The following is our tribute to the family of Renan Gup-Ay who passed without even saying goodbye to his family because he was snatched into eternity while studying Medicine as a second year proper at St. Louis University Baguio. May the Lord comfort all the bereaving family and give them the grace to stand and face the storms in this life. God bless you all.

A monologue of the dead

How fallen is the man of the family,
How terror has befallen us all,
Death has taken one slain,
Where is victory in death?
Yet, even in his death, he fought the good fight
His brows were not dim,
His eyes shone with light
And in the end his might was never weak
His hands firm and his heart spoke right
Death compassed me but only near to pass
Into His eternal bliss and home of radiant light!

Goodbye to my mother
Who in her lap, has borne the pain,
And in her bosom my head had lain,
Love, far eternal bliss, love, warmth
So cuddled and rested in those years
Goodbye to my father

Who in his shoulders has carried me
Even in death, I shall ne’er forget
Your amazing love that cared for me
Goodbye to my brothers
Who took the pain and sacrifice
Goodbye to my sisters
Who cared and loved me even to this I pass,

Your love and care far surpassed,
The glory this world would be,
In death there is victory, eternal repose
My battle I have done, in victory I pose
I shall never pass this way again,
But I thank you all for there is gain,
My heart is kindled, far aflamed,
All honor and glory, to your name I leave,
Rejoice and be glad and believe,
In death I pass to victory!

What happened to our dear brother Renan has taken as aback. Even so, he should be an inspiration to all of us to continue to fight and stand for what is true and what is real in life. I have known the man and in many similar ways have shared during our childhood days and even during these times. And I am sure of one thing, he is dedicated, devoted and determined to finish and do his best for the task at hand. When he told us to pursue medicine, we did our best to support and help him in anyway we can because he is a bright child in many ways. He has always gained honors and fought in the portals of education which was his battleground.  When we think of heroes, we often equate this to those who have achieved war time credentials, to those who have killed another fellow man, but this greatly limits what a hero means. Heroes are not born we are sure of that, and everyone is honored so because of one thing, they lived extraordinary lives and do mighty exploits. They pushed to limit what could be an ordinary task or a mundane circumstance and lift it to the highest they can. My brother is one such person.We are grieved and continue to mourn his lost, but more than all these things, we will greatly miss the meaning of his life, if we only think that his whole make up is to graduate in medicine.

The value of man is not found in degrees achieved, though that can be valuable and important. His value is more than his pursuit but that he showed to us, that even in the midst of scarcity and rareness of gem, yet we can go above that and pursue even more. We can actually dream, even what we think could be impossible. Only the fearful will not take risk but to those who do, they are numbered among those with laurels.

The first step is to dream, and the next is to wake up and pursue the dream. In dreaming we can sleep and even forget it which happened to many among us who had been sleeping for a long time. But my brother was different, he kept his eyes wide awake and took his lamp to burn it bright. He dreamed and pursued his dreams and like that wonderful song, “The baby’s got a hammer,” he hammered right on the start, that he has what it takes to finish what he started. He hammered us and blew upon our heads that for success to come, one must not only wish for it, but be persistent, enough to actually die in the pursuit of it.

I can find no better description that fits the life of my brother than what Solomon speaks, there is no greater riches in this world than to find knowledge and wisdom. He wrote, “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her” (Prov. 3:13-15). The pursuit of education is costly, but more than the cost, the wisdom gained is of better in proceeds and far more precious than any silver or gold that this world can give.

We gave it all, because wisdom is far more precious than gold or rubies. Even though my brother lost his life in the pursuit of wisdom and medical excellence, he has blazed the path, he has cleared the weeds and made the necessary roads that others too can do it easier than he did. In all of these, we are comforted that though man’s flesh or body can be weak, yet his cherished memories, the knowledge he shared, the life he showed and the path he blazed for us will remain as monuments of grace to the steely resolve of a man who devoted his life for knowledge and wisdom. To God we ask that he may provide and give us many more sons and daughters in place of our dear brother who too will be keen in following his path. Today, his light shines as the stars above, he is dead, yet his life speaks to us, “I blazed the trail so others could come.” Therefore as the great apostle declared, so I do and comfort you all:

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O  Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:53-58).