Their young nephew of 23, the same age as my son, the son of Tina Pacis Quano recently passed away from cancer after a courageous and inspiring albeit a painful battle. So young and still so full of life...but a life cut short. I did not know Miguel personally, nor he of me, but I knew of him and also feel the grief of his loss. I can just imagine the searing and unbearable pain and sadness his family now is feeling especially his Mom and Dad and siblings and for all the Pacis and Quano families. My deepest condolences to the whole family!
And of course, any death in the family of someone I know again brings out the usual rewind of emotions with Kibs own death. That is an inevitable consequence of losing a beloved family member....who also died too young.... and also from cancer. And more so now because this is happening to the Pacis family who were like Kibs 2nd family in Cebu. As I have always mentioned previously, my brother was not a stay-at-home person and always liked to hang-out somewhere with his cousins and friends. And so he spent a lot of time hanging out in the Pacis household in Lahug when he was younger. The Pacis siblings of 2 brothers and 6 sisters were all close to Kiboy and because he was always in their house he became an adopted member of the family. When Kibs died, the Pacis siblings especially the sisters Susan, Grace, Gin, Tina and Emmy all sincerely reached out to Jojing and me and expressed their condolences and also told us heartwarming stories of my brother during their Lahug days. What struck me most was how they all collectively told me and Jojing that they also grieved for the death of a brother...as Kibs was like an adopted brother to them. I was so touched at how much they all cared and loved my brother like their own. During our hour of grief when Kibs passed, the Pacis sisters indeed gave me and Jojing so much comfort with their consoling messages and their loving and good memories of Kibs. And Kiboy all brought us together...Pacis sisters and Murillo sisters. And up to now, every Sunday, their Mom, Tita Franz always places a bouquet of flowers in Kibs grave after she visits her husband's grave. That is how much Kiboy is loved and cherished by the Pacis family. And I am sure the feeling was mutual as Kibs was always happy to be around all of them and I am sure felt a lot of respect, affection and familial love for them. Gin Pacis said it so aptly that "Kiboy all brought us together...and love is never lost". That love evolved into the a sisterhood that became a gift to us from Kiboy. The Pacis sisters were all there for us when Kiboy passed and showed us how much Kibs meant to them....told us funny stories of Kibs and shared good and happy memories of their time with him. What a heartwarming legacy my brother left for us....the connection to a wonderful and kind and loving family as the Pacis family...and the gift of an extended sisterhood.
Now the Pacis family is going through their own time of grief and sorrow with the passing of Miguel. I may not be in Cebu now but I am with them fervently in spirit and thoughts and offering my silent prayers for all of them to find comfort in the abundance of love and affection for Miguel and his short but well lived life in this earth. For a very loving, caring and sharing family like the Pacis family, I am sure they are all now surrounded with a lot of support, comfort, kindness and understanding and abounding love for Miguel's passing. I pray they gain strength and needed comfort from all the prayers and love of people sharing their condolences. May Miguel rest in peace......
