Florinia Sanchez Villanueva Cabrera was her name. Most people called her Sinia, but I called her Nay (or Nanay) which means mother. A great businesswoman to most people, a complicated lady to others and an unconventional mother to me.
When I was young, I used to envy some of my friends because of their moms. I used to think of reasons why my mother was so different from theirs. Then at the age of 26, I discovered the reason why. I was saddened, yet, I felt some sort of relief because now I've got a deeper understanding of our relationship and most of my questions were answered.
It was June 2011 during my vacation, when I last saw her. That time, she just recovered from an illness, and it was because of that reason, why they transferred their bed from the room upstairs to the ground floor - she was having a hard time going up and down the staircase. That time she looked older and thinner, yet I can still see the old Nanay in her. She didn't change a bit.
My wife texted me the other day (13th May Friday) and she wanted me to call her, it was an emergency, she said. I was already expecting the worst even though I did not know yet the reason why I should call her immediately. And when I called her, she first asked me if I could come home, and then she broke the news. It's about my mother, she died the night before. I was shocked and saddened. She was a strong and great woman. How can she be gone? I guess this is what we always feel when people we know die, especially those we love.
I always included her in my daily prayers. I always asked God to open her eyes and mind so that she may see what this world is really like and accept the free gift of salvation that the Lord is offering. I just hope that she repented of her sins and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior before her last breath. Goodbye my Nanay. I love you!
'Death Comes To All'
Ecclesiastes 9
1-This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor. 2-The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t.
3-It seems so tragic that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. 4-There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”
5-The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. 6-Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. 7-So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! 8-Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!
9-Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. 10-Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
11-I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.
12-People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.
