reflection

last night, i went to my cousin ate bong's wake. ate bong died of breast cancer last monday, the day before my birthday. it's unfortunate that i didn't really get the chance to know her better when she was still alive. i only got to meet her a couple of times because i stayed with them briefly when i enrolled at up. i distinctly remember how she and her sisters were so nice to me during my stay. they made sure that i get everything i need.

i was happy to see members of her family during the wake. it has been a decade since i last saw them, except for ate devi and her husband kuya eboy, who i see and exchange text messages with regularly. i'm closest to the couple because they were among those who helped me through my first year in college.

i realized one important thing after i went home from the wake: that life is indeed to short to just waste it on foolish things. ate bong was very lucky to have lived a full life before she died. she was able to do the things that mattered to her. she made the most out of the greatest gift God has given her, her life. she made everyone close to her feel her love and affection. she wasted no time in spreading her love to people around her. i felt that love last night. the tears and the laughters were testimonies of how she touched the lives of the people who were inside the chapel.

to ate bong, i bid you temporary good-bye. i wish you a good and safe journey back to our dear Creator. thank you for everything.