January 22, 2010 Dearest Myla and Ira, I wrote this article a few weeks after my dearest cousin Cora passed on as requested by your Tita Lory for inclusion in the journal that she was preparing in November 2007, entitled "How I Remember Cora." I have also sent it to Myla a few months ago but I wanted to share it with other relatives and friends "In Loving Memory of Corazon Bautista Abinales." Please allow me to thank you very much for creating this wonderful and loving tribute to your beloved Mom and my beloved cousin. She is truly, sorely missed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How I Remember Cora Cora and I were first cousins on the mother side. We grew up together in Project 4, Quezon City, from when we were about 10-11 years old and became very close starting our teen years. I remember sleeping over at their house on either Friday or Saturday evenings – after spending hours and hours chatting about anything under the sun. We would wake up at 11 a.m. or noontime and then spend the rest of the day either helping in Tia Elena’s “sari-sari” store next to their house or playing the piano. Her masterpiece was “Love and Devotion” which she learned and then taught me without any music notes. Coz Cora was stunningly beautiful – tall, with long hair and dimples. She had many suitors. The word “dating” back in our days meant going out with boys to go to church, eat in a restaurant, watch a movie or go to parties. All this had to be done with a chaperone; otherwise, we would not be allowed to go out. So, if Cora and I had to go out separately on a “date,” she would tell Tia Elena, her Mom, that she was chaperoning me and if it was my turn, I would tell my Mom that I was chaperoning Cora. But whenever we had to go out together, we would always have so much fun. I remember the first time when we tried smoking cigarettes – to be sort of “high society-like” during our days -- we coughed so hard and that was the end of it! I left the Philippines in May 1969 for Saigon, Vietnam and came to New York City in July 1973. Cora, Rudy and Myla -- who was just a toddler then -- and other cousins were at my sister Ating Baby’s apartment in Elmhurst to welcome me when I arrived that hot summer day. Starting then, we would see each other occasionally at family picnics, weddings, anniversaries and other events. However, it was also kind of difficult to keep track of Cora and her family as they changed residences a few times in New Jersey. I was so heart broken when I learned about her being seriously ill last June. I spoke to her on the phone and tried not to cry but in the end, I couldn’t hold it any longer and broke down. She was the one who consoled me, saying “I will be alright.” And she did look fine when my sisters, Ating Baby and Ine, and I visited her on June 21st and 22nd in Egg Harbor. She was in good spirits and had a good appetite. We exchanged e-mails and spoke on the phone many times since then, always talking about her being at peace, her strong faith and trust in God – nothing was ever mentioned about her being in pain or even bitter. But when we saw her again on October 7th, my heart just sank. She greeted me by saying “Iba na ang itsura ko, no?” to which I responded “No, maganda ka pa rin.” I had the chance to kiss her, hug her and talk to her for quite a while. After a few moments of hugging and kissing her, I smelled a very nice scent on her face (not perfume) that was not there before. At that point in time, I was sure that should she be taken by God from us, she would be with Him in heaven. How do I remember Cora? I quote here the message with the flowers I sent her when she moved to Myla’s house: “Thinking of you always as my beautiful, long-haired, be-dimpled, tall, smart, funny cousin I grew up with in Project 4. You are my inspiration of faith, courage and love.” The last time I spoke to her on the phone, which was about a week before she passed on, I repeated that same message to her and told her that that would be the way I would always think of her. And as always, whenever we spoke on the phone, she would start by saying “How’s my favorite cousin?” and ending our conversation with “I love you.” I loved her, too, and she is sorely missed. But knowing that she is now with God and free from any dreadful illness gives me comfort and solace. So, to my beloved cousin Cora on her 40th day on December 4, 2007: “May the choirs of angels come to greet you May they speed you to paradise May the Lord enfold you in His mercy May you find eternal life…” Cely Nunez Galang-Ricafrente November 26, 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am sharing some photos: taken in July 1973 on my arrival in NYC; a group picture taken in Troy, NY with Kuya Eddie's family; with Lory and my sisters Baby & Ine at Showboat and in Egg Harbor in June 2007 and a picture with my Mom (it was taken at Luring's wedding anniversary many years ago).