Kana gathers friends

Ave Maria:) This took quite a while to get off the ground... but God deserves our praise and thanksgiving so... must finish and email this asap. I did not know about Isa's condition until it was 'officially' spread both thru text and our e-mail group- tho' I sensed something serious must be happening...when I read an e-mail from Cory ..was it Cory..saying she would pray for Isa..kinabahan ako. At any rate when we learned the real score...altho' we were not able to visit her..and most are living abroad... yet in my heart I know many prayed..and how that made things easier and more peaceful for Isa and her family. Finally the message was passed that she was'gone'. Having attended so many wakes and burials..recieved countless updates of friends and families who have passed away..something about Isa's passage was special and surreal. As tho' it signalled to me...the beginning of a new phase... it was saying good-bye not just to a friend with whom we shared unforgettable highschool memories with... but having to say good-bye to a distant past..and to bid good-bye not with regret but with deep thanksgiving both to God and friends. People are the best reminders of how God has faithfully cared for us.We are His hands, eyes and heart on earth. Isa was buried on a Saturday... Cecil, bless her heart was able to get a priest Thursday..not only that, she would pick up the priest at Ateneo.. (would you beleive Fr. Bert Ampil who gave us a retreat daw, Dios ko something is wrong with my memory bank). this gave Lynn, Vicky Aves and me a chance to hitch a ride... meeting place was MacDonald's Katipunan. Of our batch it is Vicky and Lynn whom I will have opportunity to see every once and a while--NOT EVEN OFTEN!And to think Lynn is often at the Proj.6 area, attending to the Rances family home. Vicky and i manage coffee dates... but that's not even on a quarterly basis. At any rate , we made it to the rendezvous.... Fr. Bert was late ..so this gave the 3 of us a chance to chat at Mcdo's before Cecil and Fr. Bert arrived. Something indefinable tugs my heart... dear Lynn as serene and sweet as ever...grey hairs framing her face... Vicky as glamorosa as ever... we have to hand it to her... hahaha, sosyal pa rin ang dating, the curls are still there, the make-up and the presence-- ok translated--ay, ang ingay pa rin ng Ma. Victoria Aves. Lynn and Vicky shared stories about their work experiences in the states... updates about children, spouses, current state of health -- that gives you confirmation, we cannot be less than 50 yrs old.. Lynn is diabetic, she cannot eat the apple pie.   It is a blessing in itself that we are able to make it..Heritage chapel far away in Fort Boni. Finally Cecil arrives..she is amazing, busy businesswoman..and still active at Ateneo parent orgs... and the COuples for Christ-- she is not our quiet, a bit shy Cecil of the past...Cecil has blossomed and how. At the mass...hmmm.she turned out to be our vocalist... a strong soprano voice. On the way...Lynn was saying...she felt like: these are the times when we must give time to be with old friends... classmates... former officemates .. perhaps relatives we seldom see...  because we never know when we will meet them again..and because there was something we shared in the past -- hopefully true friendship-- and how we must find a way to re-connect before we bid adieu. There was no choir Thurs.... but Eppie, Lorna Cruz, Ning Lynn, Vicky Cecil and me were there...we sang a few old songs..as in---> old talaga songs we used to sing at our masses in STC.The better to remember those golden days. Ning was truly heartbroken especially on the final day.Isa's section 1 classmates shedding tears...  I gathered from Ning that she Isa, Ivy, Chinggay, Lorna and a few others remained close esp. after the 25th celeb of our batch... how wonderful..what a gift from God. Isa was able to plan for her passage- that must be a give-a-away of her faith and acceptance  ... we  could see how her family loved her very much. The way they spoke and shared about her.. little girls crying before her coffin after Cardinal Rosales blest her after the burial mass.Ning shares how Ivy fixed the decor.. it was so beautiful and green.The food catered by Lorna.For me just to see, chat and hug old friends was a healing experience...Eppie was absolutely blooming..pretty! saw her Thur.... and then Bing Llamado came Sunday. Terry's daughter was there.. her sparkling eyes , jolly face reminding you of her mom. Not everyone can go gracefully.... we know Isa did.Even in her final days, she was able to inspire us.May Jesus comfort her family and dear friends with the knowledge that Isa will be smiling and laughing and rejoicing in heaven..and that she will wait for us..to make it there. I\ll bet she will have a great career praying for her STC friends.So let's not think twice about asking her to help us. Posting pictures and videos....          God bless us all................mye