It is an honour to stand before you today and share my precious memories of mommy, not really my real biological mother, but does it even matter? Good morning, and as some of you may know my name is Robert. Im from Toronto but originally from the Philippines. Allow me to start by saying thank you so much to the whole Reyes family for sharing their mom with me for almost 25 years. Thank you! I know I must have given your mom my share of grief and heart breaks one time or another over the last 25 years, if not for the most part of the last 25 years; but those grief and heart aches only proves and demonstrates mommy's finest example and capacity to love anyone unconditionally, even if you come to their house drunk! So here's my story with mommy and this is very personal for me. I first met mommy on new years evening of 1989. It was my very first time to be at the Reyes's household. See, back home they traditionally celebrate their barrio fiesta on new years day. I guess I got lucky to have been invited by Rolan.... and I can assure you all, the feeling was not mutual back then, at least not with mommy! So, as I got inside the house, I was greeted by a wall full of assorted white neatly arrange flowers and the holy image of Santo Nino in the midst of it all. It was almost seven o'clock at night on new years day, and by Philippine standard of new years day celebration, I already had more than my fair share of drinks for the occassion. At 22 years old, who cares about first impression and with enough alcohol in the blood stream, I dare commented, (and please take no offense, as non is intended, I only want to relive the memory of my first encounter with mommy), I believe i asked, May patay? Mommy was seated some where in the kitchen but heard my remarks clearly and loud enough that it made her got up from the chair, rush to the door and greeted me with a very special kind of facial expression, complemented by her unusual rasor sharp look! Oops, my bad! Did I say something wrong? Right then and there, from the very first get go, mommy was genuinely and legitimately upset with me. Strike 1. Despite her being upset with me, she force herself to conversate with me, inquring about the whole nine yards of my rough existence. After about a few minutes, she invited me to eat and offered me a plate. However, I refused but instead asked, Wala po ba kayong beer? And there goes that rasor sharp look once again!!! Strike 2! When Jojo (mommy's second eldest son) heard the word "beer" he echoed and manly obliged to my request and said, "okay pare, akong bahala saiyo" and there goes my Strike 3! As we all know, 3 strike and you're out! Mommy thought's must have been screaming loud, "what's wrong with you? Few days after, I was told by Rolan, my mom does not like you! And I asked, Really!? Why!? It was only after a few days of being alcohol free when it finally dawn on me that my behaviour is the exact opposite mommy would prefer to have or tolerate for her children to hang out as friends, little does she knew of what would become of Marsha! Seriously in denial, I immaturely rationalize, if I can get away with this kind of behaviour with my own set of parents; (a) why can't you? (b) who cares? and (c) you are absolutely wrong! I guess the better question is, who won and how did we both settle the score? Let me tell you, 25 years after.... im still around, right mommy? Well, mommy failed to get rid of me for one, but instead started loving me like one of her children! Over the long years, my relationship with mommy grew deeper, like; samahan mo ko nga ako sa Divisoria, buhatin mo yung mga pinamili ko sa Greenhills, ipag maneho mo nga ako sa Sunday, paki asikaso mo naman ang passport ko, and the list goes on and on, and trust me people, im not just making these up! And now looking back in restropect I realized, mommy you have blessed and touched my life dearly during those times. Your gifts of ordinary days lovingly, willingly, genuinely spend, and shared with me will forever stay fresh in my mind and heart. Thank you! As mommy and I became close, too close for comfort in fact, it now came to a point where I can legitimately complain on numerous and frequent occassions. Why am I being drag into this family drama? Im just a family friend you can't get rid off any other way. Im not one of your children. But her come back to me was nothing short of gut-wrenching words, something I m not sure I've earned, something totally unexpected... Kahit kailan hindi kita itinuring na ibang tao..... para na rin kitang isang masamang anak! From then on, I had become a permanent excess baggage in the Reyes's household, and mommy learned to live and accept me happily ever after. Mommy, I just dont have enough time time today and no words will ever suffice to summarize the kind of life you had, a life long of unconditional love to everyone around you, and countless self sacrifices for all those whom you loved. When I learned about mommy's cancer, there is this particular prayer that also happens to be a song that I started praying and singing for mommy in private, and when I say in private, I mean in the car, in the shower, even at work sometimes when nobody's around. I dont know why this prayer and why this song, but no matter what the reason might be, it just felt so right and perfect for me. Last Saturday, the context and the meaning of the prayer all got changed when mommy eventually past. Wisdom has dawn on me once again why this prayer and why this song. The song is called Anima Christi, Im sure most of you know this prayer too. This prayer is often used during communion in Catholic churches, and for the very first time last Saturday in front of Rolan and my family in Toronto, I sang this communion song for mommy full of faith, gratitude and spiritual conviction. Mommy has finally made it to rejoin our creator and is now happily rejoicing in "Communion with the Lord"... Anima Christi. The prayer and song I had been praying for her all along since she was diagnosed with cancer has become finally clear to me. Every word of the song has manifested its every meaning to me, "Communion with the Lord!" It was as if it was mommy praying the song thru me, at least thats how I felt. So I would like to invite mommy's eldest son Rolan to please help us sing the song Anima Christi for mommy. As we all know, she will be missed by all, but her memory will live on, in us all forever. So mommy, off you go and I promise you, there will never be a single prayer from me without you in it, I love you mommy, goodbye! Thank you all so much for listening. ANIMA CHRISTI Soul of Christ, sanctify me Body of Christ, save me Water from the side of Christ, wash me Passion of Christ, give me strength. Hear me Jesus, hide me in thy wounds That I may never leave thy side From all the evil that sorrounds me, defend me. And when the call of death arrives, Bid me come to thee That I may praise thee with thy saints, forever.