Ate Liza

Today, July 19, marks the 55th anniversary when the present church of St Joseph de Gagalangin Parish was blessed and inaugurated.  The four corners of this church as well as its neighbouring edifices (parish hall and formation center) were filled with the song and laughter of a beloved friend who passed away 2 days ago, Mrs Eliza "Ate Liza" Manzano-O'Leary.

I first met Ate Liza twenty years ago when all youth and Marian organizations were busy preparing for the birthday celebration of Our Lady.  I learned that she was a nurse from PGH, has a daughter named Pam, and was a member of the Catholic Youth Movement (CYM).  CYM leads in the singing in church every Sunday at 6pm.

I think Ate Liza got a break when she sang solo Fruto Ramirez's Ave Maria during the Harana kay Maria, a night of serenade for Mary during her birthday celebration in 1997. The late Tita Baby Buenaventura was the pianist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dowqLnTdVOI

Another shining moment for her was when she acted in a play staged by the group in late 1998.

There was one incident that almost snatched Ate Liza from us all.  She was sat in one of the pews midway of the church, watching us as we were rehearsing for a Christmas concert.  Workers where then moving a scaffolding in the aisle when they unintentionally hit one of the chandeliers.  The chandelier instantly fell to the ground just a few inches from where Ate Liza was.  She stood unscathed. 

Apart from being friendly and cool, our group saw a female version of Big Brother in her.  Although she wasn't the type who will be on our case if we become mischievous.  WYSIWYG. That's Ate Liza. It's funny that she calls me 'Manong', but I am not bothered as I maintain that that word of endearment is not as hierarchical as 'Kuya' or 'Diko', etc.

When Anluwage was disbanded in the mid 90s, she became involved in the Singles for Christ, a renewal group under the umbrella of the great Couples for Christ Ministries.  When Nidz and I decided to join Singles, Ate Liza was Nidz's facilitator and later household leader.  She was very supportive of us.

During Anluwage's revival in 1996, she was named Executive Secretary, the lone woman in a pack of barakos in the Board of Directors.

Ate Liza migrated to Ireland about the same time when we moved to the UK.  I'm glad that we continued to get in touch. It was heart-warming when we contacted her on Skype and showed Chiara (when she was still a baby) to her.

We visited her in Ireland early this year and she didn't change a bit! In spite being afflicted with cancer, she showed courage, patience, and grace.  Before leaving, I told her to stay strong, ending with the words "Samaniego ka 'ata!" (I discovered early on that her mom's middle name was Samaniego. Although my maternal grandfather and his brood were from Cavite, they once told us that we are related to those in Bulacan having the same family name).

It is truly sad to know that she is gone now, but felt consoled that she left us all happy - happy to be reunited with Pam (who also graduated from college this year), happy to be wed to Paul who loved her unconditionally, happy to have served the Lord through the sick and through the church choir.

It wasn't only the church or any other building for that matter that was filled with her life. More importantly, it was God's People, the Church!

Thank you, Ate Liza for the love and concern you showered us.  Rest now where there is no more pain, only consolation; where there is no more sorrow, only happiness; where there is no more worry, only peace; where there is no more sunset nor sunshine, only perpetual light shining on you! We love you!

Lost Mittens

These past few days I have seen misplaced winter gloves - in the lift at work, in the pavement, etc.  At this time when it's still cold in this part of the globe, I couldn't help but pity their owners, kids especially who could easily feel cold. I once lost my scarf; luckily it happened at work and was quickly located, thanks to our Security Team.

Losing an important gear this winter can be likened to losing grace at an unfriendly, chaotic, and crucial moment in our lives. Rembrandt's celebrated painting "The Return of the Prodigal Son" depicted the lost son as having a worn out pair of shoes. Having worn out shoes (as well as a shaved head), Rembrandt tells us how this son lost his dignity (as the son of the rich father) after squandering his part of the estate.

Looking carefully at the painting, we see the father as a blind man - someone whose love is greater than his son's sins put together - and whose hands are that of a man and a woman - someone whose justice (as symbolized  by the man's left hand) is tempered by his gentleness (as symbolized by the woman's right hand).

We are that prodigal child who left God, our Father, and went on our own "merry way", following the dictates of our own whims. In the long run, we have lost His grace; we have lost our dignity as His children.

Lent offers us the hope and opportunity to regain what we lost. If you haven't been to confession for ages, perhaps this is the best time to avail of this often neglected and avoided sacrament. If you haven't spoken to those who hurt you (or those you have hurt), this could be the right time to do so. By being reconciled, we regain our spiritual gloves, shoes, etc. We regain grace!

Otherwise, we are no different to the older brother on the far righthand side of the painting - so full of himself, so distant, so self-righteous.  Better to be the 'lost and found' son than to be the 'missed out' son!

***

Last week, my family and I visited Ms Eliza "Ate Liza" Manzano in Dublin, Ireland.  An old-time friend and parish colleague in Manila, Ate Liza has been working in a children's hospital in Dublin for a decade or so.  We also met Paul, her Irish boyfriend, who drove us to a number of places in the city. It was a wonderful reunion and a memorable one for Nidz who celebrated her 40th birthday there. We look forward to see her again soon.

Ate Liza has been ill these past few months and just had her first chemotherapy last week. In spite of that, she appeared to be in high spirits and have shown a strong faith in God.  I felt I was the one blessed in that visit.  Let's include her in our prayers.

***

This coming Sunday, it will be Mother's Day in the UK.  I'm taking this opportunity to thank my mother and all mothers out there for the love and care they have showered us through the years.  I'm grateful especially to Nidz for faithfully and lovingly taking good care of our family. We love you, Mommy!