Hope Springs Eternal: Eulogy for Joy

I am posting my Eulogy for Joy, a good friend and a confidante. It was never an easy task to write a tribute and it was beyond difficult to deliver it in front of many. 

September last year, Joy and I were texting and talking about the inspiring video she sent me. It was about Love, Peace, Faith…and HOPE.

Joy then said, “HOPE springs eternal”. This sayings means, even if things cannot turn out the way we possibly want things to be, people still and will continue to HOPE. Joy as we knew her, was full of Hope, full of Optimism. Always positive. Pirme lg ‘Okies’ ‘Okies lg ko’. That’s Joy.

I am here today, not only representing the fellow parents of Joy at La Consolacion College Bacolod – Integrated School but as a friend of Joy as well. 

For the last three years, Joy’s world focused on Aika and Meg, we have seen all her efforts being a hands-on mom. In every school activities of Meg and Aika, meetings, rehearsals, out of school trips, swimming lessons, Joy was always present. Joy, the stagemother was there.

As Joy’s friend, we both took driving lessons at the same time. Joy conquered her fear of driving in heavy traffic so that she can bring and pick-up Aika and Meg to school everyday. Joy was full of positivity, that even BAHA can never bring her spirits down. She waded through the dirty water, put plastic cellophanes on her feet, carried her shoes, not caring how she looks, bahala kamu da ya, just to bring Aika home.

As a stage mother, we have seen Joy literally ara sa kilid stage when Meg joined a pageant in school. Our friends and I were at the audience cheering, and Joy was assisting Meg the whole time. During the question and answer portion, we even saw Joy sa kilid stage, yelling at the emcee to translate the question in English because Meg cannot understand Ilonggo that well. Joy was hilarious, and we love her for that.

Since Joy and I were used in doing things together, one summer, we both enrolled our daughters (Aika and Mabe) in swimming classes. Joy would wake up so early in the morning and bring Aika to Panaad Park at 6:30am. There was one time when Aika was a bit hesitant to jump in a 6-ft deep swimming pool, Joy and I were so loud shouting and cheering for Aika. Go! Go! Aika Go!! then Joy screamed 'Lumpat Aika! Lumpat!'. Then after the class Aika said, ‘kagahod sa inyo we can’t concentrate sa jump’. Always the cheerer of Aika and Meg, that’s how Joy LOVES her daughters.

Full of Hope, that months after her operation, when she was physically ready for light exercise, Joy and I did morning walks at the Capitol Lagoon after sending the kids in school. Joy embraced healthy living and healthy eating.

And of course, Joy religiously hear mass every day. The Faith of Joy remained stronger than ever.

Later on, when her body was getting weaker, we seldom see Joy in school anymore. She would just send me text messages asking about the class schedules, the activities, and then she would give me updates about her condition.

Joy’s WILL to live was undeniably greater than expected. Joy as we knew her, full of Hope, full of Optimism. Hope springs eternal, because according to Joy…with HOPE in our hearts, each of us can live with Peace, Faith, and Love. 

We love you Joy. We love you dearly…we will miss you a lot.