Beloved Boston

Reymond lived in Boston for three months last 2010. I followed him there for two weeks and those were the best two weeks of our life. We lived like newlyweds and we discovered every part of that city. We fell in love with Boston. In fact, we fell in love all over again there. We swore we would one day go back to bring our girls there. We also dreamed of one day running in the historic Boston Marathon. Impossible to qualify but hey, everyone is free to dream.

This morning, I woke up to the most horrific news. Two bombs exploded as the Boston Marathon was ongoing. How can this tragedy be allowed to happen?!? So senseless, so heart wrenching, so impossibly hard to understand. 

My heart goes out to the people of Boston, the runners, the spectators, the medics and the police who put their own lives at risk and to everyone who is in Boston right now. I pray for your safety and I pray for the survival of those hurt by this terrible, terrible incident.

A special prayer goes out to the family of Martin Richard, the 8-year old boy who died at this event. Martin was running towards his father Bill who was about to finish the race when the bomb went off. His mother is also fighting for her life as she suffered a brain injury while his little sister lost her leg. Martin's father is physically unscathed but this event will forever scar this family. I pray for physical and emotional healing for this family. Please Lord, help this family survive this tragedy. 

We Believe

Reymond's good friend and teammate made this video for him and it was shown during the 9th day of his novena (Please click on title post above).

What a moving tribute to my husband which I will cherish forever.

Thank you, Mel and Liza. Thank you.

Where It Happened

A friend was in Subic yesterday and so I asked her to take a picture of the spot where Reymond collapsed.

I never actually saw it but I always had a vague idea of where it happened. 

I've been meaning to go back to Subic and visit the place. Maybe one day soon I'll gather enough strength to head back. Maybe. 

Month-stone

Yesterday was a month since Reymond passed away. I survived the awful, dreadful day.

Feel bad though that I had to back out of a party a friend of mine threw for her daughters and another friend's birthday dinner. I had no strength to go out and put up a happy face. 

But I feel better today. I hope it gets better as the days go by.

How are you today, Reymond? Getting ready for a long run tom.? The girls finally allowed me to exercise ... in June!!! Funny girls.

In the meantime, I am beginning to get sluggish and lazy. I really hope to get back into shape soon. 

When I thought about you today, I actually smiled. I'm so tired of crying. I hope there will come a point in time when I will always smile and never have to cry when I think of you.

Gone Too Soon ... Again

Yesterday, my old friend Theresa lost her battle with cancer. She was 40 years old. Same age as me. She leaves behind a husband and two young children.

It pains me to see another one die at such a young age. It pains me as well that she left behind a family that will need a lifetime to get over such a devastating loss.

You can't help but question why. Why. The answers may never come. I will forever wonder why.

Dear Theresa, you are no longer in pain. We may have lost you but you will remain an inspiration to those you left behind.

Please watch over us.

If you ever see Reymond, give him a hug and a kiss from me.

Thank You, Rick Reyes and Princess Galura

I had two minor victories (excuse the term -- can't think of a better one) today.

I wrote to two organizations yesterday requesting for a refund of the race registration fee Reymond paid for races he intended to join this year. 

The first is the Subic Internation Triathlon to be held this April 28, 2013. Mr. Rick Reyes of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines wrote me back almost instantly and told me that there would be no problem. In fact, the money will be delivered to me today. My request was acted upon swiftly and without much documents or protocol required.

This first picture on the left is Reymond finishing SUBIT last year. So so proud of him.

The second letter I wrote to is to Ms. Princess Galura of Sunrise Events who will be handling the Ironman 70.3 Race to be held in Mactan, Cebu on August 4, 2013. Not only was her reply faster than Mr. Reyes, she even made the dollar deposit almost simultaneous to her email response. In fact, the money is already in my account. All in less than a day. She also did not require any documents nor was any unnecessary protocol demanded. 

The second picture on the left shows Reymond finishing his second 70.3! His first was in Camsur in 2011 and the second was in Cebu in 2012. I am and will always be in awe of my husband. Reymond will forever be my Strong Ironman!

Thank you again to these two individuals who acted so swiftly considering loss of money is involved in both transactions.  

I mean really, they were very very sensitive to my plight which is more than I can say about the organizers and sponsors of the last race Reymond joined. The way Unilab Activehealth and Bike King handled my situation at Tri United 1 has left much to be desired. I don't want to sound bitter and angry and so I will just stop there. But really, you people should take sensitivity lessons because you really handled that situation poorly.

Bali High

The last date trip Reymond and I took was in Bali, Indonesia last January 2013. 

We love our children so much and we take them everywhere BUT Reymond and I always made sure that we had time for one another. This is the reason we take date trips  at least once a year. I think it's very important for couples to have alone time. I feel it's necessary for a good and healthy marriage.

I was so hesitant to take this particular trip because we were supposed to build our house this year. I'm so glad Reymond persisted (as usual!) and he found a way to convince me to go. He always does!

In this picture, he's looking up to the heavens. He was probably checking out their race routes and accommodations.

What are you up to today?