Goodbye Kuya Orly
I was lying down in bed and being lazy on that afternoon of Maundy Thursday when I received this text, “Kuya Orly Medrano drowned in Cagayan. Details to follow.” I was shocked and had to read it again with my glasses on. I then called Jay his assistant and hoped that the text was not true. But it was. Kuya Orly drowned while swimming in a beach in Cagayan where he was spending time with his relatives. He just left so soon.
Atty Orlando Medrano is a very influential person in my life. His passion for God’s kingdom amazed me particularly when I was on staff with IVCF and he was a member of the Board of Trustees. He deliberately made himself available for God’s work who willingly served as resource person for various gatherings. Despite his busy schedule, he would take time to nurture friendships with the staff and students. His personal insights and the way he shares them are unorthodox and yet deeply profound. However, it was his passion for God that is evident in everything he does, that caught my attention. His passion indeed separates him from many people I know. I am not sure if I heard this from him but I agree to this statement, “if you have lost your passion in what you do, its time to move on.”
Kuya Orly was among the first to visit me in Los Banos upon hearing of Ivy’s death. He was there and in his silence and presence, he communicated God’s peace amidst the swarm of people wanting to comfort me. As a ninong to me and Ivy, he kept in touch despite the distance, and enjoyed his visits in our humble home in Los Banos. Sadly, it was when I was based in Manila that we seldom see each other. I guess the demands of urban living got in the way. The unimportant getting in the way of the essential.
We finally got to meet again last March. Being a member of IVCF Board of Trustees I was tasked to lead the committee in-charge of the By-laws and so I consulted with him. We were able to catch up a little but really not as substantial as before. We agreed that we need another time for this – just to update one another. But then God has other plans.
I wanted to do him a favor, just to return the many favors he has given me but I was denied it. And so, when asked to produce a video documentary of kuya Orly’s life, I readily said yes, without knowing were the material would come from. Calls for pictures came through email. I found a few in my wedding photos with Ivy. And so I worked on the little material that I have and came out with what I now call, “Goodbye Kuya Orly.”
And yes, we grieve with hope… and let go with hope. The thought that Kuya Orly and Ivy are dancing to a new beat gives me a sense of anticipation. After all, we all will be called in due time.
Atty Orlando Medrano is a very influential person in my life. His passion for God’s kingdom amazed me particularly when I was on staff with IVCF and he was a member of the Board of Trustees. He deliberately made himself available for God’s work who willingly served as resource person for various gatherings. Despite his busy schedule, he would take time to nurture friendships with the staff and students. His personal insights and the way he shares them are unorthodox and yet deeply profound. However, it was his passion for God that is evident in everything he does, that caught my attention. His passion indeed separates him from many people I know. I am not sure if I heard this from him but I agree to this statement, “if you have lost your passion in what you do, its time to move on.”
Kuya Orly was among the first to visit me in Los Banos upon hearing of Ivy’s death. He was there and in his silence and presence, he communicated God’s peace amidst the swarm of people wanting to comfort me. As a ninong to me and Ivy, he kept in touch despite the distance, and enjoyed his visits in our humble home in Los Banos. Sadly, it was when I was based in Manila that we seldom see each other. I guess the demands of urban living got in the way. The unimportant getting in the way of the essential.
We finally got to meet again last March. Being a member of IVCF Board of Trustees I was tasked to lead the committee in-charge of the By-laws and so I consulted with him. We were able to catch up a little but really not as substantial as before. We agreed that we need another time for this – just to update one another. But then God has other plans.
I wanted to do him a favor, just to return the many favors he has given me but I was denied it. And so, when asked to produce a video documentary of kuya Orly’s life, I readily said yes, without knowing were the material would come from. Calls for pictures came through email. I found a few in my wedding photos with Ivy. And so I worked on the little material that I have and came out with what I now call, “Goodbye Kuya Orly.”
And yes, we grieve with hope… and let go with hope. The thought that Kuya Orly and Ivy are dancing to a new beat gives me a sense of anticipation. After all, we all will be called in due time.
posted by bongkiko at 6:44 PM
1 Comments:
hi sir,good day,ive been searching for atty medrano for a while coz we lost contact of him,he handled my girlfriends anullment case back in 2006,we need to get in touch with his law firm bcoz we need a copy of the final ruling,but she couldnt remember where the iffice was and the name of the firm,will you please help us for any info we can have,,,thak you very much!
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