Thursday, February 9, 2017

An Ordinary Son's Letter To His Extraordinary Father




Dear Dad Choy,

                In the back of your mind, you might have had numerous thoughts over the past years concerning the four of us taking you for granted. That for 32 years, all of your efforts for us were all just washed off & underappreciated, that the Family you ideally dreamed of creating since your younger days have all been obliterated away. You felt that the four of us don’t love you nor even offered care about you and that you assembled this inconceivable idea in your mind that you were alone in your life… But now I am telling you that all of these contemplation running through your mind were never true, not a single one… Because we, beyond extraordinary doubt and to a great extent are truly grateful & deeply thankful for all of your sacrifices in giving us the most secured, unwavered and stable life that we don’t even deserve of having... But because of your unconditional & absolute love for us, you are still continuing to give it to us even up to this very day that we are already adults. So how could we have the right to question your love for us when the four of us knew in the bottom of our hearts that you have given away your personal dreams just so that we could taste & experience a beautifully established life because nothing would ever make you happy than witnessing the four us take pleasure & happiness from the unqualified & unrestricted labors of your heart…

                I have recalled & remembered so much in which I am very thankful for in your life. From the moment that I was born in this world, you’ve instantly decided to switch careers from being a Doctor into a Businessman because at that time, it was the most appropriate action to feed a newborn child’s needs because a starting Physician’s salary wouldn’t supply my demand. So without giving a second thought, you’ve readily left your passion of being a Doctor in order for me to survive. That is too much of you to sacrifice but you still did it for me. I have never said thank you for that but now I am saying “THANK YOU SO MUCH DAD”… when I was in my grade school, you weren’t always in the house that you built for us because you were constantly away, travelling for 10 hours straight to Laoag just so that you could sell cooking oil and provide for me & my sibling’s needs. You’ve worked non-stop & tirelessly for 32 years, creating several businesses such as video production, gaming centers, oil repacking, bottle recycling, cardboard manufacturing, water refilling station & many more. That’s how intensely dedicated & committed you are to your Family. 3 years ago, When I dealt with the biggest obstacle of my life, you as a worried & concerned Father cannot bear nor stand to watch your son suffer & become helpless. That is why, without any question, you instantaneously aided me in my worst financial situation. And I never said sorry but now I am saying “SORRY DAD”, Sorry for contributing to your financial burdens. Please do give me a little more time to grow & for me to return all the finances that you have favored me, although you weren’t asking me to pay it back but of course, as the eldest son, I would also want to return all the kindness & love that you have given me & my siblings.

                "Thank you for being the “IMPERFECT DAD” because that has allowed me to be closer with you because I knew that I am too, an imperfect Son…" We weren’t the typical Father-Son relationship. Well, we weren’t even the ideal but what I can say about us, is we have this “uniquely exceptional link”. I owe you a lot Dad, I only not owe you my life but my life after that… The plentiful & bountiful lessons that you’ve taught me from your unusual & bizarre military style of discipline type of approach is where I got my bravery, courage & audacity to face any difficulties in life, no matter how extreme it is because I was excellently trained by my Father to surpass these adversities in an effortlessly easy old fashioned way. If I were to have my own Family one day, YOU Dad, would be my inspiration on how I would raise my kids into fine, magnificent & exquisite men & women. Well, you have done it to us, you raised & elevated us into such… Praise GOD for your Life Dad! Happiest Birthday to you Dad! 


                                                                 Lots of Love,

                                                  From the Army of your Life – A.L



 - The Thoughful Son


***This Article is dedicated to the "GREAT" ARMANDO Q. LEYVA. Tatay, I always miss you and I love you so much...

Saturday, February 4, 2017

An Ordinary Son's Letter To Her Extraordinary Mother




Dear Mom Cherry,

               If ever I would perform an inventory, record it and put all & every detail into a set of well-filed documents on how you did your job as a Mother & a Wife to the four of us in a span of 32 years. This would be my final evaluation, “That you were just so phenomenal & great on all aspects in your noble role of being a Mother/Wife to the four of us!” From the exact moment that you were giving Birth, you have willingly been taking every single pain & you have been preparing yourself in facing all the known risks, just to give the three of us a chance to experience living in this world, that is just exceptionally remarkable and we are so much indebted to you for that privilege called “Life”… From the time that we were infants, the way you gave your most special & unique care each second you were carrying us, even if your womb were still tender & fresh coming from your status post Caesarian operation, that is just unequaled & unparalleled, Let that scar on your abdomen serve as your unconditional sacrifice for the three of us... From our middle school years, your perseverance & tireless efforts in forcing us to drink our milk & take our multivitamins each & every single night, in making us sleep early so that we would remain to be the healthiest amongst every kid out there, for consistently waking us up at 5 in the morning for the past 20 years, for regularly bringing & fetching us at school, for the unlimited hugs & kisses that you were giving us before we would leave the house & for preparing us the most delicious & superb packed meals, that is just the most sweetest thing that a mother could do for her children… From our teenage years, your momentous guidance & advices on how we should start shaping our own future, your untroubled calmness of trusting us & gradually endowing us our freedom to explore what’s out there in the world, that is just so inimitable and unrivaled of you, that is why we want to say our most earnest thank you for letting us discover our true potentials in life… From our young adult lives, when you & dad could have chosen to live a luxurious lifestyle spending all of your retirement money by yourselves but instead you readily sacrificed all of your savings just to put the three of us in medical school, you solemnly cried together with us while we were facing our most dreaded pains & disappointments, you cheerfully celebrated with us in our pinnacle of victories, you easily became selfless when you surrendered your time for yourself just to be with us in Baguio, watching & providing for our daily needs even if you don’t need to because we were already grown-ups but still, you eagerly chose to take care of us, that is just extremely impressive & astonishing considering your unlimited amount of love for us… I could still very well remember when you were the first one who cried for me when I was dealing with the hardest blow of my life. And you were so ecstatically anxious because you can’t stand seeing me endure those bottomless tortures that I’m going through in my life and you were desperately crying & suffering because you can’t do anything to ease & alleviate your son’s distressed pain. But instead you went with me to the church, you prayed together with me in the church, you actively involved yourself with me in joining several of God’s ministries in the church & you wholeheartedly acted as my indestructible rock. Mom, I think I never said thank you for that but now I am telling you “THANK YOU…” And now that we are facing our adulthood years, there is only one request that the four of us would like to ask of you and that is “Please, don’t ever ever ever change…” I still need you to walk me down the aisle in order for you to finally meet your new daughter and I would love to witness that very day when you’d be taking care of your grandchildren, just the way you have taken care of me, I’d want them to have that piece of experience that I’ve had when you were caressing me. "You might not be the most perfect or ideal mother out there but you are by far “OUR MOTHER” and that attribute alone is enough for us because we truly love & accept you for just you…" Be strong Ma, Be patient with us… We may not also be the perfect or ideal children that a mother would desire but if there’s one certain thing that the four of us could guarantee you, is that we are not going anywhere. Ma, just give us a little more time to grow so that we would have that opportunity & chance to fulfill our promise to you, that we’d be the ones taking tremendous care of you… Thank you for the unconditional love, care, concern & patience that you are giving us, NO ONE COULD EVER SACRIFICE OR DO SO MUCH THAN WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US IN OUR ENTIRE LIVES … Thank you for giving us our greatest inheritance and that is you raising us up in front of our Creator’s eyes, nothing could ever replace that treasure in our hearts… Happiest Birthday to you Ma! 

                                                                Lots of Love, 
                                                  From the Army of your Life – A.L



 - The Thoughful Son


***This Article is dedicated to the "GREAT" ARMANDO Q. LEYVA. Tatay, I always miss you and I love you so much...

Saturday, August 27, 2016

MARY “RAINE” LORAINE ZULUETA GARCIA (Waterdrops Over The Kaleidoscope)







August 27, 2015. I was watching a film at around lunchtime and then I fell asleep at the middle of it. I woke up a few hours later having an unusual bizarre feeling, a sensation so cold as if it was the month of January in Baguio, where the temperature is at its most coolest point. Both of my hands and feet were never this cold during the month of August. I looked at my phone and saw several missed calls, all coming from each of my family members. Then I received another immediate call from my mother who is crying, whispering and undertoned. She told me “AL, wala na si Raine…”, I screamed to my disbelief as I was caught offguard. With an afflicted weak distressed emotion, my sanity has failed me. My perception and conception of what is around me were all distorted…

 I quickly rushed to the hospital where Raine’s body was lying but I got there too late. I was dreadfully agonized & worried for Raine and my brother. Contemplating my brother’s pain and I can’t even begin to picture what he is going through in those very moments. He was doing his usual routine in the hospital, when at lunchtime, Raine’s mother, Tita Wilma called my brother, hysterically shouting “Lyko, patay na si Raine!”. My brother immediately took a taxi cab and raced himself going to Raine’s house, with traffic jam slowing down the taxi, my brother asked the driver to do the hazard beeping. And when he finally saw Raine, he carried her right away and rapidly brought her to the nearest possible hospital. While in the taxi, he continued reviving her from the start to the very finish. Even if he knew within himself that he couldn’t do anything anymore because Raine has been already gone for several hours. I felt my brother’s despair, it was his dream to be a Doctor so that he could give Raine their dream life together and yet he can’t even do the basic thing that a Doctor does, to save her… Not even with all his acquired talents & skills for over a decade of medical training could’ve saved her. That’s the most painful thing of being a Doctor, when you can’t save any of your family members despite on all of these knowledge on how to save a life.

 I tried calling my brother to ask where he is because I was extremely worried for him & Raine but he’s not answering any of my calls. And then he texted me “Kuya, wala na si Raine.”. That message coming from my little brother just crushed my being, I can’t even imagine how my brother is feeling at that very exact moment. He was all alone with Raine’s lifeless body inside the Chapel where Raine would stay for the next 4 days. It even came to my thought, that if I only had the power to bring Raine back to life, I would do it without thinking twice because I can’t stand seeing my brother suffering and in deep agony.

 As I have arrived at the Chapel. There I saw my little brother outside of the Chapel doors, waiting for Raine to be dressed for her funeral. He then saw me and when I got near him, he instantly brokedown and can’t help contain his tears anymore, he just cried to me. I never said any single word, I just hugged him right away and cried with him…

 Raine was just 26. I was not only saddened but also felt so much regret over her life because she was full of limitless potentials. She was a rare one, she was a jewel found in the deepest bedrocks. She was one of the greatest people I knew, she’s third on my list, just next to my grandfather and mother. All of our family members, with no exemptions loved her and treated her already as one of our own, that’s why she left them broken & in tears and believe me when I say that it is a rare story, when a person is wholly accepted by each & all family members without any single doubt or protest. Her friends & colleagues loved her so much that she also left them in tears even while having their scheduled duties in the hospital and believe me again when I say that for those 4 days that she was in the Chapel, there was a nonstop outpouring arrivals of visitors every single day, most especially in the evening where people had already reached the outside of the Chapel building. And everywhere you go, everywhere you look and anyone you ask, there’s only one best word that would describe Raine as to why all people loved her. "She is simply “SELFLESS”. She always made an effort to give time for everyone else’s needs, even if it means having no time for herself anymore, she always made sure that everyone else comes first before her own needs." I can’t believe that a 26 year old, still has many dreams left unaccomplished, would have a strong impact such as this on so many people. It is very much uncommon for a 26 year old to leave a beautiful legacy such as this. If I personally know nothing about her, I would think of her funeral as that of a celebrity or politician’s funeral. That is how Raine has imprinted herself permanently onto people’s hearts. She has left them scarred forever…

  2 days before she will be brought into her final resting place, my brother had shared to me a secret, to which I am the first one to know at that moment. He bought a gift for Raine that she so longly deserved. The night before he told me his secret, he went to this shop to search for that particular gift and he even asked Raine for her guidance on what she would choose. And he first showed it to me the very next day. While he is showing it to me, we can’t help contain our feelings again and we both cried together. He told me “Kuya, ito yung hindi ko nagawa para kay Raine…” and that is to give her, her dream engagement ring… His plan was to wear it into Raine’s finger on the day that he will see her face for the very last time… Again, I had reflected this thought in my mind, that if Raine were still alive, that very exact same ring that he will wear into Raine’s finger could’ve been the day that he will see her face for the very first time as the person that he will grow old with for the rest of his life and instead, we will be happy & celebrating it together with his proposal plans. But that is how GOD’s plan works, it is beyond our limited minds because GOD’s knowledge on all of these things is beyond infinite, beyond whatever we could’ve imagine.

  I would also recall the very heartbreaking speech of my little brother for Raine, comparing their 10 year relationship and lovestory to that of a “Bonsai”, a tree cut so short to prevent it from growing further but still remains to be very beautiful to look at. That it had a sense, a meaning and an impact despite of it being small.

              Raine has a significant impact in my life, she is my family. She’s one of the few rare ones who gave time in listening to my tireless stories even if at the point where my family had already given up in listening to me, she was still there engaging, actively listening and exchanging senseful conversations with me. She has that unique extraordinary character rarely seen in these modern times, and that is her “Pure Heart”. She is my sister and I give her my highest tribute by immortalizing her not only in my heart but in my life. I am Thanking GOD so much for your life Raine, it was an honor and privilege to be a vital part of it. Everytime it rains and whenever I see rainbows, it will constantly remind me of your beautiful “SELFLESS” Legacy. Rest assured that me, together with your family will continue your dream of feeding the homeless children through “THE RAINE-BOW PROJECT”. Enjoy Heaven my Sister!


- The Thoughtful Son



*** This Article is dedicated to MARY “RAINE” LORAINE ZULUETA GARCIA. I always miss you Raine...


Monday, August 8, 2016

THE ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT (PART 6)


































            After our pitiable Jail Indigents, we head up to our next project, the 50 Malnourished Children from Bolasi, San Fabian, Pangasinan. Aside from the regular Gift Giving, Medical Missions, Feeding Programs, Games & Prizes, THE ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT also prioritizes education for the youth. When my Grandfather, the “GREAT” ARMANDO Q. LEYVA was still alive, one of his encouragements and advices to the Parents & Children was to value a diploma and a Bachelor’s Degree. He still faithfully believes that having an education will bring you far, even beyond from what you could ever imagine your life would turn into. One of this is, it would help you easily & especially on decision making because your mind has been trained to make a decision maturely. So believe me when I say that education won’t fail you & your dreams for the future. You would still need the basic foundation & tools of learning before you go out in the streets and learn from fighting the hardships of reality.

            And because one of my Grandfather’s burden was to help the Gospel of Christ Fellowship Pastor’s Children in their tuition fees, he decided to build up a school. So in the year of our Lord 2000, the Gospel of Christ Montessori School was founded. Its main purpose was to help the GCF Pastor’s Children have their free education. But on the other hand, throughout most of his life, my Grandfather has already been doing this for over the past 5 decades, eversince the time that he allowed himself to be used by our Creator, he already had countless of scholars... So when he went back with our Lord in Heaven, he left that heavy lumber to be carried by his Children & Grandchildren, a profound load saddled right into the heart to continue being used in helping to give free education to those who need it the most. But that is how great our GOD is, for in his right time, every purpose shall begin to reveal itself as long as you fervently pray & have great patience. With God’s will & promise, he allowed me & Mr. Denton Caballero to cross paths because Mr. Denton & his co-teachers are passionate educators who have this groundwork called “LITERACY BY THE SEA”. It is a project wherein free education was given to these out of school Children by literally reaching them into their secluded & distantly remote homes. They are teaching these kids depending on their mental capacity and this is regularly done during the weekends. When Mr. Denton brought me this cause, right away I said “THE ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT will support the “LITERACY BY THE SEA” Project”.

            So on December 5, 2015, THE ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT went to the far-flung Bolasi, San Fabian to visit our 50 Malnourished Children. We have shared to these little ones on how our God loves them so much, that he has sent numerous & various groups of people just to show them that they matter in his world. It was a very pleasing & heartwarming event because the innocence of these kids would just rub on you. It will just melt your heart knowing that you have been chosen by God as an essential witness to these young one’s first ever experience in this one of a kind occasion. Their earnest smiles & annoyingly insisting but adorable charming faces had left my heart with a priceless & permanent smile.

            This project has been so successful because our God has used people like Mr. Denton Caballero & his co-teachers, who still care about these destitute & impoverished Children. For without them, who else would teach these Children about LOVE? So Praise our Creator for passionate individuals like them. And one of the main lessons that we have learned from this experience is, “You don’t have to spend big to bring help & love to your neighbors”, there are many forms and ways to help them from their current situation, what’s important is they would feel your indisputable heart for them…

            The ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT (PART 6) would like to thank Bishop Windsor Cabrera, Pastor Thess Cabrera, Pastor Oscar Joaquin, Brother Ramil De Los Reyes, Ms. Magdalena Erfe, Ms. Gladys Partible and the “LITERACY BY THE SEA” Teachers headed by Mr. Denton Caballero. May our GOD do wonderful favors to your heart’s desires…

            Proverbs 11:25 said “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”



 - Soul Writer


***This Article is dedicated to the "GREAT" ARMANDO Q. LEYVA. Tatay, I always miss you and I love you so much...

Thursday, August 4, 2016

THE ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT (PART 5)


























            After giving back to God’s Workers on our Project IV, we head back to our 3 original focus groups. THE ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT will begin with our Indigents. Pastor Oscar Joaquin & Brother Ramil De Los Reyes of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST FELLOWSHIP BAGUIO came to me and asked for help in their first ever major Church endeavor which is the “SALVATION OF SOULS”, and it has targeted these 136 Prison Indigents of Baguio City Jail.

            These Prison Indigents that I’m referring to are the inmates who never had any visitors inside the jail while serving their entire sentence. So they really receive nothing, in terms of gifts such as hygiene kit, shirts or any food that they can eat inside while locked away in these heavily guarded walls. Some of them have already aged & grew old because they were serving life or double life. Some were forgotten & neglected by their own blood. They were considered as troubled outcasts of society. But I never saw them that way and personally, for me? These are the People that we should tap in sharing God’s words because for them, they have already built this belief in their mind that GOD had abandoned them a long time ago, which is inevitably untrue. And also, these are the human beings that we should share our love to and give our attention & concerns coz’ there is nothing more depressing than having that feeling of bleakness & misery within one’s self just because hopelessness had already consumed one’s own soul. That is why, when Pastor Oscar Joaquin & Brother Ramil De Los Reyes told me about GCF Baguio’s Project, without a single hesitation, I corresponded with conviction and shouted “YES”! Because I firmly & sturdily believe that these are the souls that we should prioritize in bringing closer to our Creator.

            So Praise GOD! On November 30, 2015, the project had pushed through and THE ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT was one of the Major Sponsors aside from my Mentor when I was still studying in Medicine, DR. ISRAEL YASAY, who is a true Man of God and of whom I admire & aspire to become with if ever I develop into a Consultant Doctor in the future. I’ve assisted him numerous of times before in his operations and undeniably, he puts GOD first in everything that he does in his career & family, a truly remarkable Christian.

            On the day of the event, I literally have witnessed these 136 Prison Indigents’ excitement because someone has remembered to visit them. Someone saw what they have been through inside the jail & gave value to them which really means a lot for them and you could tell this by the look on their faces. They were also enthused in receiving gifts this coming Christmas coz’ that is the true reason on why we are celebrating it after all. And after the heartfelt & inspiring life testimony of Pastor Eladio Javier, I saw the most important piece of the event and that is, majority of them, of about 80 indigents accepted GOD in their lives. I just purely & plainly fell into tears to what I have just witnessed. It is such a powerful & moving manifestation that you really could feel the Holy Spirit touch everyone in that function hall that Godly day…

            "In the end, the most significant gift that we have given them weren’t the material presents but the souvenir of God’s Words… Coz’ they will use that permanently throughout their entire lives, whether they remain serving inside or would go out of this fortified walls. And the one sure thing is, it would never ran out of stock." One lesson that we could pick up in this compelling experience is… “GOD uses numerous of vessels just to reach one soul, and yes! That is how important one soul is to our GOD. He just wanted to remind each one of us, that he will always love & never leave his children, even if at times, we have thought so. We are just blinded by the World to see, that at what we thought GOD had left us, is the opposite, we have been the ones who stayed away from him.”

            The ARMANDO Q. LEYVA PROJECT (PART 5) would like to thank Pastor Oscar Joaquin, Pastor Eladio Javier, Brother Ramil De Los Reyes, Dr. Israel Yasay and the Workers of GCF (Gospel of Christ Fellowship) Church Baguio. May our GOD do wonderful favors to your heart’s desires…

            Luke 10:27 said “Love the Lord your GOD with all your heart & with all your sould & with all your strength & with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.”



 - Soul Writer


***This Article is dedicated to the "GREAT" ARMANDO Q. LEYVA. Tatay, I always miss you and I love you so much...