In His own well-laid plans and mysterious ways, God makes things happen according to His plan, His time and His will. This, I believe so.
January passed with a lot of glad and sad surprises, all of which were worthy to be kept in my shoebox trove of great memories.
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Geez! My kumare Sally and inaanak Karen, with hubby Chris, flew in from Edmonton, Alberta to attend a conference of the World Financial Group (WFG) in Toronto.
Sadly, Pareng Tom, Sally’s better-half and a major WFG player in Edmonton, passed on January 23, 2016. It would have been best if we all could have been together.
It was eons ago since we’ve seen each other, the last when we were all still in Cotabato City, southern Philippines.
While the whole team was feasting on and savouring lobster, I declined an invite for a seat at the table, stood with Sally as we exchanged pleasantries, went to Karen and Chris for a quick chat and left.
That took all of 15 minutes or under; but we agreed to grab longer time out of their busy schedule to relive the good old days and tsika-tsika about the present and a beckoning future.
Not happening! On the early morning of January 12 when we sought to see each other again to re-bond and firm up connections, I could not come — my mom, Isabel Montojo De Guzman-Galicia, passed.
I can’t help but ask after the turn of events: Did God give me, Sally and Karen just enough time to be in each other’s company, so that we may excitedly look forward to more and longer earthly meet-ups?
That must have been God’s way of also simply saying “Butch, lobsters are delicious; but watch your health and strength. You would need these soon. After all, Sally, Karen, Chris, Tom and you are all back on track.”
Well, His plan, His time and His will.
*****
Since about a year ago, every loonie and toonie I could muster went to the piggy bank.
Getting ready for a good future was one of the traits we, her children, must have learned from Mom.
My wife, Evelyn, and I were all set to primarily attend the Golden Anniversary reunion of the Class of 1970 of the University of Santo Tomas-Education High School, from January 24 to 27, 2020.
Of course, the time would also give me and Evelyn the momentous chance to visit family and friends in southern Mindanao, northern Luzon and Manila; and – with a wide grin – escape the “polar coaster” ride sort of Canadian winter forecast this season.
A proud member of that batch, I vowed that I would not miss it for anything.
U.S. of A. East Coast, British and Canadian batch mates Rick, Angie, Allan, Girlie, Tony, Armi, Nettie, a host of others and me have long prepared a number that we would be presenting during the reunion.
Evelyn and I even developed a tight itinerary for the tropical Philippine family and friendly visits, without heavy winter coats, toques and gloves in our luggage.
However, all well-laid plans were waylaid and were never meant to be. My mom Isabel passed on January 12.
The reunion was a huge success from the 24th to the 27th.
Our presentation went perfectly well without me.
I missed my classmates and batch mates; although I would never know if they missed me.
Rest assured, God’s creation would always make out and turn out good.
I can’t help but think after the turn of events: Did God make sure that I had all the physical resources to give back to Mom after she gave me all her love and resources in her lifetime?
That must also have been God’s way of simply saying “Butch, school reunions are good for your social needs. But what better reunion is there than that of your Mom reuniting with Me, your Dad and all the family’s faithful departed who preceded her in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
Well, His plan, His time and His will.
*****
The family was looking at January 18 for arrangements for Mom’s funeral and burial services.
Mother Nature had other plans and brought in heavy snow and freezing rain on that Saturday.
Thus, we had to move Mom’s services and interment to January 25.
My brother Jing said this new date was ideal.
By the time Mom is buried by noon or early afternoon of January 25, it would be early morning of January 26 in the Philippines, which is 13 hours ahead of Canada.
January 26 would be Dad Chitong’s 39th death anniversary. He passed in 1981.
We firmly believed that Mom Isabel and Dad Chitong would meet again and never shall death part them again.
Well, God’s plan, His time and His will.
*****
On her birth anniversary on November 14, 1955, Mom Isabel celebrated and proclaimed the miracle of life by giving birth to Felicisimo Jr., “Gie” our father’s namesake.
Gie passed on February 18, 2017; and expectedly, he would have a grand reunion with Mom and Dad.
Thinking about it, I can’t help but feel a bit jealous because they are all in a better place with Pinky, the youngest in the De Guzman-Galicia brood; my grandpas and grandmas; my aunts and uncles and other members of the family who successfully completed their spiritual passage.
Well, God’s plan, His time and His will.
*****
By some Divine act that Mom might have interceded for beyond her lifetime, the family survived any and all stuff and thing heaped on them, in the last few weeks.
The Montojo De Guzman-Galicia family will forever be grateful for:
- The expedited arrival and attendance of our Philippine-based siblings – Dennis, Lucy and Jing – to Mom’s final earthly passage.
- All the unsolicited help and amazing show of sympathy and support received from immediate relatives in Canada and the Philippines, good friends, neighbours and persons who knew and had spent quality time with Mom.
- The efficient and excellent services of the staff of Jerrett Funeral Homes and Resthaven Memorial Gardens from the time of arrangements to the completion of interment; and
- All those who grieved with the family and comforted the latter in their hour of great loss; those who offered Masses and prayers for the repose of the soul of Mom Isabel; those who sent flowers (Mom had a green thumb and always boasted of her small “lucky” garden); those who came to the viewing and attended the burial; and everyone who intended to bid Mom a final farewell, adieu and Godspeed for her trip to heaven.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
*****
Before writing this piece, the song “You Raise Me Up” kept stirring in my mind.
Popularized by Josh Groban, I always knew it to be a psalm and a hymn of praise.
Gone online, I listened to it closely. Further probing, I read that the Irish-Norwegian duo Secret Garden originally composed “You Raise Me Up.”
Rolf Løvland wrote the music. The song was supposed to be an instrumental piece titled “Silent Story”. He later asked Brendan Graham, to write the lyrics to his melody, after reading Graham’s novels the lyrics.
The song was performed for the very first time at the funeral of Løvland’s mother. #####