A Farewell Message To A Very Dear Friend -- Mrs Jeanette Dela Cruz-Vasallo

Photo Credit:  Sis Jaja Fabio Dela Cruz
Taken on the third day of her wake,
a lovely butterfly stays with us all throughout.

We love you, Ate Jeanette... a great friend who will be forever missed. 

A Prayer for a Friend... 

Almighty Father, eternal God, hear our prayers for Your daughter, Jeanette, whom You have called from this life. 

Give her eternal rest as You let her pass in safety through the gates of death, and live forever with all Your saints in the light You promised to Abraham and to all his descendants in faith. Guard her from all harm; and on that great day of resurrection and reward, raise her up with all Your saints. 

In Your mercy and love, forgive whatever sins she may have committed and grant her eternal life in Your kingdom. 

Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, You willingly gave up Yourself to death so that all people might be saved and pass from death into a new life. 

Listen to our prayers; look with love on Your people who mourn and pray for Jeanette. 

Lord Jesus, You alone are holy and compassionate; forgive her sins. By dying, You opened the gates of life for those who believe in You; may Your perpetual light shine upon her. 

Receive her soul and bestow her to God, the Most High. By Your glorious power, give her light, joy, and peace in heaven where You live forever and ever.  Amen. 

  ____________________________

Gaya ng ating napag-usapan, gaya ng ipinangako ...

We will surely finish the story of your life -- very inspiring. 

We will write about it and let the whole world know how you, your life and your big heart have blessed and moved so many lives. 

Meet our "Principal in Heaven"

Photo Credit: Kuya Joel Dela Cruz

Congratulations, Ma'am Jeanette. 

You truly deserved this!  We are so proud of you! Yours is indeed a celebration of life.

I'd like to share her loving husband's message... 

The husband, Sir Benedict, finds strength and comfort from her "perfect" wife. He knows that even up to this time, she is still making ways for the entire family to feel how much she loves them all. Their faith in the Lord is admirable that their strength has always been so contagious, very inspiring.


To our dearest Ma'am/Ate Jeanette, we love you so. You're indeed a gift and a blessing to all of us.

Be our angel and send our kisses to our dear Lord. 

Til we meet again, my friend. I love you.

xoxo,

♥♥♥ Mai, Ren and Eieo  ♥♥♥

Watch this video... her favorite song: 

A Kiss to OUR Very Dear Friend, Matel

Matel, thanks for making your life and the lives of so many so beautiful in many different ways. You may not be aware of it but you have been an inspiration to all of us.

We may not tell you often how much love we have for you or how special you are to us, but we are always hopeful that you somehow felt the love and care that you deserve. You are so dear and so special to us. And now that you’re gone, we strongly believe that there is another “lifetime” waiting for all of us.

Like what Mami Ave posted in her FB wall, we all wish we were you everyday… funny, loving, kind and so selfless. And this is very true… we really wish we could. With all sincerity and humility, you can do little miracles to someone’s life… sometimes without even saying a word or doing anything. For us, your presence is heaven sent that it can make things so possible. Thanks for being His instrument.

Tonight, we bid goodbye and celebrate your beautiful life. We, your Keating Family, have lots of wonderful memories with you. In our hearts, you, our dearest Matel, will always live on and will truly be with us forever. Yes, you will surely be missed. We will miss you, your sincere smiles, your unique laughs and most of all, your genuine friendship.

It is so true that “Keatings” will never be the same without you. And despite all these tears, we’d like you to know that we are still happy and thankful… for you are now Home with Him. Don’t worry, Matel… as we all promise… we will always be here for one another as well as for your family and loved ones especially for your Mom.

For us, goodbyes are not forever; goodbyes are not the end. These simply mean that we will surely miss you. Thanks for being an inspiration to everyone. We love you so much, Matel… our dearest friend. Until we meet again…

Another Test of Faith in 2009

"Mai, if we know how to embrace God's blessings, who are we not to accept life's trials and sufferings, His challenges." - Hubby Rainier

A fire incident (May 7, 2009) took everything away from us, our houses, things, properties, assets, savings, and a lot more. We have nothing except each other’s hands, our son, Eieo, families, relatives, friends, clients and colleagues. We had no material things at all.

Though this traumatic incident happened right after planning our future, of a better life and a more stable and happier lifestyle, we were proud to say that we were able to accept the fact that though we had to get detached from all of these earthly stuffs, we never felt sad, worried and depressed. In other words, we never thought that we could actually live with nothing at hand.

Despite of it all, we were still thankful and grateful to GOD for we were able to cope with and recover from that test of faith – the fire incident.

Unexpectedly, on September 26 (of the same year, 2009), we faced another test of faith. We were some of those who got affected by typhoon Ondoy’s (Ketsana) aftermath. For the second time, we needed to turn our backs to our house, things, properties, assets, savings, and a lot more just to save ourselves from this calamity. We had to relocate to save our lives.

On our way out of the house and as the floods were coming our way, destroying many houses and properties, I was only thinking of one thing: GOD has His plans – even a lot better than what we have.

However, the saddest part was we lost a loved one – my father-in-law passed away. He was drowned because of very high, unexpected and unusual floods. It was too late when it was his time to get rescued. Losing a loved one is indeed the most painful of it all.

When that happened, one thing was running in my mind: I had to be strong for my hubby. He needed me the most at these trying times and so I did – thank and praise GOD.

Honestly, we were hurting; we cried, mourned and grieved BUT we never asked GOD why. In fact, our faith and trust in HIM get even stronger, better. We are holding on to HIM – tighter than ever. He is indeed our source of inspiration, understanding, wisdom and strength. And prayers have always been so powerful, so calming, so reliable, such a relief, our spiritual energizers.


These are indeed tests of faith and we strongly believe that God has His plans after all. Again and as always, we are optimistic that we can surpass all these trials and be able to recover with God’s help, in His time.

Thy will be done.

God bless us all!

How Hard It Is To Lose a Grandfather

Quotes on Loving and Losing the Greatest Granddad…

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~Welsh Proverb

The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is that they have a common enemy. ~Sam Levenson

A child needs a grandparent, anybody's grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world. ~Charles and Ann Morse

A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart. ~Anonymous

The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap. ~Anonymous

One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather. ~Joy Hargrove

Granddads…
Grandfathers are fathers who are grand,
Restoring the sense that our most precious things
Are those that do not change much over time.
No love of childhood is more sublime,
Demanding little, giving on demand,
Far more inclined than most to grant the wings
Allowing us to reach enchanted lands.
Though grandfathers must serve as second fathers,
Helping out with young and restless hearts,
Each has all the patience wisdom brings,
Remembering our passions more than others,
Soothing us with old and well-honed arts.

Grandfathers are the mountains we call home:
Rugged, rock-faced remnants of our souls,
Alps far grander than our hills and knolls,
Now sheltering the fields through which we roam.
Dare we understand what they have been:
Fathers of the children of our dreams?
As we knew them, bathing in their streams,
They were the wakers of the gods within.
How beautiful they stand, though far away!
Each the guardian of a long lost child,
Reached alone by those whose love has smiled
So happily it danced right through their day.

With all acknowledgment to all those great minds behind these words. Thanks!

The song you'll see or hear below left an impact… Bye, Bye (by Mariah Carey)Hoooh, I can really relate to it. I just do hope people, who love listening to this, know the real meaning behind each line, each word. Such a wonderful message… I’ll share it with you, peeps!

This is for my sweetest granddad, my dearest Lolo Leovy…


Bye Bye – Mariah Carey Music Code

A Tribute to OUR Dear Madam Cory Aquino

Who she was, she is and she will always be…

A passionate and caring wife to Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino.
A loving and understanding mother to her children.
A sweet and thoughtful Lola to her grandchildren.
A trustworthy friend.
A creative artist, a painter.

A religious and meek Christian.
A prayerful and grateful fellow.
A devoted prayer and democracy advocate.
A woman of prayer, dignity, principles, integrity and empowerment.

An influential people power icon.
A considerate and supportive politician.
The first lady president in the Philippines and in Asia.
Our former president.

Famous. Rich. Loving. Kind. Blessed. Grateful.

Farewell to OUR Beloved Former President… Mrs. Corazon Cojuangco – Aquino…

Your works, words and service to mankind, your legacy will live forever in the hearts of the Filipino as well as those whom you have touched their hearts and changed their lives.

As she joins her Creator in Heaven… her death.

At the age of 76 on August 1, 2009, 3:18 a.m., at the Makati Medical Center, Mrs. Mrs. Corazon Aquino died of cardiopulmonary arrest after complications of colon cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease in March 2008 but kept up public appearances this year. A religious Catholic, she regularly attended weekend Holy Mass until shortly before being admitted to hospital in late June.

All Roman Catholic dioceses had started requiem masses for Aquino, after they held "healing masses". Meanwhile, the government declared a week of mourning for her death. Political figures both in the local and international arena claim that the Filipinos have just lost a mother and a guiding voice of the people.

Also, many individuals around the globe have extended sympathy and expressed their grief; we along with other people from different nations have truly admired her extraordinary courage, determination, and moral leadership, which serve as an inspiration to all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation.

Again, we thank you. We'll let the yellow ribbon live on, generation to generation.

We pray for your soul – eternal peace and serenity with OUR Creator, Almighty Father.

With Love and Prayers, Myraine, Rainier and Eieo