Lola Alba is characterized often for her being bluntly honest. She defined a true activist who voices out the "truth" towards people and their dishonesties. She was an intellectual politics major who reigned in university of the philippines during her time marching against her grievances with the marcos government. She was a church leader,a christian advocate, a community activist and spokesperson.... she was a leader and a fighter all the way.
Despite Lola's strong characteristics around her peers and colleagues, for us, Lola was a grandma who sang church songs with the choir. She rarely missed a day of serving the Lord whether it was ont he conferences of at th church or with the commnity. She loved God and devoted her life serving HIM. She was someone who was uniquely opinionated but who knew what battles to fight. She was a atypical lola who genuinely loved her family. Above all, she was a survivor as she battled cancer on and off discreetly not showing any signs of weakness through it all.
That's my Lola Alba Eugenio-Bacheldeer. Sadly, Lola (Grandma) Alba passed away in her sleep last week on her way to another Christian conference ( whom she devoted her life for) last week in Las Vegas. No instructions were told. She left so suddenly. But I know in my heart she is with the Lord.
One part of the funeral service was an open eulogy for Lola. Everyone spoke about Lola's aggressive feitiness about issues she meddled with. A few spoke of her love for the Lord. Ate Bel, my elder sister, fought that she was a well loved and dedicated activist who defined strength and character. And the stories about Lola continued on.
But one eulogy struck my head. A particular female slightly teary and holdng her compusure stood up the podium and she described Lola Alba as argumentative inside conference meetings whom she always conflicted with being the leader of the organization. But she also counter argued that outside the walls of the meetings, Lola was a good friend. She told us about Lola Alba's recent gift to her: a bracelet folded in some kind of tissue textured soft cloth. She stated that as Lola gave it to her, she instructed her to read, "REVELATION 21:1-4. "
This particular collegue of Lola never told us about what these bible verses was all about. She went out about praising Lola's strong headed personality. However, she ended her testimony differently as she unlikely instructed us to read REVELATION 21: 1-4 as Lola instructed her to do so. She ended her eulogy telling us, That's your assignment tonight: revelation 21: 1 -4."
I went home and I thought about what she told us that night. Her instructions triggered in my head. Days passed by and I only remembered what she told us to do again today as I started browsing bible verses online. Out oif curiosity, I read the book of Revelation ( the last book ont he new testament) chapter 21 verses 1 to 4. And it read:
RevelationChapter 21
1
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2
2
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, 3 coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people 4 and God himself will always be with them (as their God).
4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, (for) the old order has passed away."
I sighed as I finished reading the scripture. Lola never left us intructions. She died in the midst of her battle with cancer. Through it all, it was not an open topic that she had cancer. Cancer was a small battle compared to all the tasks she bravely tackled. But upon reading Revelation 21:1-4, it made me realized that Lola Alba had a message.
She wanted to tell us she was in "another heaven." The "loud voice" was the new choir of angels she will belong to . The Lord finally took her in. The last verse of the said gospel clearly manifested she was "painfree" for the "Lord wipe the tears" and the "mourning will cease."
Lola never told us any instructions but her message to us was that she was out of pain ( with the pain she hid secretly to many whether it was emotionally related or physical struggles) That she is done with her fight with life's battles. This time, she surrended it all to the LORD. This was her time to finally rest. To her, this was the last stretch from the long fight. Battle is over. She is done and now, she is now going 'HOME" in her FATHER's arms.
{WE will miss you Lola Alba...We will see you there in our Father's arm.]
posted by pinay freestyle @ 2:46 PM
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