In the Philippines, we have this called Babang Luksa, or the remembering the First Death Anniversary.. People remembering the first death anniversary of their loved ones often offer Masses, prepare food and come together to reminisce times with their Loved one who passed away the year before...and finally let go of their mourning....
For us, we experienced the most comforting Babang Luksa... My dad passed away on April 3, 2004. A year after, i think at the wee hours (Philippine Time) of that April 3, 2005 Sunday morning, Pope John Paul II passed away....
When we attended that 10a.m. mass in our Church that day, the Parish Priest had only comforting words to all the Churchgoers... and that for me, I believe that Pope's death was timely=== for him to rest finally and for us mourners to let go fully...
In my heart, I fully believe that my dad is happy in Heaven..
His life was well spent loving all that came to him. My dad's wake took 13 days (if I'm not mistaken) coz we still had to wait for his brothers from the USA, but everyday, everynight, people flooded in like they also never tired to pray with us, mourn with us, drink brewed coffee with us during the cold summer nights and mornings of La Trinidad... and sing with us the religious songs, cover to cover, from the song books the Parish lent us...
Flowers flooded in for free, so too with vegetables and monetary donations...
From all of us siblings, Pau, Donna, Philipp, Me, Tim, and Izang, we would like to once again express our deepest gratitude to all of our neighbors, relatives and friends, especially my dad's friends for making that difficult time a time in our lives to remember always that we are deeply loved and appreciated...
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