My grandmother, Mama Ling, finally arrived here in Cebu for she wished that here should be her final resting place. So for the past 3 days we held a wake in our chapel where I slept over for the night thinking that for the last time I am able to sleep near her for she used to sleep beside me all my elementary days.I was asked to deliver a eulogy on the day of our funeral but however the ceremony was continuous that I never got the chance to give it. So might as well share it here...
The 8 Lessons I Learned from the Best Grandmother in the World: Mama Ling
1. Love Your Dogs
Of all the people in the house, its only Mama Ling who gives great attention to our dogs especially Keisha our "outdoor" poodle. She was the only one who remembered to give great care to Kiesha, giving her bathes and comb, for the wonderful years of service in our family. I'm sure our Lord also would grant Mama Ling the goodness of eternal life after how she had served Him through serving her family.2. Never Settle for Less
Mama Ling together with Papa Mimi has lived in the US for quite some time already. And so they often send us "balikbayan boxes" or stuffs to her families here in the Philippines including my relatives. And Mama Ling is always the one looking for NEW things for us. She would often us ask us what's new or what's in and she would do her best to provide us with that without us having to ask. She always sees to it that we, our families and relatives, deserve more. Improve and improve never settle for less.
3. Exercise! Take Good Care of Your Health
No one beats how mindful Mama Ling is to everybody's health even she is thousands of miles away from us. She always reminds us to take good care of our health. Telling my mother to pick the right kind of food, my father to get a move on and exercise, and for my sister to eat..a lot!Why give so much concern of health?
And about 2 years ago cancer cells were found in her lungs that was described to be caused by too much exposure to firecracker powder around their place during her younger years. So she had to undergo a painful chemotherapy through a tablet that would often bring her nausea, sleeplessness, heaviness, skin irritation, and hard breathing.
You cannot just imagine her suffering! Unlike most of us where we get sick due to unhealthy habits hers was something she was innocent of. And she does not deserve it!!! The only gratitude I could get from this was that she shared a similar suffering with our Lord. "Thy will be done."
4. Never Ever Give Up!
All her colorful and dozens of medications, the unwarned strikes of her sicknesses had never stopped Mama Ling. The only complain we heard from her was that she was already so tired but she never gave up. She could have had given up easily, stop helping herself, but she chose not to. Why?5. Have Powerful Goals
Studies show that most elderly people tend not to look to the future, there is nothing to look forward to. But Mama Ling was different. She always has something to look forward to and hers was to come back to the Philippines and attend the college graduation of my sister next March 2011. This is very rare for a dying person, but this thought helped her survive. She had to carry the weight of the suffering, she has to fight a losing battle so she can spare some money to send for my sister's schooling. Her goals was simple but that kept her forward...on and on and on.6. In the End, it's Always the Family that Matters
All her life, Mama Ling lived it all for her family. If there is one word above "mother" then she would be it. No person had showed me the value and importance of a family. Normally, at the later years, people would often sit back relax and enjoy their retirement but Mama Ling was the opposite she chose to continue serving her family while suffering silently her sickness. She might have not became successful in a career or in wealth but her true wealth was found in the family she had brought up through the years. The success of us all in our different fields was all because of one loving mother who never failed us once. 
Mama Ling loved us all and showed it to us even as our distance hurts her so much and more the pain she carried in her sicknesses. No distance can stop her love, no cancer can stop her love, no problem can stop her love, and no pain can stop her love. She has transformed the most painful of all innocent sufferings into the most wonderful form of love. Mama Ling has loved us all...day by day...year after year...till it hurts no more.
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I promise to live by these lessons.
And live my dream sharing her story.
so moving. :)
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