God’s Good and Faithful Servant

My dad during his graduation.

I will surely miss my father, he is the coolest dad ever! I’m really sad that my father passed away. It will never be the same without him. I will miss his loud voice, actually, everything about him. He passed away peacefully, and us at peace because we know that he is now with God in heaven. He has been very passionate about his faith, his disease never stopped him from believing in God. He was ready to go and happy as well. I’m glad I was able to tell my father that I love him before he went. No regrets at all!

He passed away Monday, it was really unexpected, I never thought he’d go that day. My mother brought him to the hospital because of extreme pain. I thought he’d go home because the pain went away but suddenly he had a heart attack and that’s what took him, not cancer. The doctors said that it’s useless to keep him alive. We’d spend a lot of money and mahihirapan lang sya. I don’t want that to happen, I’m not used to seeing my father that weak. So my sister and I decided to just let God take over. I just asked the doctors to wait for my sister but my dad can’t wait anymore, he went before my sister came home.

That night was filled with crying, my mother most of all was extremely sad that my father’s gone. She used to say that she wants to go first before my dad, but we know God has a plan, that’s why he took my father first. On the other hand I was happy as well because all his suffering has ended. He’s now in a happy place with our Father.

We were not prepared for his passing, we didn’t have any savings but God has his own way of providing. The company I work paid for the funeral services. St. Peter took care of everything. I really appreciate all of their help. Their staff are all nice and accommodating. Kudos to Lito Pena and his staff!

That night I want to make sure that my father will have a dignified funeral. I was there from the embalming until he was brought to the Cathedral of the Resurrection. My husband was there to support me, he really showed how much he loved my father. We didn’t have any sleep but he was there, he even watched my dad getting embalmed, which I didn’t want to see. I want to keep my father being alive in my memory. 

Ptr Rey prepared this for the first night.

Details of his casket.

It was a stormy day. The weather mourned with us.

Joy, I really appreciate everything.

Carmina and Karen.

Nino, Nikki, Charles and Dian.

Jhugrae, Roanne,Christia and Kate.

Ate Amy, Auntie Carmen and Ptr Denz.

The Boys.

Ate Kel and Ptr Rey.

St. Peter people. That guy in the middle is a jack of all trades.

Giving some love to Mama.

A song for Papa.

Lolo’s Apos.

Ptr. Arnold.

Ptr. Dong. Papa’s best friend.

CBAP Region 1 Delegation with Mama. Seeing these people proved how deep my father’s faith was.

Ptr D.

Ptr Delim praying for us.

Ptr Gino.

Sangko, a person very close to my father. He’s my father’s brother.

Family and relatives.

For more photos click here. Other photos courtesy of Jhugrae.

We decided that we will cremate my father because it’s more practical and we can bring him home in a way. He was cremated at Beyond the Sunset at Irisan. It was a nice place. The staff were all accommodating. The process took about 2 and one half hours, we had lunch while we waited. We also donated his casket and I received a text message today that his casket was already donated. 

Before he was cremated Ptr Rey and Ptr Denz prayed for us. I felt a certain kind of happiness during that moment. My father looked so happy and peaceful.

Papa was inside that box.

The giant oven.

Papa is now inside.

St. Peter made this.

And this one is by our church.

Lastly our family would like to thank everyone who helped us even in their littlest way, those are all appreciated. We thank everyone who expressed their condolences. Thanks to all who came, we know that the weather was not very cooperative but you all took time to come to my father’s wake. This event in our life showed how much our father is loved. Once again, thank you!