THROUGH UNTRUE

Today, there are likely hundreds of people grieving the passing of Lourdes Bautista, affectionately known as Ma'am Nena. She passed away at the age of 99 years and 11 months last Thursday. The fact that she did not reach 100 reminds us that nobody is perfect.

During her prime, Ma'am Nena was a prominent professor, campus minister, and spiritual counselor at the University of Santo Tomas. She held leadership positions in numerous Cursillos and prayer groups, served as a dedicated catechist in many public schools, and was a highly sought-after speaker in local and international seminars, retreats, and recollections. In addition, she authored exceptional books and articles on Christian life and the joys and challenges of motherhood.

Her biography is filled with achievements, success stories, and honors. Nevertheless, I believe she regarded her family as the greatest treasure that no achievement or award could surpass. She had a huge family with 12 children, 27 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved deeply. Her love for them was complemented by a profound reverence for their individuality, which is why her children grew with unique personalities. She respected them so much that she avoided shaping them in her own image.

When asked how she raised her children, she replied: “On my knees.” Beyond dedication and hard work, Ma'am Nena credited her success as a wife and mother to her commitment to prayer. Prayer allowed her to accomplish tasks, which seemed impossible to some. She believed that prayer is not something we do for God. Rather, when we pray, we allow God to do great things for us. If we view prayer the way she did, we shall cease to consider it as an obligation.

She perfectly embodied Jesus's description of a genuine Christian: "salt of the earth and light of the world." Like light, she served as an illuminating and enlightening presence in a world often shrouded in the darkness of ignorance and sin. Like salt, she exuded a humble and sometimes imperceptible presence, adding flavor to the lives of all those she encountered. Ma'am Nena's presence never intimidated anyone because she drew strength from her vulnerability. Like St. Paul, she was firmly convinced that God's power is most evident in our weakness. 

No matter how long Ma'am Nena lived, she eventually reached the limit of her life's journey. We, too, must recognize that our life has an end, otherwise we might continually postpone the crucial decisions we need to make. Death sets a boundary to our possibilities, compelling us to make the most of our time. Death serves as a constant reminder that every moment is unrepeatable; every moment could be our last.

Ma'am Nena understood this truth. No unfulfilled aspirations marred her life because she invested her heart and soul into every endeavor. She derived joy from life's modest pleasures, like savoring a delicious meal. I recall an occasion when she took the lead in saying grace before lunch. She said: "Lord, you've taken away many things as I age, but not my appetite for food. For this, I am deeply grateful." Her sense of gratitude made her focus on every little blessing that she had, not her deficiencies. 

During her last days, Ma'am Nena bravely faced the challenges of old age and sickness, finally embracing death with quiet resignation. She epitomized W. H. Auden's words: "Life is the destiny we are bound to deny until we have consented to die." She refused to hang on to life at all cost because, she believed that in death, life is changed, not ended. 

I will fondly remember Ma'am Nena as someone who loved others more than she was loved. May she rest in peace, and may God's perpetual light shine upon her. Amen.