HOPE HAS WINGS

These are series of photos taken during the inauguration of the INA Healing Center last December 16, 2006, in commemoration of KC de Venecia’s second anniversary with our Lord.

The first photo showed KC’s parents, former Speaker Joe de Venecia and Mrs. Gina de Venecia, with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a souvenir shot beside Manay Gina’s painting of the ‘Madonna and Child’ at the Center’s lobby. Manay Gina, did the painting six months before the inauguration, she chose the portrait out of her numerous paintings because it symbolizes her deep affection for her daughter KC. In fact, the INA Healing Center was established as a direct result of her painful effort to recover from the loss of her dearest KC, three years ago. You will observe that in her painting, a butterfly which is predominantly black and yellow in color, is on the Madonna’s right shoulder.

The second photo shows former Speaker JDV during the commemorative mass for his daughter KC. On his right shoulder is a yellow and black butterfly similar to the butterfly on Manay Gina’s painting. The former Speaker and the butterfly also assume an almost identical position as the Madonna and the butterfly. What’s more dramatic is the fact that the butterfly on the painting reflects exactly the same color in the butterfly design on the blouse of KC’s lola, Mama Nene Vera Perez. Apparently, this mysterious butterfly found its way to JDV, when the members of INA Foundation had flown a swarm of butterflies in an earlier ribbon-cutting ceremony. Contrary to its restless nature, this particular butterfly clung tenaciously at the JDV’s shoulder during the entire three-hour affair, despite the strong electric fans and the numerous people who approached the former Speaker.

The third photo shows ghost whisperer Bernie Nepomuceno, a protégé of Father Jaime Bulatao. She claimed that KC, whom she had never seen before, appeared to her in a dream and admonished her to attend the inauguration. In Bernie’s dream, KC convinced her to wear a caftan blouse, which she has not worn for two years. KC said that she would manifest herself as a yellow and black butterfly similar to the color and pattern of Bernie’s blouse. When Bernie saw the butterfly on the Speaker’s shoulder, she instantly recognized it as KC because it reflected the pattern and color of her blouse, as KC had exactly described in her dream. Bernie related her story to KC’s parents and even playfully posed with the former Speaker, mimicking the butterfly settled on his shoulder.

Do souls make an effort to manifest themselves to their loved ones, especially when they had no chance for a last embrace, a final goodbye? Could it be that KC manifested herself as a butterfly and contacted the gifted Bernie to relate this story, to reassure her mom and dad, and the other mothers who lost their beloved children that she and the other kids who have passed on are still very much present in our lives? One thing certain though is that love indeed transcends all boundaries—be it time and space. To see is to believe.

The Miracle of the Shoes

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy. The untimely loss of a child is extremely difficult as it swiftly hits us at the very core of our hearts.

How are we supposed to deal with the agonizing pain of losing a cherished daughter? For Joe and I, one way of dealing with the unbearable ordeal is through prayers.

Since the day we lost our 16-year old daughter KC, I have turned to the Pink Sisters for comfort and enlightenment.

The Pink Sisters are remarkable prayer warriors. Tucked in seclusion in New Manila, the Pink Sisters are ready to offer their convent as a sanctuary for those seeking inner peace.

Former President Cory and I have found the Pink Sisters’ Mother Prioress Mary Hermenegildes an amiable and strong soul. And in my hour of grief, I thought of her to help me pray for my dearest daughter everyday, until the 40th day of her passing.

Unknown to me, the Mother Prioress even before my request, had already asked one of the nuns in the congregation, Sister Maria Incarnita, to offer special prayers for KC.

When asked by the Mother Prioress, the young Sister Incarnita informed her that she had already started offering prayers for KC, even before the request was made. She didn’t inform the Mother Prioress though that in her prayers, she infused a personal request------she asked for a sign from the Lord that would confirm KC is already in God’s bosom.

Apparently, the young nun had asked the Lord for a new pair of shoes. Her only pair was tattered and needed to be replaced.

On January 25, 2005, we attended a special mass at the Pink Sisters’ chapel, to commemorate the 40th day of KC’s demise. It was the Pink Sisters final day of prayers for KC.

That day passed uneventful for Sister Incarnita. The sign that she had prayed for was nowhere in sight, until the Mother Prioress called her into her office as she had something for Sister Incarnita.

As Sister Incarnita stood in the Mother Prioress’ room, in the pale glow of the convent light, she saw before her a gleaming new pair of shoes!

The shoes were a gift that was originally intended for Sister Mary Hermenegildes. But the pair didn’t fit her because it was a size six. So, the Mother Prioress decided to give it to Sister Incarnita because they were perfect for her size 6 feet.

“Mother, Mother Prioress,” cried Sister Incarnita. “You don’t know it, but this is the sign I have been praying for from the Lord that KC is all right and is in good hands!”

Significantly, the shoes came to the convent on the eve of January 25, the eve of KC’s 40th day----the day which, for the faithful, marks the ascension of the soul to the heaven.

The Mother Prioress didn’t know that Sister Incarnita needed shoes. She didn’t know either that Sister Incarnita had asked for a sign from the Heaven, in the form of a new pair of shoes. Now, was this pair of shoes perhaps intended all along for Sister Incarnita in the roundabout wisdom of the Almighty?

I believe so. And this “miracle of the shoes,” which is how Joe fondly called this story, now tells me that KC, though gone from us, has found her way to God, in the midst of the Angels and the Saints.

This is a story of hope in the midst of a profoundly personal heartbreak to renew and reinforce our faith. More importantly, the ‘miracle of the shoes’ reminds us that God’s perpetual love is the ultimate source of all-pervading comfort.

Ina Foundation Inc.

The INA Foundation does not have an easy beginning. However, its gift of optimism to grieving mothers is consolation enough for Mrs. Gina de Venecia, who has learned that even the deepest grief can be transformed into miracles of hope.

In March 15, two months after KC de Venecia’s demise, her mom Gina met with mothers like her who also lost a child in a tragedy, led by radio-TV personality Ali Sotto whose son Miko died in an accidental fall from his condo unit.

“Ali and I felt the need to unite with other mothers who have been deeply wounded by the untimely death of their children,” Gina says. “We find solace in knowing that the other really knows our pain. We want to counsel and be counseled because in this symbiotic relationship, the providers of hope are strengthened in return. “

The first gathering of bereaved mothers enthused the members to share their life testimonies, narrating their challenges and struggles through the difficult period of their mourning. Learning from their brave testimonials, they were encouraged to form a foundation that could serve as a vehicle to help other mothers who are hopeful to rebuild their lives.

Channeling their experiences to create a humanitarian synergy, they were motivated to answer the fervent calling of providing a venue towards the emotional healing of mothers, who have been deeply wounded by the untimely death of their children.

Through the INA Foundation, ‘orphaned’ mothers can transform their traumatic experiences into something affirmative, and in the process, help the other bereaved mothers move on, from a place of grief to a place of hope.

Mrs. de Venecia said that losing a child is the most numbing grief that could happen to any mother. “We have to face the fact that this could happen to anyone because our country is prone to calamity and natural tragedy”.

“In the country’s matriarchal society, the mother is the center of the family. A mother’s morale cannot be disrupted by the devastating loss of a loved one. That’s why it’s important to have a support group for mothers. At present, there is no organization that supports mothers when they lose a child. INA Foundation will answer that need,” explains Gina.

The Foundation will assist the DSWD and local government units to train the barangay health workers to serve as grief counselors in times of disaster. The foundation is also putting up satellite centers in other areas to help the grieving mothers in the provinces.

The INA Foundation’s incorporators are: Gina de Venecia, President and Chairperson; Aloha Sotto, Vice President; Catherine Guballa, Secretary; Roselia Lagdameo, Treasurer; and Lorna Kapunan, Dolores Liwanag, Precy Meneses, Ting Manalac, Irma Santiago, Asuncion Yu, Baby Tiaoqui and Menchie Abalos as Trustees.

The foundation can be reached either by phone (951-7102 or 951- 5288) or e-mail (inafoundation@hotmail.com). Its address is INA Healing Center, DSWD Compound, Batasan Hills, Quezon City