Life is worth living - a tribute to Mrs. Lety M. Pelagio

She is the epitome of woman. She was all about embracing life, loving yourself, loving other people, and encouraging others to find the beauty in themselves.

This Morning, I attended a memorial service.
It was for Mrs. Pelagio, my former teacher in Elementary School. It wasn’t a sudden death. She was diagnosed with cancer. Seek for medication, recovered, but later on it still took her life.

Her memorial service was a devastating affair because of the nature of her death. Her Son and Husband cried throughout, as did her relatives, friends, and her co-teachers.

Though my tears kept threatening to burst from their ducts, I managed to remain dry-eyed throughout the week of memorial wake. Not until the day came when we had to send our last goodbyes to her. That was when I lost it. I cried, as I am crying now, because I never realized what a truly beautiful, optimistic person she was.

I was amazed at how positive, strong and determined she remained in her last days. She urges her sisters and friends not to be sad at her death, for she achieved her dreams and lived a full and happy life.

I regretted the fact that I never went out of my way to get to know her better, and it looks like I missed out on so many wonderful and memorable moments with this rare and beautiful human being. She was there during one of the most important moments in my life. Selflessly, she offered guidance, understanding and full support. From then on, I considered her not just my former teacher, but a family member. The effort she do for herself every single day as she pays visit to the doctor didn’t keep her from doing that. She didn’t mention it. The important thing for her is to help. She’s been doing it to everybody else. Years of service in her school made her a legend. Just as like the printed shirts during the memorial that says “My teacher, my hero.” Indeed, she is a hero - a mother,a sister, a friend, a co-worker and an adviser.

I am sad about her death, but I need to be thankful that my family and friends are still alive. Auntie Let made me realized that the important thing is to live your life to the fullest and fight for your dreams. Life is full of beauty. Life is worth living.

*The photo shows the candles we lighted during her Thanksgiving visit at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban Quezon in March.

Who is Andres and why celebrate his day?

"Bring out your cedulas and tear them to pieces!" Bonifacio challenged his members. The katipuneros tore up their cedulas and shouted, "Long live the Philippines." The cry at Pugadlawin signaled the start of the Philippine Revolution.


Andres Bonifacio, is considered as the “Father of the Philippine Revolution”. He is the founder and “Supremo” (leader) of the independence movement against Spain, the Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan nang nga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), or simply known as the Katipunan.

The first “unofficial” President of the Philippines. Which was then called “Tagalog Republic”. But during that time, Spaniards were still in control of the country, so he is not recognized as such. Making Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo the first official President to be elected while Bonifacio was elected as Secretary of the Interior. Since he did not have a good educational background, his qualifications were questioned he was offended by this so he then moved to Cavite to create his own government.

A difficult childhood gave Andres the strength to face all odds with great courage and determination. Though he is poor and stopped going to school, Bonifacio continued reading novels and studying about international law and French Revolution. In later years, he too began to write about what the Filipino should know to appreciate the desire and the need to be free. He was considered by his political rivals as a huge threat to the leadership of Gen. Aguinaldo. He established Katipunan to fight for Spaniards but ended up being killed by fellow Filipinos.

Bonifacio Day is celebrated on his birthday, unlike other heroes’ who are often remembered for their execution or death date than their birth. He was very controversial, that it came a point that Bonifacio Day was renamed National Heroes Day. The move was recognized by some as an official downgrading of Bonifacio by making him share the holiday with all the other national heroes. But it was settled when National Heroes Day was set on the last Sunday of August. Now Andres Bonifacio rightly has a national holiday all to himself on Nov. 30.

The Andres Bonifacio Act of 2011 / House Bill 4353 is being proposed by Cong. Palatino of Kabataan Partylist. Including in our educational system a more comprehensive teaching of the life, works, theories and praxis of Andres Bonifacio. But that is a different story.

It is very visible that even hundred years ago, Filipinos tried to create their own system of governance. So, they ended up killing each other. Everyone wants to be on top and would even kill any rivals who might threaten his leadership.

For me, Andres Bonifacio’s personal and political life experiences are representative of the experiences of the majority of the population of the country, then and now.

I cannot thank him enough for being an inspiration. We are humbled by how Bonifacio and the Katipunan revolution struggled to free us from colonial domination. Being a self-taught warrior. His own way to express and fight for his hunger for individual liberty.I am Andres. Any of us can become Andres.


photo by: Senor Enrique.

Wake up call to you public servants!

8:30 pm
After attending an event inside Camp Aguinaldo, on our way to Santolan MRT station, we came across an old man struggling to walk towards the station. He is weak, shaking and can barely move his feet forward. We immediately approached him for help. That time, a man (in athletic attire)was already helping him. But we still continued to assist him as he walk little by little. We asked him where he's going and told us he's waiting for someone. The man volunteered to carry him back to Camp Aguinaldo for a seat. Which lead us to an idea that he is a military man, indeed he is. At first, Lolo resisted our offer, he said he can't, cause he stinks and the guards would drive him away again. My officemate gave Lolo water to drink, and Lolo even asked for food. He was shaking probably because of hunger. As we lead him to Camp A, we learned that he is Mr. Felipe Millare, who's been visiting the Camp for 3 consecutive days, a retired officer, working out his AFPSLAI loan for reason that his wife's been sick and he wanted money to cover up the medications.
The guards on duty denied our request. Lolo's not allowed to stay/sit inside the guard house. So we have decided to look for any other authority to help us. And boom! We spotted two police officers inside a Quezon City police Mobile vehicle. Just right in front of Camp Aguinaldo (MRT santolan gate).

This is the scenario:
Joy, Didie, & Sgt Magleo: "Sir, pwede bang i-endorse namin sa inyo si Lolo. Gutom na gutom na at hinang hina sa pagod."

Police 1: "Ma'am naka duty kase kami. Asa loob kase si P-Noy. On call kami."

Joy: "Ok. Sige, paki radyo mo na lang sa kahit sinong pwedeng pag-endorsan namin kay Lolo. Brgy or kahit anung malapit na istasyon."

Police 1 : " Saglit po." (He talked to his buddy for an opinion. The man with a 3-lined badge)

Police 2: " Ma'am hindi kami pwede makialam diyan dahil baka ipatawag kami. Pero kung may papalit samin pwedeng iwan nyo diyan si Lolo at pakuha namin mamaya."

Didie: "Kuya kasi Cavite pa po siya nauwi, wala yang kamag-anak dito, hahanapin pa namin. Pero may inaantay siya na kasamahan nya pupunta daw. "

Police 2: " Yun naman pala, eh di hatid nyo na lng sa Cavite tsaka alam nyo parokyano na dito yan si Lolo. Hindi kami sigurado baka sindikato kumuha jan o anu."

Sgt Magleo: Hindi namin pwede ihatid yan, kaya nga sa inyo namin ineendorse para kayo ang mag asikaso. Nakita lang namin jan yan si Lolo tumutulong lang kami."

Joy: At ano namang assurance namin na hindi nyo basta iiwan si Lolo sa sidewalk. Bakit di nyo pwedeng paupuin muna sa loob ng mobile, kita nyo naman hinang hina na."

Police 2: " Teka, teka, Sino ba kayo? mga Sindikato yata kayo eh.!" (he got out of the car to confront us)

That statement created a commotion. We immediately took our IDs. We were totally humiliated and I can't help but raise my voice too. Shouting, at the same time, crying, I walked in front of him, and said to his face, "Gusto mo ba bumalik tayo sa loob para makita mo kung saan kami galing at sino mga kasama namin sa loob? para pagbintangan mo kaming sindikato??!" He answered back: "Wala akong pakialam kahit military o anu pa kayo. Ako ang pakinggan nyo!" And right then and there, our fellow concerned citizen showed his ID up,so police 2 would realize that the man he's speaking to is a military man, but he still raised his voice, complaining that we don't listen to him, etc. etc.

Realizing that we are not really from any other syndicate, he beat around the bush, saying, "Hindi naman namin pababayaan yan pag may dumating ipapadala namin siya sa barangay"

Joy: " Wag mo kami paligoy liguyin. Kami ngang malalakas kung tratuhin mo ganun na lang, yan pang matandang halos matumba na! Kanina pa lang na lumapit kami sayo, kitang kita nang tinatamad ka at bad mood ka. Hindi ko pinipilit kupkupin nyo si Lolo, siguraduhin nyo lang na magiging safe sya sa mga eendorsan nyo"

Police 2: "Hindi nga pwede maghahanap kami ng magdadala sa kanya sa ibang presinto"

Sgt Magleo: " Pwede bang pahiram na lang ng radyo kami hahanap ng tulong"

Police 1 to Didie: " Ma'am ganto na lang bigay nyo number nyo babalitaan namin kayo kapag nailipat na namin si Lolo"

Police 2 to Sgt Magleo: "Ano ngang buong pangalan mo, tara sa loob magusap tayo."

During that moment,Didie & I had a chance to walk away. Police 1 made sure Lolo's in good hands.


How on earth will this kind of public servant help those who badly needing them?. Yes we understand that it may be an SOP to doubt every suspicious-looking people that they encounter. But hey! That weak, old man badly needs assistance. What if somebody who's dirtier than him approach them, to ask for help? Will they care to even lend an ear?

That incident is a wake up call to each if us. For us civilians, who barely care about people around us, minding our own business and not realizing they are too weak to scream for help. For Public Servants, whose number one job description is to help the people and serve them whole-heartedly. For Other institutions, from which, employees have worked in good faith and loyalty. Giving back to them what they deserve. Regardless of their ages, terms of service, or in/capacity. I wish gov't would give the veterans/retirees a lesser and more convenient requirements for services they wanted to avail. Come to think of it, they are old. Too old to remember where their IDs, PINs, and other documents are. There must be another standar procedure to recover their identity. Not being too harsh to them.

As of this time, We were informed that Lolo is at the custody of Brgy Camp Aguinaldo. Police officer 1 is Marlon Bandong and police 2 is SPO3 (based on his badge) Felix Bangcodeng. Didie and his dad were planning to go to Ternate, Cavite. (which is according to Lolo where he lives.

While typing this, I can still smell Lolo in my hands. But it's not stinking. It's a smell that woke up my senses. A smell that made me realize that I need to do something. WE need to do something. Yes, we may be just an ordinary citizen of this republic, but through concern and sincerity, every problem with the government, big or small, all will soon be addressed properly and accordingly.