It's the last vigil for papang

(12:46 am)

At 5:30 pm of January 13, father Elmer came and presided a funeral mass for papang. I attended the celebration late since I was the accompanist for the high mass of the Feast of the Black Nazarene here in Ipil. I found that my Dinglasa cousins arrived, as soon as I saw Didi, their eldest. I almost cried when I saw their presence. My father should be so glad that his sister's and brother's children are here to console us.

After the liturgy, the usual novena prayer proceeded. Few minutes later, the CFC served memorial service at papang's last wake. Noli accompanied the group in singing beautiful songs, which papang used to sing when he was still here. Then our family offered our prayer to papang. Diday and Lyn-lyn were the lectors, as I lead the rite. We said our prayers asking for the strength from the Almighty and praying for the eternal repose of our father's soul. Earlier, all of us cousins here present, exchanged joyful thoughts at papang's wake. Had he been alive, our conversations would have been more vibrant. I think this has been the time papang was looking forward to - that we have a family reunion, and it just happened.

Hours from now, papang will be finally laid to rest. At 7 am, a funeral mass will be held at the Parish Cathedral. All I pray this time is that the Good Lord strengthen our family as we will be confronting with the pain of seeing our father left at the memorial park. Later on, we will be moving on with our lives, without him. May the God of peace grant us serenity, which will enable us to realize that finally, papang's pains have come to an end; that this is the very time to experience tranquility, having the thought that our father is at the loving care of his Creator.