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| In praise of a cousin! Victor B. Caballero ____________________ |
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| NEWS |
| Obituary Celebrating the life of Filomena Batin Valerio March 21, 1962 - November 24, 2007 Born in Imnajbu, Batanes, raised in Manila, and passed away in Toronto Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. - John 14:27 (King James Version) _______________________________ Daughter of Bona Adami of Songsong and Maximino Batin of Imnajbu, Batanes. Granddaughter of Maria Cobaria Duguran and Marciano Valiente Batin (former mayor of Uyugan, Batanes). Lovingly remembered by Family and Friends! The immediate family: Heather Manny Tamara and Genus-Aaron Bona Adami Batin Sisters and brothers and their families: Erlinda, Helen, Juliet, Lourdes, Margarita, Milagros Eduardo, Ernesto First cousins and their families: Filomena (Minay), Flor, Irene, Josefina (Pining), Leonor Amado (Mad), Angel, Candido (Candyman), Constancio, Irineo, Roger (Gil), Rufino (Ruffy), Victor Chris and Sandy Lindal Katherine and all her other close friends! Special Thanks The family extends gratitude to everyone who was a part of Filomena's life. The love, support and prayers were greatly appreciated. The strength and encouragement have meant a great deal to the family. Thank you! ____________________________ LORD . . . make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. - St. Francis of Assisi ____________________________________ |
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| Downtown Toronto |
| Peter Munk Cardiac Centre |
| Ministry of Finance |
| The spot where I met and last saw Mina. |
| How true, indeed, is the saying: Only the good die young! Mina was a loving and a wonderful person and we all mourn her passing. 'In an imperfect and evil world, we found in her the preponderance of the good that's always present in all of us (but more often than not, not so preponderant in some or many of us). In a selfish world, we found in her the sharing; in a greedy world, in her the giving; in a cruel world, in her the caring. In a world of unabashed "irrational maximizers," hers was a world of "rational minimizers" - a world of fairness and humility. Mina knew herself. True to herself, she was what she was and pleased about it. She never pretended to be what she was not, and rightfully so, for we ain't what we ain't. Shortly after her arrival in Canada almost 2 decades ago (she was the first kin to arrive and I was surprised to receive a call), we met and spoke about friendship and/or human relationship. My advice to her was: Collect friends if we must, but remember our best friend is always our very own self. This does not mean, however, that there are no good and beautiful people out there deserving of love, trust and respect. In fact, there are many out there, and when we're lucky, we meet them, but when we're not so lucky, we meet the not so good (bad) and the not so beautiful (ugly) instead. I also reminded her of human nature: That in life there are people we like and people we don't like, and vice versa (people who like us and those who don't like us). I can say now that she met many of the good and beautiful people as evidenced by the multitude who came to bid her their last farewell. I can say now that she met people she liked and who liked her in return (mutual love, trust and respect). I can write now that the type of close friends she had best described her, and that she was much more than what a humble cousin could write about her. Earlier this year I learned that she was confined or hospitalized, but due to busy schedule, I wasn't able to visit at once, and by the time I had the chance and visited, she was already released. However, as fate had it, as I walked back to my office from the visit, I met her (she called out for me for I didn't notice her and I could have just walked by). I asked how she feels and she said she needs a transplant. I then asked if she has time for a cup of coffee, and she said she was catching her doc's appointment. That was the last time I saw her till she was on life-support at the ICCU (Intensive Cardiac Care Unit) of the hospital. Mina's last words were: Don't grieve for me; let there be no sorrow, but rejoice in the celebration of my life. Rejoice and celebrate, we did! Goodbye (God be with you), Mina! We all miss you! _________________________________________ Victor B. Caballero is Mina's First Cousin. November 2007. |
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| The realist sees the evil in all of us which is the Devil and the real world which is Hell. |
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