Barasoain Church
Funeral Mass for my mother - Luzviminda Santos
She was brutally murdered. It was a real tragedy.
But she was much loved by many people.
This is my last good bye to my mother...
All my life I know how it feels like to be an only child – happy and contented with the simple things in life. But the incident last March 21 changed everything in a snap. All of a sudden I am now an orphan.
Without question, I will surely miss my mother.
My mother is my total opposite though they always say I look like her.
She eats like a bird. I eat like a horse.
She dresses up in her Sunday’s best all the time kahit mamamalengke lang. I prefer jeans and T-shirt.
She loves high-heeled shoes. I like ballet flats.
She walks like a supermodel. I walk like a football player.
She is gentle and meek. I am feisty and sometimes can be a pain in the neck and in another part of the human anatomy.
If things turned out differently last Wednesday, that is, she’s the one in front of you now and I am the one inside the coffin, I know she would choose the path to peace to resolve the crime.
But since I am the one who is in front of you right now, I, being Cristina, would choose the path to justice.
Mommy, I promise you I will do everything and make sure that justice will be served. All your brothers and sisters will help me and make sure that those people who took your life will pay, and they will pay dearly.
- all the bishops who offered masses for mommy: Bishop Precioso Cantillas, Bishop Gilbet Garcera, Bishop Ben Baylon;
- all the priests who prayed for her and celebrated masses for her: Fr. Larry Benedictos, Fr. Gboi Samonte, Fr. Christopher Kennedy, Fr. Joel Santiago, Fr. Julian Mazana, Fr. Boyet Concepcion, Fr. Lito Rodriguez, Monsgr. Bart Santos, Fr. KC, Fr. James Uy, and all the Oblate priests in the Philippines;
- all the priests who celebrated the funeral mass for mommy: Monsgr. Angel Santiago, Fr. Rey Hayag, Fr. Francis Dizon, and Fr. Horacio Rodriguez;
- all the organizations who offered prayers, celebrated Bible services and necrological services for mommy:
CWL, Lector-Commentator, Lay Ministers, El Shaddai, Cursillo-BEC, Sto. Rosario Credit, MES Retired Teachers Group, Cenacle group, PCY, MOL, NDV, OSA, OMI, ME, CSA, Municipality of Malolos, Bulacan Provincial Government, Hagonoy Water District, and many more;
- all my relatives and friends in Caingin, Hagonoy, Malolos, Baliwag, Caloocan, Olongapo, Manila, Makati, Rizal, Angat, even those who are in the US and Canada;
- all my classmates (High School/ College/Masteral), friends, friends of my relatives, friends of mommy and daddy;
- all my titos and titas in Caingin – especially Ate Cita, who first found her after the crime, my nephews and niece – Edward, Ferdie, Regie;
- all my titos and titas in Hagonoy, thank you for all the support you’ve given me and mom. I am forever indebted to all of you.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Up there in heaven, you can see us. I know you can see us. Mommy, look around, look how the church is filled with so many people. They are all here because they love you and care for you.
I ask that you pray for us, mommy. This is one hard battle I need to win for you.
Paki bulong kay daddy na miss na miss ko siya.
At ikaw naman mommy, mahal na mahal kita.