On June 27th year 2010, our good Lord called Nanay, Aida Fuentes Lagarejos, to her perpetual rest in heaven. Born on October 8, 1933, she was 76 years old.
Nanay Aida is my image of a strong woman. She was a mother to look up to. She emanated beauty, sophistication, nurture, strength, perseverance, integrity, love, and a very strong faith in a gracious and loving God.
Nanay Aida was the oldest of 7 children, 2 of whom died at an early age. She was primary in helping take care of all her younger siblings. She was known to have the leadership to handle decision making involving her brothers and sisters. She was the “mother” of their household because she took charge in their needs.
Nanay Aida continued that legacy with her own family. Married to Tatay Anchit, siring nine (9) children, Nanay never tired of looking out for her family. Working a full-time job as a public health dentist, she (with Tatay) made tough decisions in bringing up the 9 children properly. Yet she never waivered in her faith in God, never faltered in her religious practice of worshipping God daily, and leaving everything to His care. My Nanay Aida is the reason I believe in miracles.
We all know Nanay Aida loved us, and she cared. From ever since I can remember, my Nanay took care of people. Not just us her immediate family, but also her extended family, her friends, her children’s friends, the neighbors, and everyone and anyone that she came across with. She cooked, and oh boy, did she cook for everyone! She was the ideal hostess. My friends, my siblings’ friends, classmates that have set foot in our house all spoke highly of Nanay Aida’s delicious cooking. I remember Kuya Arnel (my oldest brother who is a priest) bringing in all his seminarian friends to the house, and they were all treated like they were our own family because of Nanay Aida. I grew up around various priests that took our house as their second home because Nanay Aida welcomed them as her own sons with open arms. She loved all of God’s people.
Not just the ones called to ministry, Nanay Aida loved ALL of God’s people. Even the strangers, the poor, and the ones in need. She strived to be a part of the solution, providing help. She gave free dental service, in God’s name, in and out of Rizal province. She volunteered in the church dental clinic to practice the talent in dentistry God gave her, for service to our Lord.
Nanay Aida is my image of a strong woman. She was a mother to look up to. She emanated beauty, sophistication, nurture, strength, perseverance, integrity, love, and a very strong faith in a gracious and loving God.
Nanay Aida was the oldest of 7 children, 2 of whom died at an early age. She was primary in helping take care of all her younger siblings. She was known to have the leadership to handle decision making involving her brothers and sisters. She was the “mother” of their household because she took charge in their needs.
Nanay Aida continued that legacy with her own family. Married to Tatay Anchit, siring nine (9) children, Nanay never tired of looking out for her family. Working a full-time job as a public health dentist, she (with Tatay) made tough decisions in bringing up the 9 children properly. Yet she never waivered in her faith in God, never faltered in her religious practice of worshipping God daily, and leaving everything to His care. My Nanay Aida is the reason I believe in miracles.
We all know Nanay Aida loved us, and she cared. From ever since I can remember, my Nanay took care of people. Not just us her immediate family, but also her extended family, her friends, her children’s friends, the neighbors, and everyone and anyone that she came across with. She cooked, and oh boy, did she cook for everyone! She was the ideal hostess. My friends, my siblings’ friends, classmates that have set foot in our house all spoke highly of Nanay Aida’s delicious cooking. I remember Kuya Arnel (my oldest brother who is a priest) bringing in all his seminarian friends to the house, and they were all treated like they were our own family because of Nanay Aida. I grew up around various priests that took our house as their second home because Nanay Aida welcomed them as her own sons with open arms. She loved all of God’s people.
Not just the ones called to ministry, Nanay Aida loved ALL of God’s people. Even the strangers, the poor, and the ones in need. She strived to be a part of the solution, providing help. She gave free dental service, in God’s name, in and out of Rizal province. She volunteered in the church dental clinic to practice the talent in dentistry God gave her, for service to our Lord.
Not just as a dentist, but even as a fellow Christian, Nanay met the financial, emotional, and spiritual needs of various people in various walks of life that approached her, asking for her assistance. I never once saw her discriminate among the privileged and underprivileged, she gave all equal treatment and help.
Even with family, we never doubted her undiscriminating love. She reached beyond her own kids, caring for nieces and nephews that needed her. Her own brothers and sisters, all of us her children, and extended family, depended on, and respected Nanay for spiritual and family advice. She is why we value church and prayer; why we eat dinner at the same time, why we celebrate birthdays, and all occasions, however simple, together, appreciating God’s blessings in our lives.
She also taught us to enjoy life in the midst of doing the right things. A woman who lived life fully, Nanay pursued her love to travel. She was able to go to various countries around the world, including the Holy land in
Nanay Aida emanated beauty from the inside out. Externally, she was always well-dressed, with make-up, matching shoes to purse, everything to a tee. My Nanay was not extravagant, but she had class. Her friends would tease us, her daughters, that none of us matched up to her beauty. And I believe it. Nanay Aida had beauty none could top.
That’s because her beauty came from the inside. Nanay Aida had a very godly heart. Nanay was very kind. She loved with a passion that you felt. One just had to be close to her to feel that love emanating from her being. Nanay was someone we hug, we kiss because she hugged so lovingly, and with her kiss you felt so comforted and loved. She was an awesome sister, mother and friend. Nanay emanated God’s pure love.
Nanay Aida taught us a lot of virtues not just by the words she spoke, but even more so with the life she lived. Nanay spoke to us, she strived to be heard, yet she also listened. She was a mother that never tired of teaching her kids the right thing to do. We knew right and wrong because she told us. She taught us to help others, do what’s right at all times, be hospitable, be respectful, appreciate God’s grace and provisions, to believe in God and His miracles, because we have experienced them within our family. Her faith was unquestionable because God was real in her life.
She also took a stand. She took a stand in her beliefs: faith, moral, ethical, financial, in education, even in politics. She taught us that it is okay to disagree, and still love each other. Love unmarred by differences. Despite challenges in life, our family is intact, we love one another because Nanay taught us God’s right kind of love. Unconditional.
Even as we watched the ravages of Fronto-Temporal Dementia take life away from her, we continued to see the integrity, the strength, the beauty, and the real Nanay Aida underneath that ugly disease. We all remembered the beautiful, the virtuous Nanay Aida God lovingly placed in our care.
There are so much more Nanay Aida had said, had done. Pages are not enough to fill the love, the gratitude, the emotions, the appreciation of Nanay Aida, our mother. We will strive to live the legacy of love and faith that you have passed on to us. We will miss you so dearly, and we love you so very much, Nanay Aida! Thank you for being our Nanay.
Minnie Lagarejos Rafael
Nanay Aida’s 9th child
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