Last January 26 was the death anniversary of my aunt who died of
mesothelioma. My cousin (her daughter) posted this article in her Facebook account on my aunt’s death anniversary. This article features my cousins’ eulogy during their mom’s final mass. I was really crying after I read this article and just like what my cousin has said, it has been years already and the pain is still there. But we know that she is happy right now as she is already with her Creator. We know that she has always been watching us and even though she is not physically present, she will always be in our hearts and in our minds.
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REMEMBERING VICKY
VICTORIA SANTOS NEPOMUCENO comes from Tondo, “the place of no return”, so the Lord led her to Mother of Life, “the place of eternal return.” Being part of the 1979 GRACED Gen (13th, which almost got aborted), she had always wished to know God better, to understand her purpose and plan for her. Her greatest joy comes from simply resting in the assurance that “God loves me. Hindi nya ako papabayaan.”
Ate Vicky, as she is fondly known by all, strived to make her faith manifest in everything she does – in work, in her relationships, in her family. Although all given to the work in Lord’s harvest, she was able to balance it with her relationship with her husband and her two children. She knew sacrifice like nobody else has known – she faced and lived through the harrowing experience of pain in the most literal sense when she contracted cancer of the ovary which metastasized and spread to her lungs. Through it all, she remained resilient in her dedication and joyful service to her three-fold fidelity – to God, to man and to the church.
On January 26, 2004, she was called back by the Lord of her life and Master of the harvest: a woman of action and prayer to the very end.
The following testimonies by her children, Tessa and Joseph, will further add to her life-long witness in faith.
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My nanay, the most extraordinary ordinary person in the world, simply because she can make the ordinary things extraordinary.
My brother and I grew up not knowing who Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty were. What we knew where stories of Esau and Jacob, Joseph the Dreamer, Moses and the Ten Commandments, Abraham and Isaiah. I remember when I was young, I used to look forward to having brownouts at night because for sure mom would tell us again the Creation story through a shadow theater. I remember her smiling, crying, praying. I remember a lot of things.
I was in kinder when I forgot to return that pencil that I borrowed from my seatmate. She told me, “Never think that someone else’s stuff is yours just because he/she lent it to you; always remember to return the things that you borrow.” I try really hard to always follow that rule; am still trying.
Today, my family and I would be returning the most precious gift God has given us. We are returning her to her Father. She has devoted her whole life to Him, and in the process, shared Him – in all His glory and power – to all of us who have been privileged to be a part of her life. It’s sad, it’s heartbreaking….but like all borrowed beautiful things, we are glad that for some time…even if after only little while, she was with us. She made us laugh deliriously, talk endlessly, think deeply, pray faithfully. She was strong even in the weakest moment; she had faith even in doubt, she loved us all even in her pain.
Her love for all of us was endless and now it’s become boundless. People say I take after my mom…but honestly she is only someone I could only hope to be like someday. I miss her so much!!
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My nanay - she’s the best, when it comes to cooking eggs for me in the morning. She is a perfectionist when cooking a sunny side up for me, when the yellow part is still not perfect, she will give it to my father or she would say “Akin na lang yan anak.” She is also a perfectionist when it comes to her work. She once told us “Do your best in everything that you do, even if it is not that important in the eyes of others…di pwedeng yung pwede na.” My mom is not only a mom….I can call her a supermom or more appropriately, Darna, because it was portrayed by Ate Vi, a name which I sometimes call her. She once told me and some of her friends “Gwapo ng anak ko ‘no? Kamukha ni Lukcy Manzano.” But I just want to clarify that she is not a Vilmanian. She is a Noranian.
I can say that she is not only a mother, she is also my best friend and text mate. When we text each other, we are like bf-gf. I remember she sent me a text saying “Sa’an ka na anak. Tsup!” When I got home, I asked her “Mom, what’s the meaning of TSUP?” That was my kiss to you…with sounds.” I told her, “Just say MWAH ma. It has sounds too and it sounds better.”
We always wake up early in the morning on weekends, we share stories – what happened during the week. We talked about almost everything: I share my love life and all the naught stuff I did in school. She once shared about what happened in the mall when she spotted Tirso Cruz III. She doggedly followed him until she caught up with him and told him (as if he wouldn’t guess) “Uy Pip, you’re my idol.”
Those crazy stuffs will be the one I shall surely miss about her. But I am sure she is happy right now with our Creator. She has prepared everything thoroughly like she is applying for a visa to heaven. She’s asked forgiveness for all the people she’s hurt, and lovingly reminded us to be ready, likewise, whatever happens.
Ma, as I have always told you, I LOVE YOU…MWAH!
