TweetYou can’t wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug. ~Author Unknown HUG [huhg] – verb : to clasp tightly in the arms, especially with affection; embrace A friend who I have not seen for over 30 years suddenly gave me a full-on hug, unselfconsciously without much thought and took my breath away. I...
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Tweet“The end result of your life here on earth will always be the sum total of the choices you made while you were here.” I have choices. We have choices, more choices than we let ourselves see. People may feel trapped in their relationships, their jobs and their lives. They may feel locked in a controlling or caretaking...
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Tweet“If I die, Mama, will I be alive again?” Luijoe asked. My six-year-old was lying on the bed, flipping through the prayer books piled on his tummy. It was Holy Week, a month before that fateful day of May 27, 2000. I turned my body to face his and stroked his cheek. How could I explain the mysteries of death to a little...
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TweetSo if someone says to us, by word or by action, “You should be over that by now,” we can recall the words from the Talmud: “Judge no one before you have been in his place.” When people ask how many kids I have, I always say three children and pretty soon, the question goes on details like “are...
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Tweet I am listening to “Tomaso Albinoni- Adagio in G Minor by Gizatto” as I write this post. I’m exhausted. Not from work but from trying to figure out things from 3:00 PM till midnight yesterday. That’s all I can do. I can only do so much. It is not my job to control people, outcomes, circumstances, life....
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Tweet Luijoe meadow somewhere in the North, where his grandparents live today A few years ago a highly rated and popular TV magazine contacted my husband and I to share our painful experience and grief recovery for their “Holy Week” feature. The theme centered on “The Seven Last Words” and our story will...
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Tweet“In the end, dear friend, it is always between us and God, not between us and them.” Mother Teresa Pain has been a great teacher. I guess I can relate to pain of others. Losing my precious son, my mother , father and two siblings opens my heart to others in similar pain. Last wednesday , I arranged a meeting with...
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Tweet “What if?” “If only…” and “Why Me?” are words that ring true when faced with unimaginable loss. A traumatic death shatters the world. It is often a loss that does not make sense. Life is not always fair and that sometimes bad things happen to good people. The sudden death leaves us...
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TweetI believe it is really important to love ourselves first. To love others, we must first learn to love ourselves. For Women’s day, let’s devote it to ME first so I ‘d like to share some quotes on loving yourself first. There is no mistaking love. You feel it in your heart. It is the common fiber of life, the...
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TweetShielding myself from the scorching sun, I clutched on to my umbrella and looked down towards the smooth bermuda grass. My eyes linger to the engraved markings staring back at me , “Luijoe, my angel”. “Mom are those weeds?” a daughter pointed to the tiny yellow flowers dotted at the top of his...
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Tweet“I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.” Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. ET) Saturday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. It is such devastating news to her fans. Indeed she...
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TweetA rape victim describes it…as ” something that happens to other people. We read about it in the newspaper, see reports of it on the TV, but once read or seen we move onto the next item of news. We dismiss it, forget about it. Yes, at the time of reading it or seeing it we may think “oh how awful” or...
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Tweet A mother who lost a child often cry out over insensitive remarks. I have heard it countless of times. Consider this conversation from a mother who though a well meaning friends was insensitive. Don’t they know? Of course these wonderful, concerned, well-meaning friends don’t know. They can only guess how I feel....
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Tweet Think of one bear as one smile, one hug – one young life given joy and love this Christmas. Two thousand years ago, a child was (and is) the reason why we celebrate the most important holiday of the year.” Cathy Babao How can one even begin to comprehend the loss of lives now reaching 1400 dead and missing in...
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Tweet Although pretty presents under the twinkling lights of Christmas trees are quite exciting, it is the warmth and love of family and friends that make the holiday season so memorable. Yet it can be a painful time for those experiencing the recent loss of a loved one. I don’t know how I lived through the first Christmas...
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TweetTis the season to be jolly…fa-la-la-la-la. Right, it may be a season to be jolly for some of us but there are a few out there who experience the holiday blues for so many reasons. I can see it in the emails I receive. I am not a therapist but for some reason, more and more visitors email me asking for advice for all...
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Tweet(Disclaimer: This entry tackles grief education. I do not pass judgement on whether the circumstances are true or not or on the motives of Mo Twister for telling this story.) There is video of Mo Twister that is going viral on the internet. The video claims ex-girlfriend Rhian Ramos “got rid of our baby” in...
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Tweet The news on KC Concepion’s admission of a breakup with Piolo Pascual is all over. I didn’t really think much about it because I always thought their relationship was a publicity stunt. KC never mentioned the reason for their breakup but social media buzz points to his being allegedly gay as the main...
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My grief journey culled from edited 2006-2010 blog entries are now converted to an ebook format and "Print on demand". Read story behind the ebook.
Touched by an Angel e-book is now available for purchase. For inquiries and reservations, please call Vee Press sales department at +632-712.9156 ext. 350 or email sales@vibalfoundation.org
This is about me ( a Filipina mom) and my journey to a "new normal" after the death of Luijoe , my beautiful 6 year old son.
Recovery is a work in progress.... read more?
Celebrating love , life and experience at the Lady Gaga Born This Way Ball
Bullying in Philippine Schools
A hug is a handshake from the heart
A letter to my daughters. Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough
Being romantic in Batanes : A time to celebrate the beauty, gift, and the blessing of enduring love.
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