TO MY MOMMY...HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

To all of us who have still our mother with us...let's show our love for them. Let us all be thankful to God for this gift and always appreciate their presence.

GRAND RALLY OF NOYNOY C. AQUINO-MAY 07, 2010

The day when thousands of Filipino gather in one place to show our support to Noynoy C. Aquino who is heading for overwhelming victory in the Presidential Polls on May 10, 2010. The place turned into yellow with people chanting and shouting Noy-Noy...Noy-Noy. The message was simple but clear. We want CHANGE!!!

PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS - WHY I WILL VOTE FOR NOYNOY AQUINO

Selecting a candidate for President, who will lead a country for the next six (6) years, is not easy. I want to state that it is not my personal interest that has driven me to choose the candidate I want to vote. Because it may not be during my lifetime I will witness the Philippines free from CORRUPTION, poverty, injustice and many abuses committed by those who sit with power. The people of my country had already elected many brilliant and intelligent men and women to lead this nation but until now, the Philippines' paths to social and economic progress never materialized. Many of its failures were made by those leaders who capitalized Filipino's tolerance to failed society. I personally choose Noynoy to be our next President for few simple reasons, namely:

1. Fear of the LORD - Anyone who fears GOD is bound to do good. Anyone who wants to do good must fear GOD. Noynoy was brought up by his parents the way every God-fearing individuals should do. The living words become his guide...the guide he wants to follow as he makes every steps of the way. A prayerful person as he is, Noynoy lifts up everything to his CREATOR. And anyone who offers everything to HIM prior to making decision is bound to come up with well-guided decisions.

2. Love for the People - Noynoy has genuine love for every Filipino, the same people his deceased parents dearly served and loved. He has a heart for his countrymen. A leader, who knows how to care and share his life and love with his people, will drive him to better governance. For he knows that power comes from the powerless and good leadership means well for those he was called to lead. Noynoy can afford to have a simple life....free from cristicsms and intrigues but he was pushed by millions of Filipino who want CHANGE. Filipinos who want HONESTY. Filipinos who want SINCERETY. Filipinos who want a SIMPLE leader who never promises heaven and earth but ONLY offering HOPE. This what makes Noynoy a magnet to Filipino people.

3. NOYNOY is simply another JUAN DELA CRUZ - Noynoy is not hungry for power. He knows what satisfies him. But he knows it too what will satisfy every hungry Filipino...more than the food on the table...it is DECENCY in public office. Like all of us, Noynoy has his share of weaknesses too. He may not know everything but he knows how to strengthen it. For the measure of the strength of a leader does not reside on his power...it resides on his honesty that a President can not do ALL. That he needs the support of his people to make things done. This is the REAL strength of Noynoy.

Very simple reasons why I will vote for him. Not anymore about the flatform which can always be done in a sheet of paper. Not anymore about who has better experience and leadership. It is all about what makes an ordinary Juan Dela Cruz stands EQUAL with those who have better access to power and treasure. Dignified living and respect for ones dignity. May GOD bless our country.

REMEMBERING MY BROTHER IN LAW

I visited the permanent resting place of my brother-in-law last Sunday, May 02, 2010. I offered some prayers for him and lighted two(2) white candles for him. His "new home" is currently under construction and his family hopes to finish it in a month time. We are all missing him now but we try to move on because this is what my brother in law wants...I know he can see us from a distance.

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW JOURNEY

Many things have happened since January 16, 2010, the day when we went to China for the cancer treatment of my brother in law. We all knew that it will be a long and tough battle against cancer but we tried hoping against hope that everything will be alright. Fuda Cancer hospital is a place for advanced stage patients. The hospital offers hope for all of those who find their situations hopeless. But there were some things which were beyond human hands...a limitation to human lives. It was a very difficult experience but it gave us a better view about life, love, patience and sacrifice. Kuyang Juaning taught us the virtue of sharing love even when pain was too much to bear. He wanted to live a little longer not for himself but for his family. He endured all the pains of the medical treatment. Because he loved his family more than he loved himself. As he has gone ahead of us, he left an everlasting legacy...that in one's sacrifice for the others, people learned lessons the hard way. It was in one's unselfish act that one has to learn to give up...to learn to let go...and eventually find comfort from the sufferings of his loved ones. My brother in law is now in a safer and better place...where he will experience eternal joy and peace...where there will be no more pain and tears. For all of us he left behind, may we learn and start to move on... to find the courage to continue working on some unfinished tasks...and discover new meaning of what life is really all about.

A FINAL LOOK

Kuyang Juaning's family made their last look to him at the cemetery. His body was laid to rest at the Manila North Cemetery. It is very near to their house in Sampaloc. My Sister Virgie requested that she be the one to close the casket before my brother in law was placed to his tomb. A funeral mass was done at the Parish Church. The parish priest delivered a very inspiring homily that made everyone feel strong over the loss of Kuyang Juaning. Hundreds of people join the final march going to the cemetery. The entourage passed through the three (3) houses of Ate Virgie's family. The hearse stopped for a minute in front of the house where Marlon released dozens of white baloons and pressed the door bell in each house.

MORE PICTURES

MORE PICTURES

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PICTURES DURING THE FUNERAL DAY

APRIL 11, 2010-THE DAY WE SAID GOODBYE TO KUYANG JUANING

NECROLOGICAL SERVICE

We gave Kuyang Juaning a necrological service last Saturday evening, April 10, 2010. Relatives, family friends, churchmates, former employer/officemates and neighbors attended the service. Testimonies were delivered by former classmates, Kuyang Juaning's brother and sister, myself and the family of my brother in law. My sister Virgie asked me to read her letter at the end of the necrological service. In between testimonies, the choir rendered beautiful songs while some video clips were shown on wide screen. Everybody was brought to tears. That occassion was highly emotional. I gave my all to make it really beautiful service. This was my way of showing my love for my brother in law who taught me many things in life. Lessons I will always treasure...and experiences I will always remember.

My Ate Virgie's letter to Kuyang Juaning...

"My beloved husband, in you I found my comfort, my strength and my wisdom. You provided me the love that no man can match and the affection unequalled by anyone. It hurts me so much to see you there lying so still and unaware of all the praises being given to you now. But I know that our Lord has already called you to be with Him in His paradise, He has ended your sufferings in this world. In a way, I am happy, for you can no longer feel the physical pain that has afflicted you for quite sometime. Be at peace my love, for you have prepared us for all the eventualities that would come our way. You have given us all the provisions needed to stand all the problems and troubles that would come our way and most of all, you have instilled in us the foundation needed to survive in this world.

Let me thank you for everything that you have done for me. For the three beautiful children and grandchildren you have given to me and most of all, for the everlasting love you have bestowed in me. I will never ever forget you and all the happy memories we have shared throughout the forty (40) years that we have been together. You will always be in my heart and I will always treasure the opportunity to have married such a wonderful man as YOU.

Till then my love, I will not say goodbye but instead...until we meet again. It is not until death do us part, but until we meet again in our life after death."

KUYANG JUANING PASSED AWAY

Kuyang Juaning passed away today, April 07, 2010 after fighting cancer for the last 13 years.

His burial is at The Ressurection Chapel at E. Quintos Street, sampaloc, Manila. Intermentwill be on Sunday, April 11, 2010 after 1:00pm mass at the Nuestra Senora Perpetuo Socorro

Parish Church. He will be laid to rest at the North Cemetery. He was 65 years old.

KUYANG JUANING(MY BROTHER IN LAW) IS IN CHINA

My brother in law is in Guangzhou, China specifically at Fuda Cancer Hospital. We brought him there last January 16, 2010 for his medical treatment that will probably last for 5-6 weeks. Ate Virgie, Marlon, Minette, Marvin and myself accompanied him there. The experience from day 1 up to the present was unforgettable. My brother in law has shown so much spiritual strength fighting cancer. He wants this treatment which he just read from the newspaper. We went back to the Philippines last Sunday, January 24, 2010 leaving him and Marlon at the hospital. My sister Virgie and Minette are set to fly again to China this coming Friday, January 29 after sorting out some important things here in Manila. Marvin will follow a week after. I will go back there too.. soon.

I have so many stories to share about the treatment, about the patients confined there(mostly Filipinos) and the hope I can see from the faces of every patient. The courage each one has to manifest...the patience one has to develop...the suffering one must endure and the sacrifice one has to give. There are so many lessons in life to be learned here. When Love is deeply developed among members of the family...when friendship blossomed among patients and relatives... how the physical pains were put to sideline because everyone is hoping for the best that life of the patients will be more comfortable after severe and deadly effect of chemoteraphy backhome. It is this HOPE one holds so dearly that one has to sacrifice for those who are already suffering because of cancer. Life has its end...it has limitations that one must know but the hospital offers big HOPE that patients' life can be prolonged not only for himself but also for his loved ones.

I would like to share with you some few lines taken from the message of Fuda Cancer Hospital..."Whatever unfortunate thing happened to us, we still need to choose life confidently. We can not give up despairingly. We may now at the lowest point of life but we still have the chance to choose. And the purpose of choosing life is not only for living, but we also need to live meaningfully...to comfort our loved ones till the end of life."

What saves...and who saves? Faith and the courage to survive are the best medicine. Prayers do a lot of wonders...modern technology helps in some ways. But the love each one shares and receives make the patients' conditions lighter and better.

Whoever has the chance or finds time to read this blog I made, I sincerely ask you to pray for my brother in law more frequently. He needs it...we need it. We all draw our strength from prayers. This is an experience and a journey one would not ever want to take... but this process will leave many wonderful things to those who find hope... and discover life while undergoing severe tests. It is one journey we would like to have a happy ending. And we are all looking forward to it. Everything happens for reasons and purposes...and we submit to HIS wisdom...to HIS perfect will.

WELCOME 2010

We welcome 2010 with a BIG bang. Similar to previous years, my Ate Virgie's family hosted a family gathering to welcome the New Year. Firecrackers and fireworks illuminated the sky. Marlon prepared for this event as we all bid goodbye to 2009. The year that passed was full of good and bad memories... and these would serve as our guide to where we all wanted to be. Personally, year 2009 was a good year for me. I have accomplished many things for myself and for my family. I was able to bring my sister Ate Virgie closer to the church where she is now very much active. I know this is just the beginning of better days to come. Reflections of 2009...leads to new directions to 2010. Life is a continuing journey...it is a process of continuous learning that we must all take. As we face a new beginning, I wish a simple but a happy life for my family...strength in times of adversities for nothing can ever defeat GOD's love despite human imperfections. HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!