It’s Friday once again! Time is flying by so fast! Next week is the start of the ‘ber months. Before we know it, the countdown to Christmas is on again.
Yesterday, my dad, my sister, Hazel and I went to The Garden of the Divine Word in Christ the King Church in E. Rodriguez, Sr. Avenue, Quezon City. It is the columbary of the SVDs. My grandma’s remains was cremated as per her wishes. We were looking for a columbary for her urn when my sister, Grace, told us about the one in Christ the King Church. I checked it and the prices if we can afford to get a vault. A vault’s price ranges from 73K to as high as 95K. But with the peace and quiet of the place, the lush garden, the everyday mass being offered for the dead… I think it’s worth it. Plus, each vault can accommodate as many as 4 urns.
Here are some photos of the place…
The columbary has 3 levels: Terrace, Promenade and Garden. We chose the Garden level.
This is the Garden level. The shade of the trees and plants can be a blessing when the sun is up. The green walls you are seeing are actually the vaults where the urns are placed.
There are ponds on the Garden level with koi fishes in it.
This is the view from the Terrace level.
The Garden level is where the Grotto of the miraculous Virgin Mary is located. It has seats similar to an ampitheatre. You actually won't think you're in a place for the dead because of the beautiful landscape.
We will have my mom’s remains (if there’s anything left) and my brother’s bones cremated as well. So that the three of them will be together in the columbary. I can already see my mom smiling. My mom used to love places like this.
Being the older sister for me didn’t stop even when my sisters became adults. I guess it will always be that way. When we were younger, any one who dared quarrel with my sisters wouldn’t even think of doing it twice. Because of me. I made sure of that. I was my siblings’ protector and I remain that way until now.
My sister went home yesterday looking so disappointed and depressed. When I asked her why, she poured her heart out right away. It was about work and her monster of a boss! She told me her problems. I didn’t show any emotion, I just listened. But deep inside all I wanted to do was wait for her boss to come out of their office and drag her to an empty room to give her a dose of her own medicine! I wanted to make her feel the same disappointment and depression that my sister felt. I wanted to make her cry and make her say sorry to my sister for what she did!
Of course, I won’t do any of that. I just listened and told her to weigh her options. If she isn’t happy with her current job, then find another one soon. No need to be unhappy with your work when there are other positions out there waiting to be filled.
I still would want to give her boss a piece of my mind. And let’s see if she’ll continue bullying everyone working under her!
When I was a kid, our family used to go to the province at least twice a year to see the relatives. Once during the town feast, and once more during All Saints’ Day. We get to see almost all the relatives during these occasions. So we really made it a point to go.
When we grew up and started working, going to the province became a one-time affair. We were just too busy living our own lives and our schedules wouldn’t meet. We would just be able to visit during All Saints’ Day when we visit the grave of our dead love ones. That’s when the relatives converge in a single place.
It’s just sad that we’re losing the bond that we built from way back. The young ones are growing up and since we don’t see them that often, they don’t know us anymore. The elders are succumbing to old age one by one. In fact, only one nanang (great grandmother) lives. There are a couple of grand-aunts still living.
All of a sudden, I missed the bonding we shared during my younger years. Summer and other special occasions were more fun because of them.
On this day, God wants you to know…
… that working together is good. We are meant to support one another in this world. Let go of the feeling that you have to do everything alone. Ask someone if they want to join you.
I got this message from a Facebook application. I love the messages I get everyday. Most even seem to apply to my current situation. Like the one above.
My sisters and I really supported each other in the recent family situation we found ourselves in. The one next to me even helped me out immediately when I thought I’d sink from the expenses. That’s what family is all about! Working together and not letting a family member do everything alone. Just like what the message said.
I am scared of death. When it is staring me in the face and taunting me, I show a strong front but the truth is that I am batshit scared of it. Who’s really prepared for it, anyway? I don’t think any one is. Probably the priests and nuns and other religious figures. Probably our neighbor who’s turning 100 soon.
But not me. I am not prepared for it. I don’t think I will ever be prepared for death. Even when it’s not coming for me, I am still scared of it. I’m scared for the person who will be taken.
I also feel angry towards death. Scared and mad at it! It has taken three loved ones already. My brother, my mom, and my grandma. I really prayed, still praying, that it won’t be back for years and years. We’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of it to last me another lifetime.
My grandma passed away before 7am today.
Thank you to all those who said a little prayer for her. I hope you say one more prayer for her soul.
Thank you.
I know she’s with her Creator now.
Death is the only certain thing in life. We all know that. Whatever we do to avoid it, we will eventually succumb to it. All of us. The question is: are you prepared for death to come get you?
Honestly, I am not ready for death yet. I believe few people really prepare for it. I don’t think I’d ever be ready. Actually, I keep praying for death not to come get me yet. I know my family still needs me. I want to be able to secure their future first, especially that of my dad and my brother. I also want to make sure first that someone will take care of my sister Meng when she grows old and still single. There are so many things that I need to be sure of first before anything else.
Of course, I might grow to the ripe age of 100. Who knows?!
I can’t help but cry when I think about my grandma. She was our pillar of strength during tough times when we were still young and my parents couldn’t do anything with the situation we’re in. She sent us to school when my dad couldn’t afford it. She gave me almost every little thing I asked for when I was young.
Let me tell you, though, that she wasn’t an angel. She could be tough to the people around her. She could be a real monster when she’s angry. But I guess I have the privilege of being the eldest grandchild. She was always kind to me no matter how mischievous I was when I was a kid. I am really lucky to have her.
And now that she is sick, I don’t know what else to do. I am really praying that she won’t suffer anymore. I pray that instead of suffering longer, she be with my mom instead…
My grandma is in pretty bad shape right now. I am begging you my blog visitors to please pray for her. That is all I am asking for. A few seconds for you to pray for my grandma.
I am not sure if I have said it enough, but despite our differences, I truly appreciate my dad now more than ever. Ever since my mom died he stepped up and became both mom and dad to us. Even though my sisters and I are adults now, he still treats us like kids at times. But no complaints here. It’s totally okay with us because that’s him.
Happy Father’s Day to my dad and to all the dads out there in the world!
My sisters bought Hazel a raincoat. She will be starting school by next week. Since it’s the rainy season here in Manila already, we want to be sure she’s protected from the rain. The raincoat is a little bit big for her but since it will cover her sufficiently, especially during heavy rains, my sisters bought it anyway.
Her daily schedule will be from 9 to 11 in the morning only. I pray she will have a good school year ahead.
Do you want to know how much our little Hazel loves to pose? Can you see the photo above? You wouldn’t know that she’s on the verge of a tantrum already! She was tired and wanted to go home by that time she saw the mascot. But when my sister told her to pose with the mascot for a photo, her face transformed from almost crying to that!
I would like to believe that I am a good sister. I am the eldest in the family and I really prioritize my siblings over myself. Always. I can’t think of my own happiness when I know my siblings will be left behind. They are the reason that I underwent so many things in the past. I don’t regret any of it and I know that given the chance, I won’t think twice about sacrificing so many things for them again.
That’s how much I love them. That’s why it breaks my heart when my brother shows me no respect.
Hazel is an incoming Nursery student. She is all set for the start of classes this coming June 15th. As you can see, she has her school uniform ready. She also has her school shoes and bags and other supplies.
She even has a raincoat! I am hoping that Hazel will have a good school year. We were told that classes will be more of socialization and fun activities for the kids. I’m sure that as long as there’s plenty of singing and dancing, she will enjoy going to classes every day.
It’s back to school once again. Parents are preparing the school supplies their kids would need. Good thing that my brother is in college so there’s not much supplies that he buys. We actually just buy school uniform and shoes for him. Hazel is going to Nursery in my alma mater. She also doesn’t need too many supplies.
I remember when we were kids. It was really chaos come May of every year. Imagine 5 of us were going to grade and high school. Every item my parents needed to buy was multiplied five times. There was also the issue of buying a new set of uniform or using the old ones. I was lucky since I am the eldest I get the new uniforms always. While my sisters get hand-me-downs most of the time.
Sometimes, when I reminisce the good old days, I miss going to school. Life was simpler back then. But who wants to take quizzes and do recitation again?! Not me!
Whenever I hear Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven, it breaks my heart a little. It just reminds me how devastated my dad was when my brother died. He was 15 when he passed away. He’s my dad’s favorite. He was the last one to whisper in my brother’s ear how much we loved him. He breathed his last after that.
I was there when it happened. It was very vivid to me until now, 12 years after. I still get choked a little when I reminisce, especially when I hear Tears in Heaven.
Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven…
My dad was never the same after that. I know he will forever carry in his heart the loss of his favorite son.
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That’s us in Gerry’s Grill in SM City Baguio. My sisters, Hazel and me. We went there for almost 4 days. It was so much fun! Just us girls in the family. We toured the city that we adopted as our hometown. I can still remember how cool the weather was. Unlike the super hot weather of Manila.
Just the other day, when the weather was 37.5 degrees, Hazel blurted out that she wants to go back to Baguio. We laughed about it. Who doesn’t want to?
Lately, my sisters and I are watching movies a lot. We were able to watch How To Train Your Dragon and Clash of the Titans very recently.
The photos above were taken with a camera phone that’s why it’s not of good quality. Hazel really enjoyed How To Train Your Dragon. After watching the movie, she kept on mentioning the dragon Toothless.
We plan on watching some more before the month ends. Of course, only those movies which Hazel can watch
Poor Hazel. She badly wants to go to the beach like me. Her old kiddie pool has a hole so she can’t use it anymore. Since it was really hot and she wanted to use the toys she got out of her Happy Meals, we used a big basin instead.
And here she was wearing her bathing suit…
We are scheduled to go swimming this May. She’ll be happy for sure!
I just got this photo from my friend who got married. His wife and him liked Hazel a lot when Hazel and I spent time with them at Sophie’s birthday party. So they asked me if they could get Hazel to be one of their flower girls. I said yes, of course.
In the photo above, you can see her pouting already. We waited for three whole hours before the ceremony started, that’s why! Hazel was not in a good mood by the time they were made to walk down the aisle. I still love this photo of hers. She looked good in her gown, don’t you think?
My Own Utopia was conceived when my main blog became too "commercialized". I needed a more personal place, my own utopia, where I can write about my personal experiences, the blessings that come my way, my faith, inspirations in my life, and other things that has a more personal tone.
Filed under My Family 
Death is the only certain thing in life. We all know that. Whatever we do to avoid it, we will eventually succumb to it. All of us. The question is: are you prepared for death to come get you?
