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.
