Remembering Tatay & Nanay4 / Photos & Videos

Felizardo D Laureano to Loida, Sonny, ebrifareal, Doris, jun, Jun(Jay), me, Mag-usig, charles, John, william, Johanna, Edwin

1:44 AM (6 hours ago)

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Dear family,

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As I was going through sorting things out, I came across something I wrote for Tatay and Nanay in 1993 – some fifteen (15) years ago! Some of you may have read it already but still I would like to share it with all of you. (See below for text as it was written then. Corrections under your care)

It was in March 1993 when Tatay and Nanay decided to go back to the Philippines for good because they missed being with all of you out there in the Philippines. Evidently, they came back here, sacrificed being away from you, because of what they can still do to help alleviate your situations there.I wrote this then because we would surely sorely miss them too – thinking it would take long before we see them again. (See attached picture taken at their Azusa apartment).We (which includes Miriam and Carol) then prepared photo albums for them so they won’t forget us here.

Through conversations with them, I caught some glimpses of the deep longings in their hearts and am a witness to how they humbled themselves to ask for help for those of you who were in constant need.

I am sure most of you share the same thoughts and feelings I had then and which I still cherish unchanged until now.I am sure Tatay and Nanay carried this burden with them to their very last thoughts. But thank God they are now in peace!I love you all,

ATE NECY

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MY TRIBUTE TO TATAY AND NANAY

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By Eunice B. Laureano

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February 14, 1993T – ime flies so swiftly by. One looks back and it is no longer there. All one can do is try to recapture and bring back fond and even sad memories of yesterdays and yesteryears that has brought meaning to life, especially those moments spent with those one loves so dearly like both of you, our very dearest one and only Tatay and Nanay.

A – ll my brothers and sisters stayed with you until they had families of their own. I was the only one who did not stay long with you. Only seventeen years of my life were spent with you. Yet even at fifty-eight, in your own unassuming ways, I feel so much loved and cared for. The child in me still cries out wishing I could be a little child again so I could spend more time with you and be cuddled and hugged.

T –o fulfill your promise to God, I complied with your desire for me to become a deaconess. Never for a moment have I regretted that decision. Such a decision has made my life meaningful and has led me to know in a very personal way the same Lord and Savior that you both love and serve.

A – s I found myself thrown into the crowded ways of life, yes, into the vicissitudes of life – mostly away from you – your kind and loving counsel during my growing up years, though then perceived as controlling and demanding, served as the guiding light and compass in my life’s journey. They were my guideposts and my treasures that I will forever cherish and pass on to my children.

Y –our life and example, more than your counsel, taught and showed me how to live a good and clean life. Your moral values were exemplified in your life. You have taught me to be honest at all times; to do the best I can in whatever I undertake; to love others first and myself last; to be loving and forgiving; to stand for whatever is right; to be humble and not to be self-serving; and above all to love God and serve Him faithfully.

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A -n unselfish life is what both of you have truly demonstrated to us your children. Your genuine love for the Lord enabled you to do it.

I observe with a sense of pride the many sacrifices you made for the family and the churches you loved and served. You placed your personal needs subservient to the needs of your family and the Lord’s work. You have given to the lesser fortunate what you should have given to your own family and you have given back to the church what is rightfully yours.

You never counted the cost but believed in God’s divine providence. I recall that as young children in one of your pastorates how often we go to bed hungry. You knew and believed in your heart that God will never leave you wanting. You testified many times to the miracles He has made in your lives.

N -othing is more comforting and satisfying than to know that God has given us the best parents. Though human in every aspect and with frailties of your own, you portrayed in your lives the best way you could and knew how, the very heart and essence of God’s teaching – and that is to love and to love unconditionally.

All your children and children-in-law; and grandsons and granddaughters-in-law; and granddaughters and grandsons-in-law – join me in expressing to you our love and respect.

D -on’t forget, however, that the loving and the giving and the seemingly small things that you do, do not remain unnoticed. The small things you do touch me so deeply.

Whenever Fil and I come to visit you at an unappointed time, Nanay drops whatever she was doing to prepare and serve food. Tatay stays in the background and enjoys watching us eat to our heart’s content continuously offering more food. It amazes me how you always have something to serve us and how fast Nanay can prepare food even at her age. I never heard a word of complaint from her. And yet, she would still wrap some egg rolls or whatever food she has (with Tatay’s prodding, of course) for Willie.

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N -o one deserves better things in life than both of you. You deserve much more, if not the best, of what you have had. You never really experienced the comforts of this material world but I’m sure God has already prepared a mansion for you in heaven.

A -s a working wife and mother, I find myself caught in the web of what life in America is – life in the fast lane. It takes the balancing ability of an expert to keep one’s sanity and survive in a lifestyle such as this. Family life and other relationships may be affected if one is not “watchful and prayerful”. How fortunate I am, however, that it is not all work and family. For in the triad of my activities come the church, the catalyst, that keeps all things working together.

N -o one has challenged me more than trials, problems and adversities that have come along my life’s journey – at home, at work, and at church. All these life experiences call for love, understanding, forgiveness, humility, patience and yet standing up for what is right and doing the best one can – whether it be appreciated or not. The foundation you have laid down for me early in life has helped me cope with such eventualities and circumstances.

A -mong the many things you Tatay has taught me – one stands out very vivid in my memory. I was in elementary school when I had a quarrel with one of my classmates. I was expecting you to take sides with me, but you did not – because you knew it was my fault.

You have always tried to put yourself in place of the other person and try to defend him or her, or reason out in his/her behalf. You always try to see something good in a person and accept him or her for what he/she is. However, you do not close your eyes either if something needs to be said. You are also ready to confront anybody who in your best judgment needs a reminder or a counsel. You do it because of your sincere love and concern.

Y -OU BOTH DESERVE THE BEST!!! The best that anyone can have is not always measured in the amount of material possessions one has. You already have the best in life. YOU HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEARTS – even for those who are not ready to accept it!

Both of you have given the best years of your lives in service to God. God used you even in your advance years give birth to a new ministry in the San Gabriel Valley. I can hear God say to both of you, “Thou good and faithful servant, you have been faithful in small things, I will make you master over great things. Enter now into the Kingdom God has prepared for you”.

Your lives are open books. Those who know how to read it will learn a lot from it – love for God and fellowmen, humility, unselfishness, endurance, contentment, joy, fairness, and respect for others.

May God continue to bless both of you! May God also continue to use you spread His love to all people whose lives you will still touch as you wind up your life’s earthly journey.

We will constantly hold both of you and the rest of the family back home in our prayers. We are sure that you will do the same for us here.

We love you very, very much!!

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Ate Necy / Eunice

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GLENN BAUTISTA to Felizardo, Loida, Sonny, ebrifareal, Doris, jun, Jun(Jay), Mag-usig, charles, John, william, Johanna, Edwin

show details 9:00 AM (0 minutes ago)

Reply

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Dear Ate Necy,

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What you wrote for Tatay and Nanay is a must read for all the members of the Bautista family! You have truly revealed in your letter how much Tatay and Nanay loved all of us.

Apparently, all of us knew and felt that, indeed, they both loved us, yet having read your letter made me realize the ironies of situations Tatay and Nanay have been involved in where painful decisions had to be made. Decisions like staying in the US just to be in a better position to help the rest of the family despite the painful separation from their loved ones.

I guess, as long as we follow their example and the Lord’s example, we will always be on the right path. Again, thank you Ate Necy.

Here’s the link to your letter to Tatay and Nanay:

http://glenlorndav.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/remembering-tatay-nanay4-photos-videos/

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Let us always be thankful, God bless.

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GlennLornaDavid

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Dear Family,

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Here’s a letter passed on to me by Ate Miriam which she found inside Tatay’s passport when asked for it in the US. A proof of Tatay’s style of writing reporting about the family’s trip to the Philippines:

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More photos of Tatay’s stay in Imus:

http://bautclan.multiply.com/photos

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TATAY’S LETTER:

Blk. 7, Lot 4 Anther Street Bayan Luma, Nueva Imus Camella Homes, Cavite, Philippines / April 13, 1993

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Dear Romy, Friends & Brethren:

How time flies! It has been a month now since we arrived here Saturday, March 13, after a pleasant-hectic flight. Pleasant, because the weather was sunny all the way from L.A. to Manila; hectic, because of the cramped accomodations. When we came upon our assigned seats, all the overhead compartments were loaded – - a case of first come first served, Philippine style! Our hand-carries were sprawled on the floor with hardly any free play for tired feet to stir. One commendable thing about PAL, however, is the skill of its pilots in both take-off and landing.

We are very pleased to be received into the welcoming arms of loved ones, including Loida, who was excused for the day. We were brought directly to the new house in Imus, which Glenn had built for us – - minus our baggages, which we were able to claim only the following day.

Fortunatelay for us in Imus, we are located near a rice field, where the air is fresh and the wind blows continually. Grazing nearby are mooing cattle and goats, while amongst the mango trees, laden with flowers and little green mangoes, are twitting birds which lend their sweet music to the unused ears of city folks. Our supply of NAWASA water is plentiful, as is seldom the case in some places in metropolitan Manila. In addition, we have a deep well which supplies us with cool, fresh drinking water that needs no boiling, as we had always done so in L.A. for my delicate system.

What we have not been able to escape from completely, as yet, are the brownouts and the mosquitoes – - with the former ranging from 4-9 hours daily and the latter constantly at night, but with unbroken respite during the day. Of course, we are now beginning to adjust tolerably well with the rhythm. Also, Nanay has already become an expert in putting up the ‘kulambo’ and, in the process, successfully outwitting the pesky creatures.

The whole family was at the graduation exercises, held March 20 at the Salakot Chapel, in Dasmarinas. One of those who graduated, under the Master of Divinity program, was our own grandson, Jun. He was graduated with honors and given a special award in liturgy and music composition.

There were a total of 68 graduates, distributed as follows: Dr. of Ministry, 12 (9Koreans); Master of Divinity, 43 (5 Koreans); BRE (Sacred Music), 1; and Bachelor of Ministry, 12. Graduation speaker was Department Secretary of Health, Dr Juan Flavier. Among the four american faculty members still with seminary are our own Dr. Richard L Wehrman, Dr. Alfredo S. Agtarap, and Dr. Elizabeth Tapia-Cogswell.

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Romy & Rosie . . . . (2)

Nanay, with Glenn and David, went to the Harris graduation at Central Church, March 22, to give to Grace Rosie’s package for her. She also learned from Grace that her tuition had been paid in full out of the $300 the women there had sent to her through the woman’s Division in new York. She had planned to leave for Orion the following day for a short vacation there with her folks, and then back to Harris for a longer stay this summer.

There were 20 who graduated from harris this year — 6 with Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education, and 14 with Kindergarten Education. As major speaker for the afternoon was Justice Reynato S. Puno of the Court of Appeals.

Please extend our love and appreciation to our brothers and sisters there, and Adiel, for the not-to-be forgotten despedidas tendered us for our departure — what with the glittering pot lucks, the cakes, the pictures and videos, and the song and dance parts shared to us by talented, little Michelle. may the Lord continue to bless and prosper you all real good, as well as Michelle and parents Eddie and Sonya.

We learned of the death and burial of Lita’s father, Mr. Reyes, only last Sunday, April 11, at Fairview Park UMC during Edwins’s Easter Concert for the morning service. In the process, we also missed Lita, who had left the day before. Kindly extend our sincere condolences to the Linchancos.

We are all doing fine here, and rapidly adjusting to all our newly found fortunes in this our beloved land –both climatic, economic, and otherwise; knowing as we do well that our Lord who cares, sustains, heals, and provides all our needs, actively at work in the midst of His people!

We are praying for you. Keep on, keep on, and on, and on . . . . .

We love you.

IP and EUGENIA

ipb/

P. S. Romy, many thanks for that last lift you gave us. You are great! . IP

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Kuya Jun’s Tribute to Tatay: http://bautclan.multiply.com/photos

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Loida Bautista Rifareal to Felizardo, Felizardo, me

show details 10:21 AM (14 minutes ago)

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Rev. Loida Bautista

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Dear Ate,

Here is the letter of Pastor Cajiuat which you sent to me last Jan 6, 2006. I hope you can recall that time you sent it to me and also the goodbye photos taken when I left Tatay last Dec 5, 2005 I felt so sad looking at it since that was the last moment when we were together and it truly pains me to leave him that time. One thing that made me decide to be back home here is that I still want to have a memory of Tatay in his good condition, still able to eat and talk and sing with me. I can’t bear seeing him helpless and in a very weak condition.
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I know Tatay felt that time that I do not love him and care less of him. But I do and I did missed him a lot! I will forever treasure these photos! Thank you ever so much for sharing these to me.
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Love always,
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Loida

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Loie bids goodbye to Tatay / CA

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Loie bids goodbye to Tatay / CA

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Tatay & Mir from church to house

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Tatay & Mir from church to house

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Tatay / CA

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——- Original Message ——–

Subject:	Re: Update on Pastor I. P. Bautista
Date:	Fri, 6 Jan 2006 08:41:16 -0800
From:	Felizardo D Laureano
To:	EDCAJIUAT

Kuya Fil & Ate Necy / Glenn’Studio, Imus, Cavite

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Dear Pastor and Ate Amy,

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How can we ever thank you for taking the time to share your loving thoughts of Tatay. I have mentioned to him that he is in your prayers and also of so many others.

It is so nice to hear from others what they know about him from years ago that our family may not have a chance to know unless it is shared with us.

Yes, we knew he used to like to wear white (because I think he only had a few to wear). Hindi halata na wala siyang masyadong damit.

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When Nanay passed away, we thought he would follow soon. I believe what kept him going is the love that surrounds him not only from our family but also from relatives far and wide, from friends, his former parishioners and from the church members now. Even the children and the young people at church adore him and are ready to help him with whatever needs to be done for him.

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I can feel the love, sincerity and caring thoughts from your words and we want you to know how much that means to us in times like these.

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I pray to God that He will continue to bless both you and Ate Amy with strength and good health and also experience the same love from God’s people because you so deserve it too!

An update on Tatay: He was released Tuesday as scheduled but returned the following day. He is still in the hospital and really don’t know how long it will be this time. I did not tell the rest on my mail list about this because every one was committed to continue to pray for Tatay.

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When I get a chance, I will be sending you some more pictures if it is okay with you and if your PC won’t be overloaded. Let me know. I would be most happy to share those with you and the rest on the mail list.

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Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyo! When I know of couples like you who faithfully serve the Lord, it reminds me of Nanay and Tatay – and I am encouraged and inspired to go on and serve the Lord as long as I can.

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Love from us to both of you!

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Eunice (and Fil)

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I am sharing your letter with him on our next visit. I don’t think I need to wait until his birthday. His times are in God’s hands. I want to make sure he gets it as soon as possible.

Thanks again!

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I decided to attach some pictures. Loida visited with us for 6 months. The two pictures were taken Dec 3 the day of her return to the Philippines. The last two shows Tatay coming home from church walking into the house. The solo picture was taken early 2005 by his doctor who is a member of the church.

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On 1/5/06, EDCAJIUAT wrote:

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Dear Eunice,

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Thank you for sharing the update on Pastor I.P. Bautista. And the pictures, why, he looks so handsome even now! Nakakainggit a! I can see that he is happy with such a wonderful family around him. I’m writing a note for him below.

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God bless you all always.

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Pastor Ding Cajiuat

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My letter:

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Dear I. P.

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I saw your pictures that Eunice sent through the e-mail. Talagang magandang lalake ka pa rin hanggang ngayon. Nuong nag-aaral ka pa sa seminaryo, nabasa ko yong yearbook ninyo na dini-describe ka ng sumulat. Ang tawag daw sa iyo ay “Whitey,” mangyari lagi kang nakasuot ng puti. At totoo naman. You were always impeccable, not only in your clothes but also in your character, and you were always highly respected by people from all different sides of the church, be they conservative or radical. And I am one of those who highly esteemed you.

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You were the church builder, of the church as people, and the churches as buildings, especially when you were DS of churches in the Bicol region. Thank you so very much for the many, many great things that you did for people. You have been a great blessing for people, and surely God is pleased with that.

Amy and I think of you and your family often, and we will keep praying for you, that you may always feel God’s love and presence.

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Your brother in Christ and in the ministry,

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Ding Cajiuat

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from Felizardo D Laureano to GLENN BAUTISTA ebrifareal Doris Rifareal Sonny Rif loibari date Feb 6, 2008 2:51 AM subject Long time – No hear! mailed-by gmail.com

hide details 2:51 AM (4 hours ago)

Reply

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How are you all doing?

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I’m still in a daze and it appears I am just now feeling the heavy toll of activities from what transpired over a month ago. We enjoyed what we were doing that we were unwary of the consequences to our health due to the tremendous energy we had to put into all the efforts we had to do – in so short a time! The adrenaline flow was high – snap but wise decisions were made – each participant working in sync as one. Time and distance did not matter – everyone was sincerely committed to the tasks at hand. Imagine the unbelievable coordination from here, the Philippines and India!!??!! What an excellent demonstration of team effort driven by one purpose, one sincere desire – to give due honor and respect to the man – our Tatay and Lolo that we all so dearly loved.

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We all know, Tatay/Lolo is not one who would covet to be exalted, praised or be lifted into the limelight. He was always humble, just doing his job well and in the most exemplary way – not to be noticed but simply to do things how they should be done.

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Each of you have caught that spirit in him. Many things that have been done behind the scenes for this effort appear not to have received the due recognition they deserve. Yet, I did not sense any clamor nor desire for any recognition but simply a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that you have given and done your best for each task at hand, great or small. I believe I am right if I say, this is a Bautista family trait that stands out so clearly.

I have been sincerely profuse, even extravagant – with my expressions of appreciation to each one of you for the genuine efforts each of you expended. You all simply amaze me beyond words can ever justiably convey.

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After a week of silence since we left from there, our physical and mental faculties deserve the much-needed rest. I have been sick since our arrival. Your Kuya/Uncle Fil is now the better of us, physically. The dishes we left on the kitchen sink were not washed until yesterday – Sunday, five days after our arrival. Surprisingly, we find ourselves staying in bed much longer. We know there are still unfinished tasks but they can wait. I will let you know when we can resume on the “Write-Ups” I will gather the missing info and send them to you in due time.

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I am aware that the rest of the family had their share in this event which they did just as sincerely as you did. Every little effort counts and each contributed to the fulfillment of our attempt to make Tatay’s – Lolo’s final hours something to cherish and treasure that will continue to inspire us in the years to come – to serve as a kind reminder of his legacy of faith and love to each member of the Bautista family in this our generation and the next, and the next and to the next . . .

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Both Tatay and Nanay are much, much more alive in our hearts now because of their devotion and love to the One who loved us first even when we did not deserve to be loved.

Let us all endeavor to keep the family united in love and in grace. Let’s maintain the integrity of character that Tatay-Lolo held so dearly during his lifetime – by the things we say and do.

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I love you all with the love of the Lord!

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Peace and blessings!

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Ate Auntie Necy

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