16 during the last memorial service before the funeral, Auntie Leddy is now completely healed, for death is a form of healing. I never thought of it that way, and I was comforted by that. Though we will miss her terribly --- her smile, her brilliant mind, her caring heart, her cheerful attitude even in the midst of chemotherapy, her appreciation to all who helped her, her thank you notes, her Christmas gifts last December (how she was able to shop while undergoing chemo is beyond me), her ability to quickly read any type of publication, her love for her family, her zeal to serve, her joy in life, I know that no pleasure here on earth can give her the immeasurable joy that is now with her in heaven.
I love you, Auntie. I thank God every time I remember you (Phil. 1:3). Farewell and till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
By His counsels’ guide uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you,
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet.
Till we meet, till we meet
God be with you till we meet again.
I was doing something else when I wandered over to my long-abandoned, updated-once-in-a-purple-moon blog, and I was inspired to update it again through another year-end reflection.
Here are the highlights and reasons why I am so thankful to God for all He has brought in 2008:
1) The ties that bind and the events or activities that bind them…
- The annual Vidallon reunion every Christmas day
- The Magtolis reunion every New Year’s day
- The get-togethers with old friends & relatives from far away (from the US: Melissa, Jane & Caps, Manong Ely, Kuya Bobong & family; from Australia: Ate Portia & family; from New Zealand: Arias family; from Singapore: Auste family, Leonard & Sandy; from Guam: Abe; from Germany: Bhenne; from Dubai: Eric, Junjun; from Bacolod: Trina & family; from Canada: Charming, Shinette, the Fenols)
- Meals with my officemates, the QM guys & gals, friends from Psych Soc, my cousins, UP peeps
2) The travels with family and friends…
-
- Trip to
- Youth Choir retreat in Talisay, Batangas in May
- Trip to
- Trip to Hongkong with my cousins in June
- Young Professionals (YP) outing in Matabungkay, Batangas in June
- Trip to
- Trip to Boracay with Ellinwood youths in October
3) Ministries in church…
- The anniversary & Christmas issues of The Third Chronicles
- Conducting the Youth Choir for another year with no repetition of an anthem & the special activities of the Youth Choir: retreat after 3 years, singing in the Good Friday worship, participation in the fundraising concert for UCCP Dulong-Bayan, Youth Sunday, and singing in the Christmas day worship
- Another year of helping facilitate the YP Fellowship
- Starting again the Young Adults (YA) Fellowship
- Visiting the Youth Camp and acting as adviser of the Youth Coordinating Council (for the nth time)
- Leading the Choir Coordinating Council (CCC) for another year
- Conducting the Church Council, Christian Education & Nurture (CEN) Practitioners and the Board of Deacons to sing offertory anthems
- Another year of singing with the Psalm Ensemble and participating in the centennial concert of the
- Organizing the luncheon fellowship program for
- Conducting the Festival Choir during EMC’s 101st anniversary thanksgiving worship
- Singing the “Magnificat” by John Rutter on Christmas Eve with the Chancel Choir and Psalm Ensemble
4) Accomplishments in my career…
- Passing the assessment and interview stages of the Career Executive Officer Eligibility Examination (one more stage to go [validation]!)
- Permanent status at work by August
- More responsibilities in the office
- Good feedback in performance rating
5) Special memories throughout the year…
- Graduation of Zia from preschool
- Recognition day of Zach
- Watching Gary V.’s “His Love” concert with my cousins in May
- Watching the UP Centennial concert with Mommy in June
- Watching “Cinderella” with Lea Salonga with my family in August
- Watching the Beijing Olympics on television
- Movie dates with Papa
- Weddings attended, especially my first godmother-in-a-wedding experience
- Parents’ 45th anniversary
- Zia’s ballet recital
- Zach and Zia’s 2nd piano recital
- Arrival of Baby Maya into the Vidallon-Carino-Mattison household
6) Strength & guidance in times of difficulty & uncertainty…
- Steady supply of blood donors and continued treatment for Auntie Leddy
- Comfort with the passing away of Uncle Ely
- Safety from the storms & floods in June and July
- Provision during the global financial crisis
Truly, my cup overflows. 
I got this again from another forwarded email (see essay below with different font and color), and I don't know who originally wrote this. But reading it made me nostalgic, for it brought back so many memories of my childhood, and I was inspired to make additional observations below. I hope those belonging to the same generation as mine remember with fond memories the seeming simplicity of the life of kids growing up in the Philippines back then.
Read on...
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First, some of us survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, fish from a can (brand: Ligo ), and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints, pati na yung laruang kabayu-kabayuhan.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, no kneepads, sometimes wala ngang preno yung bisikleta.
As children, we would ride in car with no seat belts or air bags – hanggang ngayon naman, di ba (jeep)? Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat (may kaya kayo pare!)
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle (minsan straight from the faucet). We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. Or contacted hepatitis.
We ate rice with tinunaw na purico (dahil ubos na ang star margarine), nutribuns na galing kay Macoy and drank softdrinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight kasi nga ...... WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. Sarap mag patintero, tumbang preso, habulan taguan…. No one was able to reach us all day (di uso ang cellphone, walang beepers). And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our trolleys or slides out of scraps and then ride down the street, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendos, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms...WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. The only rubbing we get is from our friends with the words…..”Masakit ba?” Pero pag galit yung kalaro mo… ang sasabihin sa iyo… beh buti nga!
We played in the dirt, washed our hands a little and ate with our bare hands. We were not afraid of getting worms in our stomachs. We have to live with homemade guns – gawa sa kahoy, tinali ng rubberband, sumpit, tirador at kung ano ano pa na puedeng makasakit, pero walang nagrereklamo.
We made up games with sticks (syatong) and cans (tumbang preso) and although we were told it would happen, wala naman tayong binulag o napatay….paminsan minsan may nabubukulan.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!
Mini basketball teams had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Walang sumasama ang loob. Ang magulang ay nandoon lang para tingnan kung ayos lang ang bata….hindi para makialam.
This generation of ours has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and managers ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the government regulated our lives for our own good. And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!
----------------------------------------------------
More thoughts from me: Yes, I remember the lead painted crib and red kabayo. I remember summer vacations when my cousins and I would take turns going to each other's houses for a week or two of non-stop playing and bonding. No matter the age or gender differences between us, we had fun and stuck together. We would bike all day, dig for earthworms, make treasure maps, play patintero, sleep together in the sala (boys and girls), and even take baths together (all girls).
I learned how to bike from Benj and Kuya Junjun (Lenelle's older brother who's now based in Chicago). I also had my first bike accident care of Kuya Junjun. I was standing at the back of his bike (nakaangkas) when he sped up while crossing a large hump. Kuya Junjun and his bike made it safely across the hump, but I was left on top of it with a major bruise on my knee. This was the time when Tahanan Village in Sucat was not even fully constructed yet, and we had the time of our lives biking and running through the empty lots and grassy fields. I cried and cried when I fell from Kuya Junjun's bike, and my cousins gingerly helped me up as we went back to the Rosetes' home. Did I call my parents to make sumbong? Did I demand to go home immediately? No. It was all part of the summer vacation experience... getting sweaty and grimy, sometimes getting hurt and bruised, but always, always standing up again for yet another adventure.
We did not have many fancy toys, so we unleashed what little creativity we had to make our own. I remember we reenacted (or tried to) scenes from famous movies, from Star Wars (the original trilogy) to Superman to Ice Castles. We would make props from art paper and scratch paper, mongol pencils and shortened crayolas. We used our imagination on how to make a light saber or re-create the scene when Han Solo was freed by Princess Leia from his frozen chamber in Return of the Jedi (one of us actually went behind one of the curtains to signify Han Solo being frozen...won't say who). 
I remember riding in front of our old sedan with my mom without a seatbelt as my family and I travelled by land for some 10 hours to Bicol. As in kinalong lang ako. I was only three years old, and we almost met a tragic accident while crossing the railroad tracks. Papa was driving then, and thank God, we made it safely through for my first trip to Bicol to see the majestic Mayon Volcano and Tiwi hot springs.
I even remember lying down on the back portion of our car (not the back seat, mind you, but the space on top of the back seat, near the rear window) on the way to Ellinwood every Sunday.
Our snacks would either be Marie biscuits downed with Daisy chocolate milk or dry Milo powder (never Ovaltine) which we sometimes mixed with powdered milk (without water ito ha --- sarap!)
My family survived with one television set, and every evening, we watched syndicated series from the US such as Dynasty, Knot's Landing, Man From Atlantis and Falcon Crest. Or local shows like Superstar (every Sunday night) and John en Marsha (every Saturday).
And yes, like Jessica Zafra who mentioned it in her blog, I wrote countless papers back in highschool and college on a manual typewriter. The correction paper or correction fluid were my best friends whenever I had to finish a paper for my psych course or for an English class. With footnotes yan ha. And I got great grades for them too.
Yes, times were different then. More hours spent outside. Less technological gadgets. More personal interaction.
Once, as I was cleaning up my room, I came across bundles and bundles of old letters. Letters from cousins who were abroad and narrating every highlight of their trip (i.e. newfound crushes alternating with heartache) on onion skin paper (to make it lighter and thus, cost less via airmail). Letters from classmates during summer break, wondering when we'd see each other again and how much we missed our class. Letters from my sister Joy, giving advice even when she was thousands of miles away. Letters from my mom on her trips abroad, with funny and touching stories of her (mis)adventures. Postcards from my father, about what he'd seen in Europe and the fact that he had bought a doll for me.
Reading all those old letters made me wonder when was the last time I actually received a handwritten letter from a friend or loved one. In the age of internet and yahoo messenger (ym) and email, it is always so touching to see and hold actual evidence of someone's friendship, trust, and love.
Times were indeed different then. Not necessarily better, just different. And thankfully, we're not just survivors. We're more than conquerors, for in every activity we did which is now deemed unsafe, in every trip which was fraught with danger, in every step we took, our loving Father took care of us and protected us. Times may be different, but God's love stays the same.
Got this from an email sent by a friend. I thought I'd share it here in the hope of encouraging us to learn to "dance in the rain":
There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
Looked in the mirror,
And noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"
So she did
And
She
Had
A
Wonderful
Day.
The next day she woke up,
Looked in the mirror
And saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M," she said,
"I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"
So she did
And
She
Had
A
Grand
Day.
The next day she woke up,
Looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said,
"today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did
And
She
Had
A
Fun,
Fun
Day.
The next day she woke up,
Looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEA!" she exclaimed,
"I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything.
Be kinder than necessary,
For everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.......
Leave the rest to God
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
A friend's brother-in-law passed away from cancer recently. He was just 33. While we of course sympathized with the family, remembering them in our prayers (he left behind a wife and young daughter, who turned 5 the day after he died), one poem touched me and helped me realize that no disease can ever be strong enough to take us away from our Father's love. I don't know who wrote this, but I am sharing this poem in the hope that even if we have not known anyone to have suffered from cancer, even if no member of our families is suffering from cancer, even if we ourselves our free from this illness, we will remain strong in the faith when the winds of adversity howl at full strength.
Cancer Is So Limited
It cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith. It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence. It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories. It cannot silence courage.
It cannot invade the soul. It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the spirit.
It cannot lessen the power of the Resurrection.
Last Monday evening, just before I was about to sleep and I was flicking channels on the TV, a local documentary show caught my eye. I hadn't watched I-Witness over at GMA7 in ages, but something about the episode made me sit up and watch and forget sleeping in the meantime.
Entitled JS Promdi, the story centered on a JS prom at this public highschool in Samar. I don't even remember the name of the school or its exact location, but the students there were very excited about their prom and were praying to the high heavens (to the point of offering eggs to Sta. Clara) that the rain would stop. To them, the prom was a respite from their daily grind of studying and making a living at the same time. The prom offered a sense of normalcy of being simple teenagers who did not have any care in the world, instead of young people who had to work each day by making copra just to pay for their basic needs.
I was particularly touched by the story of this student who was already 21 years old and yet still in 4th year highschool. His entire family had already relocated to Montalban, Rizal to seek a better future, but he chose to stay put in Samar in order to finish his schooling. He said he would not have finished highschool in Montalban since it was so expensive. And so he stayed. All by himself in this simple hut, cooking and taking care of their house and making a living to survive. He did several odd jobs like cutting hair (charging 10 pesos per hair cut) and fetching water (nag-iigib) from a faraway lake for his clients. The reporter, Kara David, walked with him from the lake up to the place where he delivered his 2 filled containers of water, and she couldn't believe that he usually travelled that distance at least 4-5 times each day for his customers. He, too, was excited about their prom, and he even borrowed a long-sleeved polo shirt from his neighbor just for the occasion.
There were other young people featured, like this girl who borrowed a prom dress from their home economics teacher for 150 pesos, and who had to make 500 pieces of copra with her father just to pay for it after the prom.
And when prom night came, like so many other students all over the country, they were absolutely thrilled. Their eyes shone with excitement, and their parents who came to watch them dance were glowing with pride as well. Best of all, the rain had stopped, and everyone who came enjoyed the festivities.
I wasn't able to finish viewing the episode since I was already so sleepy when it started, but it kept me thinking these past few days.
Many students here in Manila have all the resources --- all the books, clothes, allowances and school equipment, yet they don't have that same zeal for studying and finishing school as that young man in Samar. Some admit their laziness or boredom or desire to simply quit studying, and yet there are those who don't have much, but give their all just so they could study, even sacrificing their time together with their families.
I wonder, am I as dedicated as those students when it comes to my work or my ministries? Do I treasure the blessings that I have and not take them for granted? It would be so easy to say yes to both questions, but sometimes, in the busyness of our days, we often just spend each day doing the tried and tested patterns of our lives, without appreciating what we have or enjoying the things God has blessed us with.
I hope I don't take things for granted and live with more passion each day. I've been blessed with so much, and I know that cliched line that to whom much has been given, much is expected. I pray that the young people I saw on my TV screen get to finish highschool and fulfill more of their dreams, like maybe even enter college and find a good job. I hope that the young people I encounter each week in my church ministries would have that same zeal for their studies or their work, treasuring and making the most out of the opportunities God is providing them.
There is indeed so much more to learn, do and explore. God is simply not finished with us yet. #
I thought I'd alphabetize my list of things to thank God for this past year. It's truly been a blessed one, despite some challenges along the way. God is truly good!
Here goes my personalized Alphabet Song...
A – is for the Algusos, my brother-in-law’s family, for the love and care shared to us because of Bob’s marriage to my sister Joy.
B – is for
C - is for the centennial anniversary of our church last October, for all the blessed events, from the fun centennial ball to the meaningful worship service and joyful luncheon fellowship
- is also for the coffee table book about Ellinwood Malate Church, which I wrote, organized and edited, sometimes till the wee hours of the morning for two months
D – is for Deb, the designer of the coffee table book, for her masterful layout and photos and all-around creativity
– is also for
E – is for Ellinwood, our beloved church, which turned 100 last October
F – is for Formula One and its smashing season when Schumy my honey’s replacement at the Ferrari team, Kimi Raikkonen, came from behind to win the world championship on the very last race
– is also for the Fun Walk last January, when hundreds of church mates gathered together at 4 in the morning to walk together to Roxas Boulevard and Remedios Circle and proclaim God’s goodness to our church for the past century and beyond
- is also for the Festival Choir, whom I got to conduct together with the Philippine Air Force Orchestra during the centennial worship service
G – is for my sister Gail, for her friendship and wacky activities like washing her car at ten in the evening and watching Marimar reruns on YouTube
H – is for home, my refuge and favorite hangout
I – is for Inday, our househelp who’s been with us since forever, for unselfishly taking care of us and our needs
J – is for my other sister Joy, for her strength in managing her home and work life and for our weekly phone conversations
- is also for Joshua, our pianist in the Youth Choir, and his amazing piano-playing skills which have made choir rehearsals so much easier
K - is for Kenya, the magical place my family and I visited last April for our week-long safari, which is sadly in the headlines today due to racial unrest (thank God we already went there last year!)
L - is for lifelong friends, from high school buds to college pals to law school mates who keep in touch, even just once in a while, to keep the bonds of friendship alive and strong
- is also for lawyering, my career which I continue to enjoy
M - is for Mommy, my tower of strength and inspiration in my career and in life in general
- is also for music, one of my passions and one of God’s most precious gifts
- is also for Merryland Publishing, for Tito Jessie and Tita Betty’s patience and understanding in all our printing needs and deadlines
N - is for Nanny, my nickname for our Manang Baby, our other househelp who’s been with us since babyhood, for her delicious home-cooked meals and efforts to make everything comfortable for us
- is also for the New Year’s Eve worship service last December 31, for how God empowered the Youth Choir to sing excerpts from Everlasting Light (my all-time favorite Christmas cantata) and for the touching candlelight ceremony
P - is for Papa, for his wisdom and leadership in church, his desire to do everything he can for his family, for his carpentry and gardening work at home, and for being my constant movie date
- is also for PDIC, my workplace for almost two years now
- is also for the Psalm Ensemble, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last July, and I’m so blessed to be with this choir for its whole 10 years of existence
Q - is for questions of faith, and for God’s leading and guidance whenever I encountered them
- is also for the QM gals, my church barkada of over 15 years and our laugh trip sessions over lunch, dinner or coffee (just as long as there’s food, we’re fine!)
R - is for the reunion concert of the Youth Choir, one of the best concerts I’ve been blessed to participate in, for the wonderful songs and old friends who took part in it and our previous conductors who added nostalgia and reminded us the Reason why we sing
- is also for the reunion I had with friends and relatives from abroad, for the chance to simply bond
S - is for Subic, our yearly family holiday destination, where I also got to take the Young Adults “YAFFIES” Fellowship (now Young Professionals) last June for a much-awaited and tiring but fun outing
T - is for Trinoma Mall, for its wonderful roof deck garden (site of our family’s after-dinner walks while eating Dairy Queen ice cream), beautiful fountains (my pamangkins just love them) and state-of-the-art movie houses (where Papa and I often watch)
- is also for the Third Chronicles centennial anniversary issue which Gay and I were able to put out even with my hectic schedule with the coffee table book
U - is for uncles and aunts on both sides of the family, some of whom I see only once or twice a year, but whose presence always reminds me of the importance of family and supporting and praying for family members
V - is for the Voices in Praise live recording, which reminds me of the beauty of choral music sung for the Lord
- is also for the very active participants of the Family Camp, who gathered last June to study together, laugh together, sing together and play together
- is also for the Video of Ellinwood’s history, for how it showed God’s unending faithfulness in the early beginnings of our church and through its challenges and period of growth and expansion
W - is for the centennial worship service, for every aspect which made it very memorable and meaningful, from the flower girls to the Festival Choir to the orchestra to the preachers to the flags to the historical nuggets and the special participation of the Philippine Madrigal Singers
X - is for the eXuberant members of the Centennial Committee, for their zeal and commitment to give of their time and efforts in ensuring a blessed celebration of our church’s 100th birthday
Y - is for the Youth Choir, my “kids” who have brought me so much joy, even through tiring rehearsal days … I am blessed by their dedication and singing
- is also for the YAFFIES, my weekly Sunday fellowship group who adopted me even if I am admittedly over-age already, and for the chance to sometimes facilitate Bible studies and movie/song discussions
- is also for the Youth Congress and the newly-elected officers of the Youth Coordinating Council, for the chance to serve again as their adviser and the opportunity to share with the Congress delegates insights on the life of Jonah
Z - is for Zach and Zia, my beloved nephew and niece, for all their love, inspiring faith, and amusing antics… I am so blessed to be their auntie-Ninang.
Indeed, it has been a blessing-filled year. I wonder what God has in store for us in 2008. May His light shine in our lives always.
Since I'm still caught in what may only be described as a "centennial anniversary hangover", I thought I'd post below what I wrote in the last chapter of Keeping the Covenant, the coffee table book published in celebration of Ellinwood's 100th birthday (it's currently being sold at P3000, packaged with the EMC History Video and hopefully, the Centennial Worship Video... you can get your copy now).
CHAPTER 12: HOPES FOR TOMORROW
From a handful of students in 1907, it has grown into a diverse but united community of believers steeped in the tradition of worship and service.
As Ellinwood turns 100, one may ask how should it keep its covenant with God to be a responsible, empowered, self-reliant and caring community of Christian believers committed to the pursuit of an abundant and meaningful life for all? How should it continue the legacy of its forefathers in the faith? And in a world of science and technology, in this world where treasured values are being eroded, how can Ellinwood continue to be relevant in its programs and activities?
Since 2002, Ellinwood has followed a lectionary aimed at looking back at its heritage in order to discern its directions for the future. Following the different aspects of prayer, the following annual themes were used as the church counted down the days to its 100th birthday:
2002 – Adoration (One God Over All, In All and Through All)
2003 – Celebrating Hope in Repentance
2004 – Proclamation of the Word
2005 – Blessings and Thanksgiving
2006 – Dedication and Offering
2007 – Covenanting and
As Ellinwood looked back and celebrated each milestone, it saw that while it has many innovations in its worship life and different ministries, there still remains so much more to be done, with many challenges awaiting it at every turn.
For one thing, the church members can still improve on their tithing. Ellinwood is not known as a tithing church, with only 300-400 out of more than 2000 listed members regularly submitting their pledge cards every year. Because of this, fundraising activities are often held to augment the budget for the church's ministries. Construction of the other components of the Master Plan has yet to be scheduled due to the uncertainty of financial resources.
The proportion of members who are actively involved in even just one ministry is also quite low. Church organizations such as the Christian Women's Association (CWA) and the United Church Men (UCM) have a membership of around 25-40, when the number of men and women who can be tapped to join them number in the hundreds.
There is also a need for more volunteers to join the outreach and nurturing ministries. The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the workers are often few.
A stronger presence in the nearby schools and universities is also welcome. Thousands of students surround Ellinwood each day, waiting to be encouraged to participate in its ministries.
But for all these hopes and dreams, God's leading and provision should be paramount. Answers on how Ellinwood can sustain its covenant may come in the next prayer meeting, workshop, fellowship or sermon. May Ellinwood Malate Church experience the joy of discovery as it learns about God's plan for the church and His world. May Ellinwood Malate Church continue to nurture the spirit of generosity and hospitality. May Ellinwood Malate Church be sensitive to the needs of others, and may the response to those needs be sustainable.
Keeping the covenant is a commitment that must be lived out not as individuals, but as a community of faith. For indeed, it is not achieved simply by the best strategic plans and well-crafted activities but by the Spirit who lives within. And perhaps, the best compliment people can give to Ellinwood is, "I see God at work in your church. And I want to make this church my home."
------------------------------------------
As we keep reflecting and looking back and serving and worshipping, may we truly be a blessing to our church as we keep being blessed by it in return. Happy Centennial Anniversary Ellinwood Malate Church!
Ha! Do people still visit this blog? I've been silent for AGES. I've been so busy (still am!) at work and with our church ministries, that when I open my computer, blogging is the furthest thing from my mind. Still, I feel I owe it to the few who still faithfully check this site for updates to... well, update! After all, I promised to give some highlights on our magical trip to Kenya, right? Actually, I felt the urge to blog again when I received last week some photos of our Kenyan safari from one of our Filipino tour mates. Looking again at the places we've been to and seeing printed memories of all the animals we encountered really made me nostalgic that I simply felt I had to blog again.
Here are some highlights of what I've been up to the past 7 months.
APRIL 2007
Papa, Mommy, Ate Gail & I beside Mohrani, the tame rhino at Sweetwaters Camp
Here's our transport for our safari trip --- a custom-built Nissan van with pop-up top for better viewing.
We literally crossed the equator!
Ate Gail & I with the Maasai tribe in their village named Manyatta.
Walking with the giraffes at Crescent Island on our last day of safari.
That's how close we were to the lions roaming at Masai Mara National Park. I was getting a close-up shot of the lioness, trying to be as quiet as possible.
MAY 2007
JUNE-SEPTEMBER 2007
OCTOBER 2007
We had the nostalgic Youth Choir reunion concert on the 14th; the centennial ball & coffee table book launching on the 19th which was attended by so many people despite the scare of the Glorietta mall explosion (our venue was Hotel Intercon which was right across the mall); the Balik-Ellinwood day & History Video presentation on the 20th; and of course, the big day itself --- the dedication of the Centennial Spire, unveiling of the Historical Marker, thanksgiving worship service and luncheon fellowship on the 21st. My parents were the chairpersons of this once-in-a-lifetime event, and we are so thankful to our Lord and to everyone who helped and gave ideas and worked to ensure a meaningful and joyful celebration. God is truly a great and awesome God!So there you have it, the adventures of The Traveler in a nutshell. I hope I can post more entries soon. I do have a lot more stories to tell. I hope it won't be another 7 months before my next post. Tata for now.
I know, I know...it's been more than a month since I last posted. March is about to end and 2007 seems to be going the way of 2006 --- flying fast and furious. It seems we just celebrated Christmas and we had our Christmas cantata and now, Valentine's Day (and Zia's birthday) has passed and we are on the verge of experiencing the full blast of summer heat. And just when I thought I'd pass out from the work grind and the weird schizo weather (warm and sunny by day, cloudy and rainy by night), comes the wonderful news that we are finally pushing through with my dad's (and eventually the whole family's) long-awaited dream trip to Kenya. For the first time in years, we are not spending Holy Week here in Manila but in East Africa, to fulfill my father's lifelong dream of going on safari.
Yes, pretty soon I will post my own pictures of our safari trip. And I hope that even if we get close to the lions and other wild beasts, we won't be mistaken for lunch! We're just waiting for our visas and confirming our flights and it's all systems go. I'm half excited and half unbelieving that we will finally go there.
How about you, where will you be off this summer? Whether you're just staying here or going out of town, enjoy every bit of your break and just thank God for such blessings. And maybe someday, your dream trip will finally come true.
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... MY FAVORITE THING TO DO IS TO TRAVEL WHERE I'VE NEVER BEEN ...
I am the Traveler, and I come from a long line of Sojourners. Accepting a compass from my Father, I set
out on my own journey, on the usual path. My travels take on a new direction, however, when I meet a
faithful Companion who invites me to choose to go through the little narrow gate waiting in the distance.
I do not realize that this choice will take me to new heights of jubilation but also bring new
experiences of desparation and fear. From the amazement of Long Look Mountain to the hesitation at The
City of Rest, I continue to learn. Soon, though, my path changes. Now spinning in the midst of pain and
self-doubt, I search for strength and understanding from my Companion. Will this new assurance be enough
to get me through The Forest of Fears and experience the supposed joy awaiting me at the Homeplace? I
must face the reality that to succeed in my journey, I will be forced to endure heartbreak and testing
unlike anything I have yet experienced.
Come share with the Traveler the frightening walk through my personal fears, the soothing balms of The
Tenderlands, and the necessary ascent up The Last Great Mountain. This is a personal reminder of God's
enduring love, penned along the path of righteousness. --- Adapted from Sandi Patty's Le Voyage ---
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