SEVERAL incidents that happened very recently, within a week reminded me about the value of TIME.
In the midst of a happy reunion party with our cousins, Jay and Chie Fernandez, and their family, who have not come home to Baguio for 17 years, we heard the sad news that their aunt, Rosie Gonzales, in her early 80’s, passed away. May her soul rest in peace. Indeed, time does not play favorites. Our lives could not be an endless party. Mourning is very much a part of life, as rejoicing is. There is a time for every season under heaven.
Two days after this reunion, was another reunion of sorts. We called it the Sunshine Alumni Homecoming. It was such a happy event, filled with plenty of food, fun, prizes and precious sharing of stories from the attendees. I wish I understood more of the stories delivered in Ilocano by some of the old timers who were there.
Together with the whole Del Rosario family, I felt so blessed to have seen again some of the old time bakers, cashiers and sales clerks, who worked with my late parents-in-aw, Sunny, Sr and Betty Del Rosario, and their children, esp my late brother-in-law, Dennis Anthony. A number of them are forever 59 years old, still working with the second-generation bosses – Junior, Michael, Junie and Kenneth. I felt teary-eyed as I received a huge number of hugs and thank you’s from seniors (some in their mid 70’s to late 80’s.)
I believe that this event deserves a whole article, (with names of old timers included) to be written by Mike. Suffice it to say again, that our family is blessed and privileged to be called a blessing to others. Indeed, we are blessed to be a blessing. May the next generation of Del Rosario’s continue the legacy, and pay it forward.
The other day, on an early morning trip to Los Banos, Mike and I woke up from a light sleep when the van suddenly swerved. Our driver told us there’s an accident. We saw the horrible sight between a Victory Liner bus and a huge gravel and sand trailer. According to our driver, there were only three vehicles ahead of us, so he practically witnessed from afar, how the disaster occurred. We passed by a person lying in fetal position, with blood from his head on the ground. Clearly, he was dead. His body was about twenty meters from the bus. He must have been thrown off from his seat, upon the strong impact of the collision. I could only whisper my prayers for his soul and comfort for the family left behind. I prayed that the others still inside the bus were not as badly hurt.
Mike didn’t lose time contacting the emergency NLEX hotline number. I was reminded of the many times our own college enrolled children were taking late nights or early morning bus trips to and from Manila. Uttered another prayer, this time in thanksgiving. How true it is that, in the blink of an eye, we could be facing our own “end” of time.
Not to end my sharing in a gloomy note, here is another incident. It seems like only yesterday when we attended a similar party in their lovely Los Banos resort; and then it’s already the happy couple’s 60th Wedding Anniversary. We’re blessed to have shared in Dr. and Mrs. Feliciano Calora, Sr.’s ‘joy as their vast family and friends celebrated with them. It must have been a whole day’s event! I am certain that the family treasured the time together as they shared in their parent’s/grandparent’s joy.
Here’s a bonus story. I am so thankful that I remembered in time that my childhood friend and classmate now lives in Los Banos, Laguna, I requested Mike that we pass by their place to visit her before going back to Manila. What a happy reunion! Liza Veth was like my little mommy in high school. She is still as huggable and sweet as ever. It has been more than a decade since we last saw each other. I am so grateful that God granted us the opportunity to be together again, even for just a short time.
My Dearest SunStar Readers,
Shout out to Manang Norma from the Sunshine Bakery and Grocery of old, who told us that she regularly reads this column of Mike!! Thank you for the affirmation.
Reunions are bittersweet events. They bring back happy, nostalgic and sometimes sweet but sorrowful memories. Thank God we are given the gift of time to be able to reunite with family and friends.
It’s trite but true. Time is gold. Let us make the best use of the short time we have left in this world. Let us keep in mind some of these lessons on time.
1. In the blink of an eye, we could be meeting our own “end” of time. Hopefully, our loved ones will weep not only in sorrow but more of joy, assured that we are finally meeting Jesus, face to face. “May life find us preparing, that death will find us prepared.”
2. Let us spend as much time as we can with family, friends, and those who matter most to us. Happy time spent with loved ones is a treasure we can always reminisce. Let us continue creating and filling our bank of happy memories.
3. Time is short. Let us make time to reconnect with people we want to thank, people we owe a debt of gratitude.
4. God gave us the gift of time, the gift of life, which is the greatest blessing of all. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. Let’s keep paying it forward.
5. Ecclesiastes 3 reads: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away.
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Thank you, dear Readers, for the precious time you are giving me by reading this article. If you have any comments, please text 09175418313.