When I was still living at my Tita Lilia's house in Poblacion, Kawit, Cavite, we would often attend the 9am Sunday Mass at St Mary Magdalene Parish Church. We would bump into the Castro Family who were regular attendees of the same Mass. During those times, there were no Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration yet so after the Mass, my cousins and I would come closer to the Blessed Sacrament altar to spend some moments with the Lord. As the tabernacle is in the middle of the statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, we would take the chance to venerate these images. As we leave the church, I would often spot Tita Paulyn Castro (she was still single during that time) kneeling alone in prayer. I would smile at her and she would smile back at me.
Like her Mom, Lola Urs (RIP), and sisters Tita Enjing (RIP) and Tita Tel, she was an active member of the Apostleship of Prayer and Confraternity of Lourdes. During the feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1985, as a traditional celebration in preparation for Maytinis, a grand procession in honour of Our Lady was held. A few months back, the parish organised block rosary groups to promote the Rosary in every Catholic household in a block. In Poblacion, Tita Tel looked after the block along Calle Real, Lola Nenang Santos (RIP) was in-charge of Gitnang Kalye, and Tita Lita Magadia (RIP) was coordinator for Third Avenue. (That's how the people during that time called those areas.) Our home belonged to that last group. As the block Rosary was on full swing, all groups were invited to the procession, bringing along the statue of Our Lady that we use in our devotion. Our group brought the statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal while the Castros brought the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. I was asked to carry the statue of Our Lady of Fatima and was walking close to Tita Enjing and Tita Paulyn. During the procession, Tita Paulyn asked me if I need help to carry the statue. I said to her that I was alright.
Like most families, we would reunite on various occasions. We were together in saying the Rosary at Tita Floy Ybadlit's house when she became Ina in 1994. It felt like a mini family reunion because Tita Lilia, my cousins Erwin and Eldin, Tito Roland, Lolo Tony, Tita Enjing, and Tita Tel were in attendance.
I realized that she was an alumna of UST College of Science and was a former classmate of Mrs Mary Martin, my Analytic Geometry teacher in the same university and college.
Tita Paulyn comes across as a quiet and caring person. She was also religious. I remember my mom remarked how Tita Paulyn, despite being heavily pregnant during that time, stayed in church to attend the three consecutive Masses on All Souls' Day.
In 2006, Manong Alvin Reyes showed me and Nidz the property he bought in Barangay Tabon. While looking at the place, a car stopped near us. It was Tita Paulyn! I was pleased to know that she lives across Manong Alvin's would-be house. The next time we visited and stayed at my cousin's home, I met Tita Paulyn and family. It was after the Maytinis 2010. They also came from church where one of her daughters sang in the Belen as an angel.
I kept in touch with Tita Paulyn through social media and would exchange messages every now and then. One of the messages I shared with her was a picture of a bouquet of flowers to celebrate Mother's Day. She appreciated it. I asked her how she and the family are doing and she told me that they were staying indoors due to the high rate of infection due to Covid-19. That was the last conversation we had.
Months later, I was told that she was ill and needed prayers. On 22nd August, the Queenship of Mary, she passed away. I note Ate Judith's story of how the family gathered in prayer during her last moments. It was a touching send-off for her. An active parishioner, Tita Paulyn lived a life dedicated to her family.
To my fellow Thomasian and Scientist, but my aunt first and foremost, may God bless your kind soul, Tita Paulyn.
