Mother of fallen soldier chooses “Congratulations” over “Condolences”. Here’s why!

When a child loses a guardian/ parent, the child is called fatherless, motherless or orphan, but when a parent loses a child? What can we call them? None.  And nothing can describe their grief and sorrow for losing their own child.

The Thinking Pinoy author and blogger shared his experience while visiting the wake of the fallen soldiers from Marawi City in Fort Bonfacio, which he later called #Heroes of Marawi. Mr. RJ Nieto visited first the remains of PFC Marvin Gomez, extending his sympathy to the mother of the soldier. Then they told Mr. Nieto that the soldier who discovered the P52 million from the Maute stronghold was in the fort too.



1st Lt. John Frederick S. Savellano was the platoon leader who lead the team who were able to seize the alleged money of the Maute Group.

Photo from Facebook

The remains of 1st Lt. Savellano was in the chapel, where his mother, Mercy Savellano, grieves alongside the fallen soldier.  There were exchanges of thoughts between Mr.  Nieto and Mrs. Savellano, later Mr. Nieto has known that Mrs. Savellano was a reader of his blog.

“We are not mourning. We don’t want to hear condolences. It should be congratulations because we produced a hero,”said Mrs. Savellano as Mr. Nieto posted in his FB blog.

“Kaya Ma’am Mercy Savellano, congratulations po. Tunay na bayani ang anak ninyo,” Mr Nieto stated in his blog.



Read full story of RJ Nieto of Thinking Pinoy:

"MA'AM, CONGRATULATIONS PO"

Pumunta ako sa Philippine Marine Corps Headquarters sa Fort Bonifacio kanina para dumalaw sa lamay ng mga nasawing #HeroesofMarawi.

Una kong pinuntahan ang Acero Hall, kung saan nakalagak nag karamihan sa kanila. Yung isa, 21 anyos pa lang, nasawi na sa digmaan. Yung isa naman, may dyes anyos na batang nagbabantay, batang maagang naulila. Yung isa naman, kaka-birthday lang, nasawi na.

Tapos, natapat ako sa ataol ng isang nagngangalang PFC Marvin Gomez. Kako, "Parang ito yung pinost ko kanina sa ThinkingPinoy page, ah!"

Hindi ako nagkamali.

Nilapitan ko ang kabaong at napansin kong may matandaang babaeng nakabantay. Tinanong ko yung ale, sabi ko, "'Nay, kayo po ba nanay ni Marvin?"

"Opo", sabi ni ale.

Sabi ko, "Nabasa ko po yung huli niyang Facebook post tapos shinare ko sa mga readers ko. Bayani po ang anak niyo 'nay."

Napahagulgol siya, at di ko rin matiis na hindi maluha.

Lumabas muna ako saglit ng gusali kasi ang bigat-bigat ng loob ko. Kako, anak dapat ang naglilibing sa magulang, at hindi magulang ang naglilibing sa sarili nilang anak.

Ang hirap sa dibdib. Hindi ko masaklaw ng isip ko ang hinagpis na pinagdaraanan ng mga naiwang mahal sa buhay.

Tapos may lumapit sa akin, ang sabi ay may isa pang sundalong nakaburol sa malapit, doon daw sa may chapel.

Ang pangalan ng sundalo ay si 1st Lt. John Frederick S. Savellano, ang lider ng platoon na naka-recover ng P52 million mula sa mga teroristang Maute.

Pinuntahan ko 'yung chapel, at nakita kong naglalamay si Mrs. Mercy Savellano, ang ina ni Frederick. Siya yung babaeng kasama ko sa larawan.

Nakausap ko si ma'am, medyo nagkabiruan nga kami kasi reader ko pala siya. Pero nang medyo napalalim na ang usapan, aniya...

"We are not mourning. We don't want to hear 'Condolences'. It should be a 'Congratulations' because we produced a hero."

Tapos kako lang sa sarili ko, "Oo nga po. Tunay na bayani si Frederick."

Kaya Ma'am Mercy Sagmit Savellano, congratulations po. Tunay na bayani ang anak ninyo.

At para kay Frederick, Marvin, at sa iba pang naglaan ng kanilang buhay para sa bayan, maraming maraming salamat.

Hinding hindi namin kalilimutan ang inyong kabayahinan.

Source: Thinking Pinoy

Love this article? Sharing is caring!