Proposed t-shirt designs for SFL Dumaguete

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A tribute to Tita Eve

Below is a short reflection I shared during a memorial service of Dr. Evelyn Tejada who died battling against breast cancer last October 27, 2010.

I remember Tita Eve saying in one of her sharings that she wasn’t scared simply because God was with her.

Yes, we came to know Tita Eve in this community as a servant fighting against cancer. So, it was as if it was our calling to enter the SFL (Singles for Family and Life) community, at the same time, join Tita Eve in her journey with cancer. The first time we knew about her condition, we couldn’t get any hint of sadness and discouragement.  Instead, she shared and declared this suffering to us with a big smile and full of hope and love.

I believe the moment she knew she had a cancer, it was not something she had to prepare for a battle. It was more of an important mission given to her by God to not stop serving Him, and use this as a tool to inspire people.

Tita Eve was like our second mother in this community. And every single time she addresses Tito Boy as “AMAHAN”, and us as “Mga buotang bata”, our household felt like a complete family already.

I think the last prayer or service meeting we had as a household was held in their house. And the agenda was the recently concluded CLS (Christian Life Seminar).

In her last abled strength, she was there for us together with Tito Boy, throughout the CLS. It was like she wanted and waited to see the new Singles to graduate and grow as a community before she departs. And true enough, we are growing. This is the only gift we could ever offer to Tita Eve and to Tito Boy as well.

The very last time we saw her was in the hospital few weeks ago. She was already weak and can barely open her eyes. Together with Mama, Papa, and my wife, we prayed over her. And as we were about to leave, she opened her eyes widely, and waved goodbye with a smile. We didn’t realize that was the last time we would ever see her especially her smile.

In the midst of all these, her passing away should not be filled with much sorrows, despair and sadness. Rather, we should celebrate. We learned a lot from this experience with and through her.

She may have lost the battle against cancer, but we should also realize that what’s more important, she has carried out her mission as a servant of God victoriously.

Tita Eve truly is a symbol of hope, strength, dedication, and inspiration to our community and to everyone else around her; that her condition was not a huge deterrent to serve God; that indeed, faith should never fade in times of great ordeal.

Tita Eve, we will miss you. God bless you all.