THE NECESSITY TO UNDERGO HARDSHIPS & STRUGGLES...

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand tobe able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

I asked for Strength.........

And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.........

And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity.........

And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage.........

And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love.........

And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors.........

And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted ........

I received everything I needed!

Trust in God. Always !

GOD IS A SILVER PURIFIER

In the Bible, the Book of Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy-- when I see my image in it." If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

"Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once."

If we could shrink the earth's population

If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following. There would be:

57 Asians,

21 Europeans,

14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south,

8 would be Africans,

52 would be female,

48 would be male,

70 would be non-white 30 would be white;

70 would be non-Christian,

30 would be Christian;

89 would be heterosexual,

11 would be homosexual;

6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States;

80 would live in substandard housing;

70 would be unable to read;

50 would suffer from malnutrition;

(ONE)1 would be near death;

(ONE)1 would be near birth;

(ONE)1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education;

(ONE)1 (yes, only 1) would be computer literate..

When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent. And, therefore . . . If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

As you read this and are reminded how life is in the rest of the world, remember just how blessed you really are!

Conversation with THE MERCIFUL GOD

Jesus: Be not afraid of your Savior, O sinful soul. I make the first move to come to you, for I know that by yourself you are unable to lift yourself to me. Child, do not run away from your Father; be willing to talk openly with your God of mercy who wants to speak words of pardon and lavish his graces on you. How dear your soul is to Me! I have inscribed your name upon My hand; you are engraved as a deep wound in My Heart.

Soul: Lord, I hear your voice calling me to turn back from the path of sin, but I have neither the strength nor the courage to do so.

Jesus: I am your strength, I will help you in the struggle.

Soul: Lord, I recognize your holiness, and I fear You.

Jesus: My child, do you fear the God of mercy? My holiness does not prevent Me from being merciful. Behold, for you I have established a throne of mercy on earththe tabernacle-and from this throne I desire to enter into your heart. I am not surrounded by a retinue or guards. You can come to me at any moment, at any time; I want to speak to you and desire to grant you grace.

Soul: Lord, I doubt that You will pardon my numerous sins; my misery fills me with fright.

Jesus: My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of my goodness? For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed myself to be nailed to the cross; for you I let my Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come, then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain. I never reject a contrite heart. Your misery has disappeared in the depths of My mercy. Do not argue with Me about your wretchedness. You will give me pleasure if you hand over to me all your troubles and griefs. I shall heap upon you the treasures of My grace.

Soul: You have conquered, O Lord, my stony heart with Your goodness. In trust and humility I approach the tribunal of Your mercy, where You yourself absolve me by the hand of your representative. O Lord, I feel Your grace and Your peace filling my poor soul. I feel

I feel overwhelmed by Your mercy, O Lord. You forgive me, which is more than I dared to hope for or could imagine. Your goodness surpasses all my desires. And now, filled with gratitude for so many graces, I invite You to my heart. I wandered, like a prodigal child gone astray; but you did not cease to be my Father. Increase Your mercy toward me, for You see how weak I am.

Jesus: Child, speak no more of your misery; it is already forgotten. Listen, My child,to what I desire to tell you. Come close to My wounds and draw from the Fountain of Life whatever your heart desires. Drink copiously from the Fountain of Life and you will not weary on your journey. Look at the splendors of My mercy and do not fear the enemies of your salvation. Glorify My mercy.

(Diary of Sister Faustina, Divine Mercy)

BEST OF FRIENDS (a tribute to my father)

My father was a very friendly person. No wonder, he once was elected Mayor in our hometown. He had numerous circles of friends. Most of the time these people would gather around my father or vice versa, i.e., my father would gather them in our house over a drinking session talking about anything under the sun, i.e., agriculture, politics, silly green jokes, etc.

Aside from the various circle of friends he had, there was a man who frequently visited my father alone. His name is Mr. Dalipe Lucar. Mr. Dalipe and my father would talk for hours, face to face and one on one. This visitor was different because their conversation was not over a drinking session.

When my father was in his sixties I rarely saw him meeting his friends over a drinking session. By this time, as I was already in my adolescence, I was the one bringing my own barkadas at home for a drinking session.

In old age, my father was not as vibrant anymore as he was. This time, I noticed that Mr. Dalipe would now frequently come to our house visiting my father. As usual they would talk about the same topic that they both liked. Their subject matter was about religion and spirituality. I remember them sharing their views about the validity of the shroud of Turin, the 3 days darkness during the second coming of Christ, the epistle of St. John the apostle, i.e., about the revelation or last book in the Bible, etc. During the last few moments of my father’s earthly sojourn I noticed him reading the Bible and praying the rosary alone and he maintained his bonding with Mr. Dalipe. Eventually my father Priscillano M. Lozada, Sr. died in 1987. Mr. Dalipe on the otherhand died just a couple of years ago.

A few months back, I discovered a picture in our ancestral home. I asked my mother regarding this very old photograph dated August 12, 1946 taken in Baybay, Leyte. My mother replied that the one seated on the armchair is my father and the other person is Mr. Dalipe Lucar. They were both in their early twenties when the picture was taken. “They were best of friends” my mother said.

My father maintained a friendship since he was young and until he died…

To my father, I salute you! I am praying that you are now already in heaven with your parents and relatives, and of course with your best friend, Mr. Dalipe.

Happy Father’s day Papa Percing…

STUDYING FOR PRIESTHOOD

I visited my hometown lately for the death anniversary of my father (June 12, 2009; Friday) which coincides with the “Araw ng Kalayaan” a national holiday. The parish Priest was not around during the 6:00 am mass, for this reason, a 4^th year Philo. Seminarian Julian Lozada Raut-Raut, Jr. conducted the “kasaulugan”. As his reflection for the Gospel reading, he read the “the Paradox of our time”. I was impressed with its content and message that is why after the “kasaulugan” I personally went to the convent and had a brief conversation with him so as with the other two seminarians who are on vacation. Eventually I borrowed the selection and decided to post it in my Blog as could be seen below.

Today, our hometown, Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, has around six diocesan seminarians, i.e., studying for Priesthood:

SEM. ROLLY M. CABUGA – currently in 1^st Year level Theology in St. John Vianney Theological Seminary Cagayan de Oro. The seminary is managed by the Jesuits. He is the son of Camoloy Cabuga from sitio Cagbuaya, Brgy. Balete. Whenever he is on vacation, he serves the parish as choir master. He is very adept in playing the organ and piano.

SEM. JULIAN L. RAUT-RAUT – currently in 4^th year level Philosophy in San Jose de Mindanao Seminary. Son of Josefa Lozada-Raut-Raut and Julian, Sr. from Brgy. Amag. A very soft spoken, accomodating and reflective person, meditative and deep thinker as well. Apparently very kind and polite.

SEM. JOHN PHILIP M. LOZADA – currently in 2^nd year Philosophy in San Jose de Mindanao. Son of Ondoy and Femia Lozada.

SEM. DAVE ELMER M. JUCOM – 2^nd year Philosophy student as well in San Jose de Mindanao Seminary. Son of the police officer Elvie Jucom and Merlyn Manliguez-Jucom.

SEM. NIEL P. QUIJADA – 1^st year philosophy (second year as a seminarian) in San Jose de Mindanao Seminary. Son of Mercy Pondoc-Quijada and the late Samuel Quijada

SEM. VON RASSEL M. JUCOM – Pre-college or under the spirituality formation program. No academic studies yet for one year. In San Jose de Mindanao Seminary as well. He is the younger brother of Dave Elmer M. Jucom. Son of Elvie Jucom and Merlyn Manliguez-Jucom.

Shown in this picture are the following (From left): Sem. John Philip M. Lozada, Von Rassel M. Jucom and Sem. Julian Lozada Raut-Raut, Jr.

These Seminarians belong to underprivilege families (particularly: Sem. Julian and Rolly) for this reason, they are currently looking for sponsors to help them shoulder a portion of their expensive seminary studies.

For those who might be kind enough to share their blessings, any amount heartily shared will be very much appreciated. God for certain will return your kindness a hundredfold…

THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME By Gerry Carlin

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more but have less, we buy more but we enjoy less.

We have bigger houses yet smaller families, more conveniences but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge but less judgment, more experts yet more problem, more medicines but less wellness.

We’ve learned how to make a living but not life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered the outer space, but not the inner space. We’ve done larger things but not better things.

We’ve cleaned the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

Remember: spend more time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember: say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person will soon grow up and leave your side. Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and

it doesn’t cost a cent. Remember to say: I love you to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. (A kiss and embrace will mend a heart when it comes from deep inside of you). Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment, for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breaths away…

DEVOTION TO MAMA MARY: Prayer for Financial Help & The Memorare

Realizing, dear Mother that you are our perpetual help not only in spiritual but also in temporal necessities, we ask you to help us in our present financial worries. Because of unavoidable circumstances, which have arisen in our lives, we are in great want and financial embarrassment since we are unable to meet our honest necessities. We are not asking dearest Mother for wealth, if the possession of it is not in accordance with the will of God. We merely ask you for that assistance which will help us to settle our present obligations. We believe, dear Mother of God that you are extremely kind and generous to all your loving and devoted children. We plead with you, therefore, dear Mother, to obtain for us the help we so urgently need. We are trying so earnestly to solve our problems but we believe more in you powerful help and intercession with our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son and our Redeemer. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought you intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in your mercy, hear and answer us. Amen

VALUE

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it has not decreased in value. It is still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it! (Source: www.indianchild.com/inspiring_stories.htm - 50k)

God can never be outdone in generosity; GIVE and you shall RECEIVE

Dear BRODmy8,

Dito na ako sa Dubai since 2007 (January 15 to be exact). It was unexpected, brod. May friend ako dati na kasama ko ring sacristan who's been in Dubai for 3 years prior. Bale kumpare ko siya, inaanak ko yung panganay niya. Nagbakasyon siya sa Pilipinas noong November 2006. Treat ko sila ng lunch sa Manila and before we parted ways, biniro niya ako kung gusto ko daw bang pumunta rin sa Dubai. Sabi ko: "Oo ba." Casually said. Come mid-December of the same year, I received a brown envelope from Dubai via DHL, and surprise of all surprises, it was my visa to the United Arab Emirates! So wala na akong nagawa pa kasi gumastos na rin siya e. I have to file my immediate resignation (kahit nag-eenjoy pa ako sa call center noon sa Makati). Biglaan. Even my colleagues were taken aback by the suddenness of it all. Hindi ako excited to leave the Philippines then. Nag-sink in lang siya sa akin on my way to the airport on that fateful day. Sa loob ng taxi (ayoko ng may pahatid-hatid pa. Mas mabigat dalhin sa dibdib yung may iiyak pag-alis) doon ko lang naisip na ilang oras na lang ay OFW na nga pala ako. Noon lang ako nalungkot, kasi kahit pag-impake ng gamit ko ginawa ko lang on the same day ng flight ko.

Sharing ko lang brod kung paanong ako ay nakarating talaga sa Dubai, like what really brought me here. Yung friend ko who helped me get to Dubai is like 7 years my junior and we became friends only when I was still a postulant sa Conventuals. Gusto rin sana niya magpari pero God has other plans for him. His father died in Japan. Being the panganay (dalawa lang silang magkapatid), he had no other choice than to be the "father" of the family. During the wake of his dad, walang dumadalaw o dumaramay sa kanila na mga kamag-anak nila. I made it a point to be there everyday and every single night. Wala ang mga pari noon dahil may annual retreat sila sa Manila so I looked for a priest from outside our town. Divine Providence, I found a La Salette priest in nearby Santiago City. Noong unang dumating ang pari sa simbahan, I have to hasten to attend to him. Up until mailibing ang father niya, katulong nila ako sa bahay nila. Nahihiya sa akin ang mother niya. Pero para sa akin, what is that for friends, di ba? In case sa akin mangyari yun, ayaw ko rin siyempre na mag-isa lang ako during that time of great loss and grief. Kapag iniisip ko, it was that simple and very ordinary act of kindness I did to his family that brought me to Dubai. I always share this to friends not for egotistical high but to highlight the importance of always putting others before one's self. Na yun bang isang random act of kindness can really spell the difference in our lives. Para sa akin, what I did was the very thing demanded by that particular situation, yun bang kung may sunog ay natural lang na tumakbo ako at buhusan yung apoy ng tubig. Pero I have seen the repercussion of that small act. Grand indeed is that maxim that God can never be outdone in generosity. Napakabait ng Diyos. Sabi nga ni Brother Mike Velarde: "Siksik, liglig at umaapaw."

CONStantly

Comment on "A LIFE LONG OVERDUE" from a good friend in DUBAI

Dear BRODmy8,

I have enjoyed reading Aunty Peryang's (of happy memory) story and also I felt for you when you missed that one last chance noong tinatawag ka niya. Yun na pala ang huling pagkikita ninyo and I was also devastated. Pero siguro it was meant to be para mas malaking surprise sa iyo yung Cocofed Insurance Certificate na ikaw pala ang beneficiary! Naghihimutok ako sa part na yun. That only shows the greatness of her soul. Kung tinatanong mo kung nasa Langit na ba siya, para sa akin, wala man akong authority to say so, nandoon na siya sa piling Niya at nila. Di ba Siya (Jesus Christ) rin naman ang nagsabi na mahalin natin at igalang ang ating mga magulang? Siya yung selfless na nag-alay ng buong buhay niya para sa kanyang mga magulang. Ganun daw kasi ang pagmamahal. Like the redemptive love of Christ, handa ito na magbuwis ng buhay para sa minamahal. When Christ took our human form, tinalikdan na rin Niya kung sino talaga Siya para lang makipamayan at tumira sa gitna natin -- para maging tayo rin Siya (at tayo naman ay maging katulad Niya). Aunty Peryang's love was redemptive in itself. As told in my previous mail, I can actually identify with Aunty Peryang. It is also my parents who are the very reason why I am here in Dubai. Kahit may pangarap pa rin sana akong pilit na inaabot, isinasaisantabi ko muna anuman yun para sa pagmamahal sa mga magulang ko. If love is measured by loving until it hurts, am I not hurting? If love is dying to one's self, am I not dying every day of my life now? But it is in this dying that I am also being reborn. This is the Christian paradox. Even if no one drinks from the fountain, it is still happy to flow freely and give itself out. Its constant flowing is its very meaning...

From your CONStant BROD

(Constatino Salas, Adminisitrative Officer, RBS The Royal Bank of Scotland, Dubai)

Sometimes you have to fight to make everything alright, you give your best and you give your all and yet you still lose. If you get tired, tell JESUS to take the fight and win it for you. May love remain the purpose of your existence whatever circumstances you are in right now. Have a grateful heart always either victorious or defeated, we are still blessed.

–Cons Salas

SAYINGS FOR THE DAY

Dance as though no one is watching you, love as though you have never been hurt before, sing as though no one can hear you, live as though heaven is on earth.-Souza

Laws are partly formed for the sake of good men, in order to instruct them how they may live on friendly terms with one another, and partly for the sake of those who refuse to be instructed, whose spirit cannot be subdued, or softened, or hindered from plunging into evil. –Plato

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.- Aristotle

Man...is a tame or civilized animal; never the less, he requires proper instruction and a fortunate nature, and then of all animals he becomes the most divine and most civilized; but if he be insufficiently or ill- educated he is the most savage of earthly creatures. –Plato

If a man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it.

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.-Josh Billings

Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.-Dalai Lama

Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity. –Socrates

A LIFE THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE (Aunty Peryang: In Memoriam)

After living together for around three years with a son, me and my wife Rosemarie, were finally married through a very private Catholic Church wedding ceremony on October 9, 2004. We were after God’s blessing that our matrimonial union maybe sanctified at last. The officiating priest was very supportive. Knowing my financial status, when I asked how much tithe I owed him for the ceremony, he opened his right hand to me and with a smile he said: “it doesn’t matter how much you will give, twenty pesos (Php. 20.00) will do, I’ll close my eyes so I won’t see the amount”. The wedding was very private as in really, really private. The church was closed. The only persons present during the wedding was me, my wife, the priest, my mother, our two year old son Benedict and, our only one wedding-godmother, my septuagenarian aunt – AUNTY PERYANG.

After the said wedding, during the meager reception at our own residence, we had a very short talk with our only visitor – my aunt-godmother.

Aunty Peryang had been living alone in her house because she had no family of her own. She opted single blessedness. Because of her age, she was now sick with various ailments. I told her that a well to do niece of hers in Davao City had been waiting for her to come and promised to provide for her proper medication. In reply, she seriously stared at me for long and after almost a minute of silence she stoically said: “what for, I don’t need any medication. I have no children nor grandchildren unlike your mama. I don’t have any offspring to look for or attend to. Frankly, I don’t have any reason at all to be around in this world.” Not expecting what she just said, I was stunned but she wasn’t finished yet and she added the most chilling words I ever heard: “The fact is, I’ve been expecting death fifteen years ago. My life has been long overdue, long overdue…” I was speechless, I really didn’t expect hearing unnerving statements from her. She appears totally different to the jolly and cool Aunty Peryang I used to have known since my childhood. At the age of 75, she ran-out of lively stories to tell. All that she could barely utter now were groans of aches and sharp pains from the various parts of her body.

In less than two months after our said conversation, Aunty Peryang died alone in her house.

A couple of days before her death, I was in a hurry looking for someone who may be kind enough to lend me money to fed my family for that particular day, I happened to pass by her house, she saw me and said she had something very important to tell me. I promised to talk to her afterwards but sadly, I wasn’t able to hear what it was.

After her death we discover a cocofed insurance certificate among her belongings in the amount of ten thousand pesos (Php. 10,000.00). I was her beneficiary. Consequently, half of the said amount was spent to settle the remaining balance of the expenses of her burial.

When she was still alive, Aunty Peryang used to be a very enthusiastic story teller. A year before her death, she was still the same person I used to have known since my childhood. Among us, her nephews and nieces, she was quite famous because of her unique hilarious laughter that she alone could exhibit. While telling her stories, her laughter serves like commas in each of her sentences. The words cool, calm and yet lively metamorphosed into tangible flesh in her person. While listening to her, time seemed to stand still. Her manner of story telling emanates a calm and lively ambiance, inducing one to momentarily set aside personal reservations, worries and the like. Most of the people in our hometown look at her akin to an exotic but an exemplary specie, a rare one of a kind and endangered indeed. Among the many topics she was fond of telling us was her first hand experiences since her childhood, e.g., during the Japanese occupation; how our place evolved from a rarely inhabited sitio to an obscure barrio; and, unto a town that this small Municipality of Bayabas has become now. She also loved to tell her other experiences since childhood with her four older siblings (one of them is my father) and with her youngest brother. She was good looking when she was still young, a fair skin (still evident in her old age), slim, sexy and pretty enough to attract numerous suitors. Interestingly, she told us stories about the numerous admirers who formally tried to win her heart during younger days but to no avail. Eventually, some of these men became very wealthy and prominent individuals.

But why didn’t she get married?

Aunty Peryang would casually and proudly claim having willfully, i.e., through her own volition, decided earlier in life not to get married, bear no children and deliberately become perpetually celibate and chaste for a sublime purpose. Literally, the sublime purpose is to serve as caregiver for her parents, i.e., our grandfather and grandmother, specially during the latter’s both older days in moments of senility. When she was still young, she would say, if I get married, who will take good care of them?
Consequently, our grandfather died many years ago. Four years after my grandfather’s death, our grandmother died subsequently later. Indeed, our grandparents died not without the loving care, and many sleepless nights that an exceptional caregiver dedicatedly and tenderly served them with. When our grandparents were, respectively, in the prolonged agonizing state on their deathbed, I remember my father, Papa Percing telling Aunty Peryang to likewise attend to her own personal health and welfare. Otherwise, he insisted, she might die soon, earlier than her patients.

After the death of our grandparents, Aunty Peryang felt that her purpose in life had been already accomplished as well.

Almost two decades after the death of both parents, Aunty Peryang, faced the twilight of her own life. She was afflicted with various illnesses that even she herself could not identify because she refused medication.

As universally claimed, the family is the oldest form of institution that has ever existed in the history of mankind. This institution cropped up, according to sociologists and psychologists, from the innate nature and basic need of human beings to closely and intimately associate with each other. That is, to communicate, share experiences and laughter, to elicit sympathy and comfort, and to love and be loved. Aunty Peryang challenged this incontestable truth of man’s nature and she paid the price, i.e., a lot of ordeal, sacrifices and self-denial.

At the age of 76 Aunty Peryang breath her last. She was unable to receive the same degree of attention that she rendered her own parents onto their deathbed. Given with the opportunities to raise her own family, Aunty Peryang bravely contested the invincible current of the eternal laws of nature. She prevailed and shelled-out the cost of a willing victim. She sacrificed her whole person on the altar of utmost empathy for her adored parents. She lived the life of a martyr and paid the price of solitude unto death. Her most priced unwritten last will and testament declared that she should be buried beside her most beloved parents. For this, her bereaved nephews and nieces reverently laid her on an elevated cemetery lot exclusively allotted a long time ago for the three of them. God knows, what sort of reward a martyr like her deserves up there…

Now, in eternal union with her beloved parents, maybe she has resumed telling her never ending stories, interrupted only as usual with outbursts of laughter. Aside from her beloved parents Nanay Kayang and Tatay Anton, surrounding her up there as company and audience, most probably are the following who passed away earlier: Priscillano Sr. (my father), Priscillano Jr. (my brother), Perluz Francia (my sister), Manuel (my uncle), Irenea (my aunt), Leopardo (my uncle), etc, and many other relatives belonging to our clan.

Perhaps, with Aunty Peryang’s presence now in heaven, souls have not only rest peace but with lots of laughter as well…

So be it Lord God, we pray… Amen.