Maan Mari, Bless Her Young Soul

Posted on February 9, 2007
Filed Under Faith and Spirituality, Health and Beauty, Parenting and Family, Poetry | Viewed 1924 times

Yesterday when I fetched Angela (2nd yr high school) and Pauline (1st yr hs) at Miriam College, I got the chance to watch the last 30 minutes of their Teachers’ Day Celebration. I was enjoying the cheering and laughter, when at the end of the program, one of the teachers asked everyone to pause for a 1-minute prayer for the repose of the soul of Maan Mari, 2nd yr hs student, who died early Thursday morning.

There was deafening silence, while I watched the students standing still, some quietly crying, hugging, and consoling each other. I was wondering what was in their young hearts at that very moment.

There was little that I learned from my 2 girls who did not know Maan personally. Maan came to school the day before (Weddnesday), not feeling well later in the day. As most teenagers would, or many of us adults for that matter, she opted not to go to the infirmary. Thurssday morning, she was even getting ready for school. When the school bus came, she has already been brought to to hospital, and collapsed there. Apparently, she died of aneurism.

School came to know of her death that morning, and news spread so fast among the students. Copies of Maan’s “Last Will and Testament”, which was written sometime late in 2006 was circulated among the students. It was a project in Christian Living for the sophomore classes handled by one of the CL teachers. Daughter Angela has written one also. They are being kept by their CL teacher.

I eulogize Maan’s “Last Will and Testament” (note: I cannot post it here, because I believe it is her parents who have the right to bring it in public):

you wanted to die on the 1st or 8th, your favorite numbers
you wanted to be cremated
your ashes scattered by the Atlantic Ocean
your guitar thrown out to sea
your personal belongings to be left with family
you wanted yellow, pink and orange roses in your wake
you wanted your farewell to be a happy one
and family members and friends not to cry

Maan died not on the 9th of February. It may be coincidence, but when the students entered the chapel to pray for her when they learned of her death, comforting yellow, pink and orange roses welcomed them. Her friends were sad, they cried, the whole high school community was sad, most students who did not even know her cried.

This must be very difficult for Maan’s parents, siblings (if she has), friends, and school mates. Reminds me of Noemi’s slow recovery from the death of her dear 6-year old Luijoe a few years ago. It must even be more difficult to follow her wishes, written in that CL project. It must have been difficult to write, particularly for young ones who have not experienced loss in their lives. I wonder, what was in Maan’s thoughts when she wrote her “Last Will and Testament”. Was she serious? Did she have an inkling that death would come very soon? Again, reminds me of Annamanila’s post “Of Living Wills and the Will to Die”. Maan’s story is a lesson in life, death comes like a thief in the night, they say.

When we went home, I was amazed. The chat rooms, blogging, friendster, multiply, my space, and all other social networks, including phones and texting, came alive. I sat with my 2 daughters, them teary eyed, I myself teary eyed, in front of the laptop reading testimonials of Maan. As the internet has affected the lives of many, in the same way as blogging has become a support system among bloggers, the social networks (friendster, multiply, YM, etc.) have become a support mechanism among youngsters, and not only a past time.
Maan Mari, bless her young soul. May family and friends take comfort that she is now in heaven, smiling, at peace, among the company of angels and welcomed by the Heavenly Father.

Comments

22 Responses to “Maan Mari, Bless Her Young Soul”

nao on February 9th, 2007 10:35 am

Tumayo ang balahibo ko. That’s very sad.. condolence to her loved ones.
noemi on February 9th, 2007 11:17 am

How tragic! A death of a child is never easy. I can only pray the parents find a way to heal their pain.
Gina on February 9th, 2007 11:40 am

How sad. I pray that her bereaved family will find healing & comfort…....
sasha on February 9th, 2007 12:14 pm

I am crying as I’m typing this comment. My brother died 8 yrs ago, he was 15 that time. He complained of abdominal pains and was brought to the hospital to get checked. We were shocked to know that he’s got 3rd stage leukemia. He lasted 6 months. His classmates were there when hours before he breathed his last. It’s still a bit painful when I get to reminisce those last hours of his life.

I’ve got a classmate in 2nd yr hs who died of aneurysm as well. His name was Marlon and I know the pain Maan’s friends are experiencing right now. Same with her family.

I do wish she’s in the arms of our Creator now.
Kyels on February 9th, 2007 12:14 pm

That is very, very sad.

God, please bless her soul and may Maan rest in peace.
sasha on February 9th, 2007 12:15 pm

I’m sorry, Dine. What I meant to say is… I’m sure Maan is in the arms of our Creator now.
Sexy Mom on February 9th, 2007 12:36 pm

dear friends, writing the post was not easy for me, i still cry every time we talk about it. i do not even know Maan, but she is like any of our kids. but we cannot question, we can only take comfort in each other.
dimaks on February 9th, 2007 6:41 pm

From HIM we came from, to HIM we shall return.. I pray for her eternal rest and happiness.
Leah on February 10th, 2007 12:23 am

I also lost a friend thru aneurysm. It is very sad to hear. Death indeed is a thief in the night. You just dont know when it will come.

Prayers here.

And here’s my post regarding my friend. http://leahmumfordlang.blogspot.com/2006/10/ode-to-lala.html
Belle on February 10th, 2007 8:50 am

she was so young! must be hard on the parents and siblings. may God Bless her soul.
Prab on February 11th, 2007 4:54 am

I feel for her parents and the people who love her dearly. It’s just really sad when people lose their loved ones at an early age. I can only imagine the grief that everyone’s feeling.
Maki on February 11th, 2007 10:34 am

I also felt sad about the news. I knew it while chatting to my cousin then here… My cousin who is also currently a sophomore at MC (which was my HS too) was a close friend to Maan. I feel sad for her parents.
rhodora on February 12th, 2007 10:40 am

Oh, Dine.. you made me cry with this post.. After the traumatic weekend I had with my daughter having panic attack, this entry hit me so hard.
Sexy Mom on February 12th, 2007 11:27 am

Rhodora, hope all is well with your daughter. let’s share about panic attacks. you know at what time one of my daughters has it? every time she gets meds through intravenous injections! we had to patiently explain it to the surgeon before she had the appendectomy, or to the ER doctors in case there is a need to it. the surgeon said it could be avoided, he patiently talked with her about it, psyching her.

you and your daughter has to find out what causes these panic attacks, so that you could avoid it. God bless you and your daughter.
Sexy Mom on February 12th, 2007 11:29 am

Maki, Prab, Dimaks and Belle – i feel sad not only for her parents, but for her friends as well.
Sexy Mom on February 12th, 2007 11:31 am

Leah – that’s a touching post you had for your dear friend. thanks for sharing.
Rach on February 14th, 2007 9:03 am

I’m sorry to hear about Maan. It’s so sad when someone so young leave us early. May she rest in peace.

My husband is out today to bring his mom to the hospital for some tests. The doctor has earlier diagnosed her with some form of aneurism. I truly hope that the test will reflect her true condition so that proper medicines can be given for her quick recovery.
niceheart on February 14th, 2007 10:53 am

I’m sorry to hear about this. I’m sure that your family is shaken by this tragedy even if you don’t know Maan personally.
monique on February 15th, 2007 11:37 pm

this is so very sad. I cannot even put into words how i feel. no words can ever describe the pain people go through when loved ones leave us without warning. Maan is so young. This one really hit me hard. All we can offer are our prayers and I know that one as young as her is really in heaven. This is how we console ourselves and the loved ones she left behind, by telling them and ourselves that she is in heaven. But the pain remains. And it will stay for a really long time.

how do we deal with this kind of pain?
Sexy Mom on February 16th, 2007 8:54 am

oh, Rach, hope your mother-in-law recovers soon. will pray for her.

niceheart and monique – i heard that her parents are flying to US to fulfill her wishes of scattering her ashes in the ocean.

ones as your are her are surely angels, that much consolation to her parents and friends, though the pain remains.
2-8 on February 21st, 2007 2:58 pm

um maan died on feb.8,2007 not on the 9th.
Sexy Mom on February 21st, 2007 3:04 pm

thanks 2-8 mom, i have corrected the date.