[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfNcSRV6l4U?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&enablejsapi=1&w=854&h=480]
Kuya Elmer, an alumnus of La Salle University, was a former Lasallian Volunteer and, recently, a teacher in the La Salle Academy (LSA) Night High School. He died [in the morning of 28 May 2013] at Mercy Hospital, Iligan. I met him when he joined the Lasallian Volunteer Program (LSVP) in 2002. He was assigned for two years in Mt. Agad-Agad, Langilanon, Iligan teaching nursery to the children of the farming communities. After two years he was transferred to the mountains of Canumay, San Jose, Antipolo teaching the Alternative Learning System. In his last year in LSVP in 2005, his kidneys were diagnosed both dysfunctional and needs to undergo dialysis three times a week in order to survive and prolong his life. He transferred to Iligan to be with his family. LSA invited him to teach in the Night High School. The De La Salle Brothers supported him since his condition was first diagnosed in 2005. I had an opportunity to visit him at the Mercy Hospital, Iligan during my LSA Lasallian CARES visit last March. In our conversation, he would always express how deeply grateful he was to the De La Salle Brothers for being a “real brother” to him, especially Brs. Edmundo Ferndandez, JJ Jimenez and Raffy Reyes FSC.
After all the physical suffering you had in life, Elmer, I am sure God will reward you with eternal life in heaven!
Text by Vangie de Peralta
Video by Br. Mikey Cua FSC