Amazing Encouragement from Friends on our Big Move

By: Veronica Leighton

 

Yes, we did it at this time of our life! Kiddingly, but with some tinge of truth, before we move into a nursing home, hospital, and finally, to our grave. Maybe morbid, but true. A big transition in our life. For many older folks like us, disposing, reducing, getting rid of our old dear possessions, and moving to a new, unknown place is a most difficult decision to make in life. The mystery of the unknown, particularly in old age, is quite troubling to many. To tell the truth, we experienced this feeling, but with courage, grit and resolve to face the stresses and stressors that come with moving from the old home where we lived for 22 years and moving into an unknown new apartment in a new location really deserves some congratulatory words from friends. And, here’s what we received so far, nice words of encouragement, positive advice, and pat in the back, please read the following brief messages we received so far…

Dear Veronica and Joe.

Congratulations on your move to what appears to be a better location in many respects. Amy and I are so happy that you and Joe still are still able to make bold (but beneficial) changes in your lives. As maturing (polite for getting older) people, it is a well-known fact that undergoing change is associated with more anxiety and stress…so kudos to you and Joe for showing the rest of us (maturing folk) not only that it can be done but that it can be done in style.

Regards and God bless,

Dr. Rupert and Dr. Amy Mayuga

 

Dear Mareng Vero and Pareng Joe,

Congratulations. Talagang maganda ang tanawin, talagang masasabi mong nasa US talaga. Again, congrats sa inyong dalawa ni Joe.

Orly Bernardino Publisher, Philippine Weekly

 

To Vero and Joe,

Congratulations on your move to your new address. It only underscores the fact that VIA Times is one of the most successful Fil-Am news magazine in the United States.

Don Azarias

Correspondent

 

There is still some kind of adjustment to make, some work to do, some changes to make, some notifications to make, addenda to a big move such as this. Although no more young children tagging along with us, our two business babies, Via Times and CPRTV, are two important factors for the relocation. Our new VT offices and CPRTV studio are some works of ingenuity that even Martha Stewart would be amazed. A lot of things were reduced to size, compact, cuter, and practicable for the reach of arms. ****

With a sad heart, I would like to share the news of a dear friend’s passing, Cecile Sevilla, who has been a friend for many years and a friend to many Chicagoans as she and her family used to be Chicago residents until their move to San Jose, California. Cecile and I used to see each other when she would visit her daughter Tina, who still lives in Chicago.

A very good psychic and numerologist, Cecile played a big role in Via Times’ birth and baptism. I cannot forget what she had told me upon consultation when I was giving birth to Via Times, “Add another name, like Herald, Times, Chronicle, etc., with the name VIA that you chose, thus VIA TIMES was it. She predicted the publication’s longevity (now 34 years old) and success in the community.

And, I’ve also witnessed her genius and gift for incredible readings of other people’s lives, telling them about their problems in the past, present and future, and how to solve them. She is a very well-educated person (graduate of Music from St. Scholastica College), well-bred, and came from a good family.

Her son, Eric, texted me the following regarding his Mom’s memorial service…”Mama’s memorial will be on March 18. We hope you can come and say goodbye to our beloved mom. Our mother was full of life and she loved bright colors and prints. We encourage everyone who plans to attend the memorial to honor her by wearing bright colors to celebrate her life.

If you have any pictures, stories or memories you’d like to share, please share them, write a testimonial. Thank you for being a part of our Mom’s life.”

I am honored to be counted and considered by Cecile’s children as a part of their Mom’s life, and I’d like to share with our readers the eulogy for my dear friend Cecile Sevilla for her memorial service…

“I will really miss my dear friend Cecile. I will miss her out-of-this-world words of wisdom that can make anyone feeling better no matter how much or big a burden he/she is carrying. A very sympathetic person, she always knows how to penetrate your inner self to open up, to cry, even to laugh, and leave feeling positive and light-hearted.

An innately intelligent and a highly educated person, Cecile can discuss anything or any topic under the sun. Very articulate and expressive with her communication, she does not mince any words that she utters. She is full of life, she laughs heartily, and never hides her emotions. She’s always a fun person to be with.

Very proud of her precious children and grandchildren whom she loves dearly, she tries to share with them her undivided time and attention whenever and wherever she can, as she is a naturally loving person.

With her friends, she is a true, loyal and dedicated friend. We have been friends for many years and I know that for a fact.

Just like what someone said, there’s always a reason and a season for everything. Cecile and I became good friends because of a reason for our mutual respect and understanding and love for each other, and for a season of life that we’ve enjoyed and savored in enjoying and touching each other’s lives that brought us eternal flame of love.

I will miss you, my dear friend. Your love for all of us will always be felt and warm us wherever you are. May you rest in peace, my dear friend.” ****

As they say, when it rains, it pours, here’s another sad news about a departed friend, Dr. Renaldo Sulit, written by our Columnist Elsie Sy-Niebar. Columnist Maria Girlie Pascual (page 27, GMail) writes about Dr. Sulit who was a close friend of the Pascual family in the Philippines. The Sulit family received the Model Family award from the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame in the early 2000.

Always a fun person to be with, Cecile Sevilla can easily entertain people, whether through her talent in music, reading people’s lives, or articulately expressing herself in any occasion. as she can call a spade, a spade. First photo shows her playing the piano, (2) Being interviewed by CPRTV anchorperson, Maria Girlie Pascual, with Veronica and Joe Mauricio in one of the VT/CPRTV parties she graced.

 

REYNALDO C. SULIT, M.D. April 12, 1936 – February 27, 2017

REYNALDO C. SULIT, MD, 80, was called by the Lord to “Come Home” last February 27, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of 50 years to Dalisay A Sulit MD (nee Alejos); devoted father of Rommel, Reggie, Robert, Rafael (Jennifer), and Madonna (Alex) Rheingans; and proud grandfather of Elena, Katrina, Sienna, and Matthew.

He served as the 27th president of the Philippine Medical Association in Chicago (PMAC) in 1989-1990. Dr. Rey practiced ophthalmology for 35 years in Chicagoland.

For several years, he was the Chief ophthalmologist at Little Company of Mary Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital, with affiliation at the Mercy Hosptial Medical Center and Norwegian American Hospital. He was the medical director of the Alliance Home Healthcare in Lemont, Illinois.

Dr. Sulit had performed charity work in the Philippines for many years as part of the annual Norwegian American Hospital and the PMAC missions, providing medical care to under-served areas of poverty-stricken Philippines.

In Chicagoland, the late Doc Rey Sulit was one of the humblest Filipino American medics who treated eye patients, particularly newcomers and WWII veterans, pro bono. He had a great, charitable heart.

The wake was held on Saturday/Sunday, March 4-5, at the Robert J Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st Street. Orland Park, IL 60462. Funeral mass was held March 6. at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, followed by the interment at Good Shepherd Cemetery, Orland Park. In lieu of flowers, donations to Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, or Poor Clare Monastery were requested by the grieving Family. (By Elsie Sy-Niebar, for Via Times Newsmagazine)## ****

Help us welcome a new addition to the VT family, Attorney Janice Dantes. column on page 26.

Janice Dantes is an attorney focused on serving Chicago’s Filipino community. Her area of focus is family law. She was born at Clark Air Force Base in Angeles City and came to the United States when was 3 years old. Janice is a graduate of the University of Chicago and DePaul University College of Law. Her office is in downtown Chicago. If you would like to speak to her in English or Tagalog with your legal problem, please call (312) 546-5077 to schedule your free consultation.