Of the forest

A very dear Sister of my Congregation just died.
I know, and a lot of people knew, too, that I had a very special place in sr. Silvia's heart. I think it is because she saw me growing up as a girl. She was a very dear friend of our family, especially of my nanay. Of course, they were both Ilongas, too.
Sr. Silvia was my first music teacher. I remember that when she as teaching me to play the piano, she knew when I was being lazy and just playing the notes by memory and without reading the music sheet. She would say, "read the notes".
She gave life to the rondalla group of the Girls' Center in Tondo. We had a professional teacher who came once a week and we practiced for three hours every Sunday. That helped me to develop discipline and camaraderie. Of course we were also motivated by the merenda that awaited us, courtesy of sr. Silvia, after every rondalla practice or after playing for the Masses on Sundays.
Sr. Silvia was among the Sisters who brought my brothers and sister to visit the Sisters' chapel (inside the cloister) when they were attending the Sisters' kindergarten. I think that also sowed the seed of religious vocation in my siblings.
Sr. Silvia was very faithful in sending me birthday and Christmas greetings especially when I came to Rome. She used to write the cards herself, but later on, when she found it difficult, if not impossible, to write, she asked the Sisters to write for her.
Sr. Silvia was not an easy person to live with. I know that, but she always loved our Institute. Her comments that came in different ways and forms, had a seed of truth, though.
I thank the Philippine Province for taking care of sr. Silvia and for giving her the chance to prepare herself for the final and definitive meetingwith the God whom she has tried to serve in fidelity.
I am sure that now, free from pain and other limitations, sr. Silvia is now having a great conversation with my mother and all the people who have been a part of her life.
So, why the title of this blogpost? It turns out that "Silvia" means, "of the forest". What a Providential coincidence. Sr. Silvia belonged to Don Bosco's congregation. "Bosco" means "forest".