A Letter to a Friend Journeying to the Light: In Memory of Carmen Rio

Dear Tita Carmen,

There were many Sundays in your life, but you have chosen a particular Sunday to come and attend our worship service in that UCCP Iloilo City church in Delgado Street. You said that you made a resolve the day before Sunday that you would try to experience once again the ambience of a church service similar to what you had experienced in your student life at Silliman University. That was a new beginning for you—meeting old friends, establishing new ones and getting into the life of the local church. You have indeed made a difference in your involvement in the local church.

You are not just a church member, you have been a loving and caring friend to us and you called us by our names Frank and Glo. Our friendship is one that allows us to grow and be nurtured by your generosity. You always think of many special things you can do for those you love and for your friends. You see, on that church luncheon, you brought three kilos of grapes, and the poor kids who came to the church, had the chance to eat those sweet grapes laid on the table. You told us also that you want to be of service to the poor, but you could not be Mother Theresa. You are just Carmen Rio, a mother and a Christian. You know what you can do and you have the unmatched exuberance in spite of your physical limitation.

The many times we sat around your dinner table are heartwarming to recall. As we always reminded you that it’s not the food but the cordial spirit and gentle conversation among those who sat at table that matters most. Oh yeah, we laugh together when we were eating a bowl of malunggay soup, because you told us about that high-hat Filipino-American woman who pretends not to eat it, but her guest discovered she had just eaten a meal with malunggay because a green malunggay leaf still sticks on her teeth.

The many occasions that we had converse with you in your cozy sala were filled with new discoveries and realizations that human beings are indeed connected to each other and that there is an inescapable common desire for love, respect, acceptance and peace. Whenever we’re in your sala, we forget not to see the layers of picture frames on the bookshelf and your conspicuous portrait on the wall. Those pictures are your masterpieces of art, telling their own stories—the joys, the pains, the aspirations, the anguish and hopes for the future. On all those pictures shone the light of eternity.

We thank God for bringing you to us. You are a wonderful friend, Tita Carmen. Our hearts feel sad that you have to go this early. However, we look forward to seeing you again. This hope makes us happy.

In your journey to the light, we wish you a meaningful sojourn. Take good care.

Sincerely yours,

Frank and Gloria Hernando
Seoul, South Korea
December 9, 2009