  AJ's Message of Thanks at our dad's funeral mass Unedited Words are not enough to express how much we were overwhelmed with the overflowing love and sympathy our friends are relatives have shown us during our time of suffering and grief. When my dad was hospitalized last July 12 at the Chinese General Hospital, he was found to have so many illnesses. It was a shock to us to find out the so many complications he had, despite the weekly check-ups. We only knew he had stroke several times in the past 7 years. For each of the five strokes that he had, he was so blessed not to have any permanent physical damage. But his last hospitalization seemed to tell us that daddy’s end of earthly life is coming to an end. We thank God for the opportunity that we were able to have family bonding when daddy was in the hospital and when he spent more than one week at home. I would always say, there was never a dull moment, as you know, Daddy’s a born comedian, despite of his sufferings he would always make us laugh. Whenever he feels pain, he would always request us to pray for he believes that only the Lord can take away all his pains.
He would even request us to sing for him his favorite song Amazing Grace hoping that somehow he could forget his ordeal by pondering on the words of the song. We had so many visitors at the hospital and at home for the past three weeks, and that made my dad very happy and hopeful that he could overcome these trials. There was a tremendous number of people who went to his wake for the past three nights. Love was overflowing; Masses and Prayer Services were endless.
These made us feel that we will easily overcome our grief over the loss of Daddy. We would like to thank all the priests who visited my dad in the hospital and at home, Dad was anointed and given the Last Sacrament at least 7 times! The priests who came over to the house during the wake to celebrate Mass and give him funeral blessings, and the priests who gave us comforting words even if they were not able to come to visit.
To the Pascuals in the United States and Quezon City, thank you for your support and prayers. To the Encarnacion family who was with us all the way and helped us through our ordeals. To Ipe and Abet who helped us take care of daddy To my dad’s doctors, thank you for doing all the best you can to save dad’s life.
To all the parish organizations, our friends in the religious orders To my dad’s colleagues at the NSO and Sacred Heart Memorial Corporation To our colleagues in the Asian Development Bank, PhilHealth, Meycauayan Rural Bank To our neighbors, friends, and to everyone…. Thank you for joining us in our thanksgiving to God the Almighty Father for giving Daddy to us. I am sure. in one way or another, Daddy, Pepot, Mang Joe, Bro. Joe, Pareng Joe, has touched your lives. Truly my dad’s life was an Amazing Grace from God. 
