Tia Feling and heavenly feasts

What grand feasts they may have been celebrating in Heaven lately.

First, the divine giants greeted Raul Roco in their midst. Then, in the early morning of Monday, August 8, God must have led all of heaven in hosting an unforgettable welcome banquet for Tia Feling ( Felisa Rosal Gallardo) as reward for her having hosted unforgettable feasts during her earthly stay.

Who can forget the banquets Tia Feling prepared for her guests during the Mandaue fiesta and the Sinulog? Not only did she prepare the most delicious dishes for her guests from all walks of life. She made each guest feel special - she took time to remember to prepare the favorite food of her guests. Tessie Lim always looked forward to Tia Feling's special suman, many of us her very delicious binangkal. There was her unforgettable humba, the oh-so-rich but irresistible adobo, fresh lumpia, freshly baked bread. The list can go on and on and on.

She also prepared meals and dishes with much love and attention. These extra qualities must have been her most guarded secret ingredients that made everything that she served especially unforgettable. It was difficult to stay slim around Tia Feling. Ask Tio Loloy and their eight children, Alice (more popularly known as Samantha), Evelyn, Thelma, Tony, Jonas, Maritess, Mylene and Margie. Ask everyone else who knows Tia Feling. Busog kaayo tanan, not only sa pagkaon but sa palangga.

Tia Feling did not only prepare special dishes for special occasions and feasts. She transformed ordinary dishes into very special dishes for the recipients because of her special care and attention for them. Danggit, chicharon and sinangag seemed to have been more delicious with Tia Feling around. Upon reflection, it may not have been the food per se that was delicious but her presence, her solicitous manner of lingering by the table, engaging guests in sincere conversation about how they have been, that made all the ordinary food on her table taste extraordinarily special.

Tia Feling was never one to boast of her achievements or her blessings. Instead, in her own quiet ways, she was always there for practically everyone, not just sharing but generously sharing what she received from the Lord. Everytime she and her family made their appearance, everyone literally clapped because they knew that it was fiesta time, oh, happy, glorious delicious eating time! And funny, laughing time too as Tia Feling and Tio Loloy have raised children just as generous of their time, love and humor, as their parents!

For sure, Tio Loloy, her children, and all those who knew and loved her did not want her to leave for good. However, Tia Feling had to end her generous earthly feasts when the Lord asked her back so that this time and forever, she can enjoy the heavenly banquets prepared for the blessed like her who served the Lord generously in their lifetime.

Tia Feling always retired early at night but woke up earlier than all in the morning so that she would have the time to go to the market, prepare the food that would delight and satisfy her family and guests, and so she could proceed to do her rounds of service for the Lord in church, in the community, among her family, relatives, and friends, and guests.

At 78, the Lord decided to let her start her round of heavenly service at about 1 a.m. last August 8. Tia Feling must be indescribably very happy now, experiencing the joy and delight her family and guests felt with her special earthly banquets and fiestas .

Those who want to join send her off in love and thanksgiving to the Lord may wish to visit her Mandaue home until Friday, August 12 or join her family at a 9 AM mass on Saturday, August 13, and then Cempark as she proceeds to take her special place of honor in our Lord's banquet table.

Thank you, Tia Feling. Though we will all miss you, we know that you are now where you deserve to be, forever, with the Lord!