Mom's One-Year Anniversary

[Note: The following modified entry was copied from a recent comment.]

One year later - February 11, 2011. As we say the Rosary in California, our family in Guiuan is having a the traditional Filipino One Year Death Anniversary for mom with 9 days of prayer 3 times per day withd a community gathering around food to pray for Mom's one year death anniversary. We want to thank all our family and friends in Eastern Samar and those come came long distance from other areas for helping to make mom's funeral ceremony happen so beautifully. Thank you mom for bringing us together again and to your homeland. We love you and miss you, Mom.

About the photo above: This image came from this site. It depicts a view of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) from Reykjavik, Iceland, a place that is fondly remembered by the children of Faustino and Conchita Cabcabin.

A Virtual Candle

Why Light A Candle?

Because it's...

...Meaningful,
...Peaceful,
...Contemplative,
...Spiritual,
...Centering,
...Our Mom loved praying by Candlelight,
...All of the Above

Kindly join me in a free virtual Candle Group for Conchita Macapanas Cabcabin. You are welcome to light a candle that means something especially for *you* not necessarily about my Mom. She was a firm believer in the power of prayer, reflection and contemplation. It would honor my Mom if you simply lit a candle in remembrance of someone special or with thoughts of your own.

I've provided a group space that is dedicated to her but you bring whatever meaning you have to the lit candle. I can imagine my Mom smiling at the sight of a bunch of lit candles through the next week! Thanks for considering my request.

Here's how to join:

Just visit this link and click on any candle. Follow the step-by-step directions.

Your candle will stay lit for 48 hours. You may visit it at anytime by clicking on it. Please note that the candle is similar to a real one that slowly burns down. Once it does, you are welcome re-light a new candle in this group.

Again, click here to join the Candle Group: CONCH which is short for Conchita, my Mom's name and Conching, her nickname.

Thank you,
OXOX Edna

BTW...Today is an Extra Special Day: my late father, Faustino C. Cabcabin's birthday! Happy Birthday, Dad! OXOXOX

We'd love to hear from folks!

Hi Everyone,
Your comments, stories, anecdotes—anything honoring our Mom's memory is most welcome!

How to comment:
• Click on the comment link below each post.
• Follow any prompts that you see. It's okay to sign-in as Anonymous.
• If you do sign in as Anonymous, please sign your name with your comments. We'd love to know who you are. ;-)

And if you want to send a digital photograph, please write us at the following addy and we'll inform you on how to send your image: inlovingmemoryofcmc (at) yahoo (dot) com. Thanks!

First Grandchild, Orlando Jr. & Merlinda with Mom

Daughter-in-law, Merlinda and son Orlando JAF share a moment with mom in the park. They had just moved to California from Wahiawa, HI.

In Memoriam: Conchita Macapanas Cabcabin

Our Mom passed away on February 12, 2010 at 10:45 am at St. Paul's Hospital in Tacloban City, Philippines. She was 85-years-old and had finally ended her struggle due to deteriorating health and a host of complications. I was grateful to be at her bedside when she passed away—along with Marjurie her personal nurse and Maribel, her personal helper. They spoke to Mom in the same way she talked: in Tagalog, her dialect, Waray, and in broken English. They were caring and loving toward her as if they, too, were her daughters and for that we are very grateful. We are also very thankful for the many years of care mom received through our Uncle Servando and Auntie Salvacion Arceño and their family.

For one who had a difficult life, Mom was a fighter. She coped with a debilitating mental illness, survived in the streets of Manila when she was lost for a year, lived far away from her children who resided in the USA and lost the ability to walk in her later years. The town of Guiuan where she and my father met and lived, is a small urban center of a primarily agrarian community. It continues to be a remote location in the Philippines (but that will likely change once plans for rebuilding the old military airstrip into a commercial airport are completed). This was Mom's home and this is where she will be buried.

Mom used to draw pictures of nipa huts and palm trees when we were little to show us where she came from. Guiuan and Eastern Samar is a place that needs to be experienced. It is indescribable in its beauty. My Mom and Dad were survivors of the Japanese occupation during World War II and my mother's parents and ancestors were in Balangiga, Philippines the scene of a widely unknown battle between Filipino and American troops. I believe that her ancestral past and Filipino agrarian roots gave her the strength to live through it all.

We dedicate Valentine's Day, February 14, 2010 to our beloved Mom, Conchita Macapanas Cabcabin.

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Written by Diana Cabcabin


Above photo: Mom (at the left) with her beloved elder sister, Salvacion, or Auntie Sacion (on her right). As sisters, they were very close. Some might say they were "joined at the hip." Lots of love to Auntie Sacion! ~E

Mom with her firstborn, Orlando

This photo detail shows our Mom with Orlando Merlin, in Manila, Philippines. Mom had Maria Lourdes eight years later, followed by Edna Concepcîon almost three years after Maria and Diana Macapanas one year after. Edna and Diana were born in the USA.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conchita Macapanas Cabcabin is survived by her four children: Orlando Merlin Cabcabin, Maria Lourdes Cabcabin Morales, Edna Concepcion Cabcabin Moran and Diana Macapanas Cabcabin; one daughter-in-law: Merlinda Campbell Cabcabin; two sons-in-law: Richard Andres Morales, Mark Bernard Moran; eight grandchildren: Orlando Juan Agitone Faustino Cabcabin, Christopher Roland Cabcabin, Nickolaus Jonathan Cabcabin; Richard Andre Morales, Jr., Samantha Joy Morales, Brandon Alexander Cain Morales; Kailani Conchita Moran, Luke Keali'ipono Moran; two granddaughters-in-law: Diana Morales, MaryGrace Farrales Cabcabin; and two great-grandsons: Dominic Morales and Cassius Cabcabin.