My Eulogy

"The joy of this life is nothing; the joy of the after life is everlasting..."

This past month I had celebrated my 24th birthday, and I always love the whole getting together with friends and family, the cake, people singing happy birthday, and blowing out the candle. I never really was one who was big on making birthday wishes however this year was different. When I blew out the candle this year, I made one wish and that wish was for my grandpa to become stronger. I always loved talking bout my grandparents, to my friends, especially my grandpa. And it wasn’t just because of the long life he was living, but it was because of the kind of person he was. There’s a quote that says, “There is no love without hope, no hope without love, and neither love nor hope without faith.” My grandpa was a living testament of faith, hope, and love.
It was grandpa’s strong faith in God that kept him going. Just the other day I heard grandma share about how every Saturday, she would ask grandpa what’s today, and he would tell her, its Saturday. After she would ask him and tomorrow is, and he would reply back ‘church.’ For some, they may think he knew it only because it was routine, but I don’t think so. He knew it because of his strong faith in God. His strong faith was evident because it touched lives of so many people. It always would touch my heart, every Sunday being able to see him to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Being able to receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus every week was kept him strong these past 99 years. Grandpa was faithful not only to just his 8 children, 20 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, but was faithful to my grandma. He cared for her and loved her with beat of his heart, and this was evident because of his gentle touch and warm hearted smile.
My grandpa was filled with hope. When he migrated over year from the Philippines years ago I’m sure it was the most difficult transition for him. Yet, despite the obstacles of coming to America, he had hope for a better life. Hope to provide a better future for his family. Hope that someday he would be able to see the success of his own children. Praise God because he was able to see that success everyday. My grandpa’s hope was so strong that even through times of difficulty and trials he persevered through them. He persevered because he was optimistic for a brighter future that lied ahead.
And lastly, my grandpa was filled with love. Love that radiated that you can could see all the fruits of his marriage. 8 beautiful kids, 23 wonderful grandchildren, and 12 lovely great-grandchildren, it really is amazing on what a simple ‘yes’ could do. Everyone who knew him could see how much love he had for his family. I remember going to grandma’s house for lunch and he would always made sure we were fed. From ribs to chicken, to fish, our stomachs were never left empty. He was an amazing chef that always knew what everyone’s favorite dish was. Grandpa was always there to support us, whether it would be graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, holiday get-togethers he was there. I tired my best to make an effort to go visit him as often as I could, and when I did he was always happy. Asking me ‘where did you come from?’ Then I would tell him and if it was something that was not home or work, he would ask me, ‘why what’s there?’ When it was time for me to leave, I would kiss him and say, ‘I’m going now grandpa and he would ask me, ‘why where are you going?’ Then I would tell him whether it was home or somewhere he would softly say, ‘yeah okay.’ Something that I’ll never forget was this past January around the time he had just gotten back from the hospital. He asked me to scratch his back w/the back scratcher, so I took it and I scratched, and starched and, starched until he wanted me to stop. Sometimes Id stand there for a long time, but I didn’t mind.
Early Thursday morning as I sat w/him in the icu room I was holding on to his hand he every once in a while he would squeeze it. Just before I left I whispered into his ear to him that my only wish for my birthday was for him to get better and how that afternoon after I left their house I went to mass and offered up my communion for him. And as he was breathing with every inch of his body, looking at me, I knew he was listening. After his passing I had went to mass that morning to offer it up for his soul and the funny thing is during the homily the first thing father said was, ‘God never abandons us,’ and I truly believe in that because heaven just gained another saint. As the late great, John Paul II once said, ‘Do not be afraid of moving into the unknown, simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you.’ Its going to be different w/o seeing grandpa physically, but I know that he is always going to be here, through the joys and sorrow we’ll know that as we feel his prayers with us. The deeper faith, hope, and charity lie in our hearts the stronger we are to handle whatever God gives us. So I leave my family and all those who loved my grandpa with this challenge, to live out every day of your life just as he did in faith, hope, and charity. So others may see his life in you and through you.’So faith, hope, love remain these three; but the greatest of these is love.’ AMDG



though im missing you...

"This is my house..."im done, im out God bless!