Deborah hopes to see her daughter out of prison

Happy Easter to everyone!

It’s the Monday after Easter and we face life with tons of hope, vigor, enthusiasm and love. In the past few weeks, we were whipped by events that blew our mortal minds. And then, we turn to God for the things our mind cannot fathom – floating houses in the Pacific Ocean, gigantic ship floating in a highway, unbearable voices of pain and suffering. Then hope springs eternal.

One story of hope is that of Deborah Sun who is fervently praying that she will see her eldest child Gelanie freed from prison. Deborah had Gelanie when she was barely out of her teens. “I was 15 when I gave birth to Gelanie. My parents brought her up as their daughter and not as their granddaughter.”

Deborah, who was then one of showbiz’s most fascinating newcomers, denied that Gelanie was her child. “When Gelanie was asked who her mother was, Babe Porcuna, my mom, or Deborah Sun, she would say, ‘Si Babe,’ and then she would cry. Hanggang nakalakihan at nalaman niya na ako ang nanay niya. Noong una dahil bata pa okay lang. But before I left for the US, I started to feel guilty that I denied Gelanie that she is my daughter.”

Then Deborah lived a life in chaos that included run-ins with the law for drugs. In the US, controversies continued to hound her. As an actress, she is best remembered as the alalay in Joey Gosiengfiao’s iconic movie Temptation Island.

Since Gelanie grew up with her grandparents, there was a certain distance between her and Deborah who is now trying to bridge that distance.

“While I was in the US, Gelanie and I were already communicating with each other. While she is behind bars, ngayon ko naibubuhos ang pagiging nanay ko sa kanya. I’m trying to make up for lost time. Once, when I visited her, she hugged me. I said, ‘Ay, himala, yumakap ka. First time ’yon nangyari mula ng ipinanganak kita.’ Biglaw bumitaw. Then, she said, ‘Ay, naiiyak ka.’”

Deborah is supporting her family. “I always think kaya ko. Nilalakasan ko na lang loob ko. But sometimes I lost hope and I even think of committing suicide. But then if I do that, who will take care of my family, paano naman ng mga anak ko.”

Deborah has two other children aside from Gelanie, Jam and Gemmalyn.

“I love my children very much. Napakasakit na nandiyan sya sa loob. I’d rather see myself than her inside.”

Deborah is hoping that the movie industry that once gave her a name will welcome her again.

“Sana magkaroon ako ng trabaho. Ako lang ang inaasahan ng pamilya ko.”

Holy Week reflections

Holy Week is one of the best times to assess our lives, our purpose. We asked some friends about their thoughts on Semana Santa. Here are some of them:

• Laarni Lozada — “I learned that through abstinence, fasting and penance we are able to join in the sufferings of Christ. It is when we say no to ourselves and through selflessness that we gain a closer relationship with God.”

• GB Sampedro — “The Holy Week is a reminder of God’s unconditional love for all of us. It is also a time to reflect.”

• Candy Pangilinan — “There are so many deaths and disasters happening that made me realize truly life is short. We own not our lives. We are just transients.”

• Drew Arellano — “I learned that spending the Holy Week with loved ones is what makes me totally happy. I am not very religious, I don’t do Visita Iglesia so I just take this opportunity to reflect, appreciate the love I get from others most especially my family.”

• Kuh Ledesma — “Jesus Christ gave himself as ransom for our sins so that we may have an abundant life. Also, that He alone is the way for us to have eternal life. It is also amazing to know that even when we were sinners Christ died for us. He is the only one who conquered death.”

• Aiko Melendez — “Holy Week is the perfect time to reflect and repent. And to value the life that God gave up his only son for us to experience the life that we all have now.”

• Bobby Garcia — “I learned that the older you get the more thankful you are for the little things in your life. You take less for granted and you always, always count your blessings.”