The last time we enjoyed the company of Juliet was on August 3 when Colleen Garcera-Janssen held her despedida get-together. The following Thursday, she was found unconscious in her room by family members who contacted us. Some Kabatchmates rushed her to the district hospital for treatment and she was diagnosed as being in diabetic comatose condition.Efforts to revive her in the following days failed. Yesterday, the doctor recommended that she be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to make her remaining days comfortable for her. But the family and our Kabatch felt it was not practical to do so because of the prohibitive costs. It was decided that she be brought home today. However, she died at 2:39 p.m.
Juliet had a difficult life. While teaching in Butuan City, she was subjected to physical abuse by her shabu addicted-husband. Fed up, she resigned from her job , separated from him and returned home. They had no children.
Back in Gensan, she was depressed and stayed most of the time in her room at their family home, feeling that her life was a failure. It should be noted that most victims of physical abuse often feel the loss of their self-worth/esteem. When some Kabatch learned that she was back here, they went to see her and coaxed her to join our batch get-togethers and preparations for the 35th Grand Reunion. Hesitantly but surely, she started joining our activities. Slowly, she regained her self confidence and started taking better care of herself. She would return to her usual malambing self and greet everyone as they arrive to our affairs. She would be among the first ones to help out in anything that we needed to do. She also shared with us her sad experience and told us about her diabetic condition. In their own small ways, some Kabatch helped out to enable her to buy the medications she needed and offered advices.
Today while viewing the video of our 35th Grand Reunion at the Absin Farm (on the occasion of Doods Absin's granddaughter's baptism), we passed the hat around for Juliet's hospital bills as she was to be discharged today.
Then at 3:00 p.m., we received a text message from her family that she has passed away at the hospital. We immediately said some prayers for her.
In the video, we noticed that Juliet was smiling all throughout the day from the morning mass to the evening party, enjoying the company of her Kabatchmates, posing with them for pictures. That's the image of Juliet that we will forever remember her by - as a Kabatch who has regained her joy in life and began to hope and trust again.
Go with God, Juliet and may His eternal light shine upon you.
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