Wonderful Sam

Ian Alfredo Magno

IN the natural course of life, it is the younger generation which buries the old who crossover to the other dimension of existence, after death. In that respect, every death is unsurprisingly hurting to the loved ones left to mourn behind.  Nonetheless, such pain is not as immense as when this natural order of things is, at times, unexpectedly reversed – such as when a younger member of the family, say a child or a grandchild, suddenly goes ahead – so to speak.

Such is the unfathomable throbbing Sam’s parents are feeling as of press time.  Samantha Elizabeth Lim Magno or “Samsam,” “Ate Samsam,” “Sam” or “Yang-yang” was born the only child to parents Rae Mabel (Mabing) and John Frederick (Jomags) in Davao City on April 21, 2005.  At the early age of 12, Sam passed away in her sleep at exactly 8:00 in the morning on Dec. 3, 2017, leaving behind her close buddies, cousins Ate Angel and Gabbie; JLo, Boyboy, Daniel, Leila, JC and CJ.

Hence, this issue is dedicated as a glimpse of Sam’s memoir of wonderful moments in her very animated life.

I could perfectly recall last summer when Sam, while having a vacation in Cagayan de Oro, and my daughter Gabbie (both of the same age) and I had dinner in one of the newly opened restos. We had this waiting game; waiting who would first take a sip and when one does, we would suddenly make funny sounds to make gulping comically difficult, just for the heck of it.  Sam seemed to have forgotten about the arrangement, when she took an unsuspecting gulp.  Gabbie suddenly surprised her with a frantically loud funny sound, which blasted the mouthful of fresh fruit juice out of Sam’s nostrils while the latter was at the same time laughing her heart’s out at that.  Looking back, moments such as that are priceless.

As a student of Ateneo de Davao since nursery years, Sam is a consistent 1st honor Atenean; the president of her class; a taekwondo jin, basketball player, a guitar enthusiast, a football athlete.  Talented indeed.  Comparably, Sam is way taller and bigger than most of her contemporaries.  Amusingly, there was a time when her football team won, with the opposing team scoring none while Sam’s team scored several goals – all of which courtesy of Sam.  Obviously, she is physically stronger than most of her classmates.  Effortlessly, such size and strength makes her an effective President of her class.  For instance, right after break time at school, when Sam rings the bell in her hands, her classmates gets inside in a jiffy, perhaps not wanting to test her patience.

Beneath that strong and intelligent exterior, however, is a child like any other.  Helpful, Sam is admired by many.  Her class presidency in the second consecutive year did not result from a competitive election, but via a unanimous consensus by the class.  Sam is a hardworking leader who enthusiastically takes her role to heart.  It was lunchtime when her dad Jomags, who usually fetch her at school, waited outside way longer and very late than usual.  When Sam came, Jomags asked what took her so long which made her miss her lunch.  She informed her dad that she volunteered to tutor one classmate who was having a difficulty understanding their lesson in mathematics.  Thus, the class’ unanimous consensus to retain Sam as President – from the previous year up to the 6th grade – came as a welcome development for her teachers alike.  Observably, exacting discipline made it easier for the teachers with Sam as President, who inspires respect and obedience from her peers.

The pain of losing a child is something one could only imagine, at the most.  Verily, it is the grieving parents – them and them alone – who personally know about the depth and intensity of such sorrow.

From a historical perspective, there seems to be no better patron who understands such pain than Mother Mary, who at the time was an average parent like any other; who not only lost her Son (who was still vibrant in His prime) to an untimely death – but in the most brutal and torturous method, which She witnessed before Her very own eyes.

Apart from conceding to Angel Gabriel’s annunciation, it was Mary’s endurance and acceptance of her Son’s exceedingly revolting-to-the-senses and painful death that made Her divine.  This truth is hoped to inspire in parents Jomags and Mabing that sense of courage, that sense of determination to quietly move forward, and that sense of fortitude experienced by this gentle person, Mama Mary who surrendered everything to Life itself – that perhaps it is also time to surrender to Life itself, with a gentle resolve, all the what if’s and possibilities which revolve around Sam’s wonderful life; for this greater Life itself knows whether Sam completed her purpose and served it well – and in all of Sam’s friends, classmates, teachers, cousins, Lolo Fred and Wawa Neneng, Manay, Tito Dodo, Mommy Karen, and loved ones who share this moment of truth.

We love you Ate Samsam, my beloved niece. Your youthful example taught us how vibrant life could be.  How swiftly you accomplished your life mission, manifests the achiever you genuinely are. You are indeed an angel by now. Keep watching over us as we keep praying for you too. The strength of prayer and this angelic bond we have with and in you shall never keep us apart. As you stay in Mama Mary’s loving embrace, however, allow us to grieve in this moment.  Do not worry.  This too shall pass.

(Ian Alfredo T. Magno is a practicing lawyer and a deputy legal officer at Philhealth based in Cagayan de Oro. E-mail: ianalfredom@gmail.com.)