IN PAIN over the loss of her son, Teofista Macapaz questioned her faith.
The 66-year-old mother said she had been always praying the rosary, asking for the safety of her six children, including her middle child—Staff Sergeant Jan Neil Macapaz of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
Then, a tragedy descended on Teofista’s life on Sunday morning, July 4, 2021—Jan Neil, 38, was among the 50 military personnel and three civilians who died after the Lockheed C-130 Hercules crashed in Sulu after missing the runway at Jolo airport.
The salt rubbed into Teofista’s wounds was the fact that Jan Neil, or Jan-Jan to his loved ones and close friends, was supposed to go home to his family in Lapu-Lapu City on the day when the crash happened.
“Nangayo kog pasaylo sa Ginoo. Nakapangutana ko ba, ‘Kada nako og rosaryo, akong gipangayo nimo nga ipalayo sa kadautan akong mga anak unya karon si Jan-Jan, unsa man ng nahitabo niya?’” Teofista said.
(“I asked forgiveness from God as I was able to ask, ‘Every time I pray the rosary, I always pray for my children’s safety, but then this happened to Jan-Jan?’”)