Tuesday, May 30, 2017

In Memoriam: Ditas Dayan Salido

We are here tonight to pray for the soul of Ditas Dayan Salido as we celebrate this mass. I know that many priests have already offered their mass and prayers for her. I know you have listened too to their reflections and homilies. So let me just make a short reflection tonight by focusing on the nature of a woman particularly that of a mother.

If we might observe the birth month of Aunty Ditas, it is October; it is a month for Mama Mary as we are called to pray the Holy Rosary. If we might also observe the death month of Aunty Ditas, it is May; it is also a month for Mama Mary as children are called to offer flowers to her. Why do we pray the Holy Rosary and offer flowers to Mama Mary during these months? Well, it is because she is the mother of Jesus. If we might be allowed to say this then, from the moment of her birth until her death, the mission of Aunty Ditas is to be a mother to her children. Being a mother, it is in her nature to take care of her children. It is in her nature to bring forth life. It is in her nature to comfort her children when they cry. But tonight, here we have Aunty Ditas, a mother who used to take care of her children, has been taken care of by her children when she got ill. She who was once a bearer of life is now lifeless. She who was once comforting her crying children is now the cause of their crying. Her death marks the end of her mission to be a mother to her children. Yet, her death also makes way for her children to realize how they love their mother. Now, that Aunty Ditas is no longer with them, I believe her children shall surely miss her. But I remind you, her children, that the best way to show how you appreciate her as a mother is not how you cry tonight. It is neither through your speech nor through eulogy that you can prove you love your mother. It is on how you live your life that you can truly show the world the worth of your mother. She gave you life by risking her own life during your birth, so what shall you do with that life she gave you? As I have said, I will just make a short reflection so I end my reflection with this question. I hope her children will live a good life so that their mother, Aunty Ditas may rest in peace. Amen.

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