It is not every day that film, television and stage artist Frank G. Rivera—a Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and a native of Paete, Laguna—encounters miracles in and out of show business.
Or better still, Frank G. Rivera has always been face-to-face with incredible occurrences in life.
The latest was when Myra, the sister of his friend and fellow artist Jun Laurel, was pronounced dead by her doctors at the Philippine General Hospital.
The medical professionals declared Myrna—who was sick of leukemia—dead because her life support had seen flat lines.
Jun was already sad, almost sobbing and resigned about the finality of life of his sister.
He informed Frank about it and he, too, was teary-eyed.
According to Rivera, Jun quickly went to the hospital to help his kin in bringing Myra for her wake in Laguna.
They already called on their relatives and friends about the death of Myra.
“’I couldn’t sleep the whole night. I was touched by the messages of sympathy pouring in my cellphone from friends. I realized there are many people who care for us. Before the break of dawn while I was writing poems for the birthdays of my friends, Jun went home. I thought Myra was already sent to a funeral parlor in Laguna.
"’She’s still at PGH," Frank echoed Jun. "Myra was about to be sent to the morgue when her pulse regained and she opened her eyes. We were all shocked, the doctors, the nurses. All the needles were reinserted on her and everyone was surprised that Myra was responding to the medicine. The doctors said she was stable so I went home…
“Miracles do happen,” added Frank echoing Jun whose tears were flowing down his cheeks.
“Prayers are indeed powerful. Jun and I are longtime Marian devotees (we pray the rosary every day), Mother of Perpetual Help and the Divine Mercy. Lately, we begged miracles from Padre Pio, St. Anthony and St. Jude Thadeus. And it worked. Every day, there are miracles happening. Totoong MAYROONG HIMALA (MIRACLES DO HAPPEN)…,” said Frank.
“We will continue to pray. Myra’s treatment has been long already. Thanks for all the concerns,” he added.
But the end was inevitable.
Jun, Frank said, was the one apologetic. “’Ayaw kitang abalahin kagabi. Hindi na kita sinabihan. May trabaho ka. Pero kahapon pag-alis mo, tuluyan nang yumao si Myra. Pinatikim lamang pala tayo ng HIMALA. Nag-flatline uli at 'yun tuloy-tuloy. Kagabi kinuha na ang punerarya. Hinintay lang kita ngayon. Cremation niya kanina. Unang gabi ng burol ngayon. Dapat naroon ako (I didn’t want to bother you. I didn’t tell you immediately. You have work. But yesterday when you left for Cabanatuan City, Myra finally bid adieu. We were only teased by a MIRACLE. Her life support showed flatlines and that’s it. She was claimed by a funeral parlor last night. I waited for you today. She was cremated a while ago. Tonight is the first night of her wake. I should be there’," Frank echoed Jun’s statements.
Rivera said Jun managed a sad smile. He said that it might be okay already because my sister won’t suffer anymore. He said he pities his nieces and nephews who lost a mother and spent so much money.
Myra’s cremains are inurned at the Forest Lake Memorial Park in Binan City.
What a sad, sad day it is…
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews