She Enjoyed the Sunset

Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano was like a light from afar—among the women in the church where I grew up.

My mother, who was an active member of the women's group, would often encourage holding seminars on love and courtship for the younger members. And always, the seminar conducted for several sessions at different times, would be based on Evelyn's book with the same title. These women were in awe of Evelyn as God's anointed authority on the subject.

That was how Evelyn figured in my mind for years—a well-loved and respected author on man-woman relationship. Until one day, the light from afar flashed right before my eyes . . .

Omflit had just published my first book and I was invited to join the OMFLit corporation meeting. Evelyn was there as one of the members of the board of trustees. The love-and-courtship lady herself! I gushed silently.

Evelyn had many other books published by then, on many other issues, but that book loved by the women in my home church remained a bestseller for many years.

Now in the same milieu of Christian literature, I'd cross paths with Evelyn often—conferences, trainers seminars, and board meetings.

When her book, Enjoy the Sunset: Living Fully, Ageing Well was launched in Cebu, I was privileged to be her roommate in a hotel where we were billeted for two days and two nights. Together, we guested the "She Day" and talked about our experiences as authors.

I got to know her up close and as a newbie in writing, I was blessed with a ringside view of her wisdom. Over meals and before bedtime, we had all the time to talk and talk, mostly about God's grace in both our lives.

She told me about her near-fatal stroke in Cambodia two years earlier. She went into a coma for a couple of days, but after some weeks of rest and medication, she was back to her old self. "This is my second life. God wants me to enjoy the sunset."

Those were not her exact words but by the way she talked, she made me feel and see the joy of working for God even, or specially, in one's senior years.

She continued to write . . . and write . . . and had two more books written (one with Senator Salonga, to be launched at the book fair; and another one to be launched early next year). Then, while busy on the fourth chapter of another book, she was summoned home. The Lord said, "Enough; come."

And she went, due to another stroke—after two weeks in the hospital and two weeks at home, plenty enough time to text friends and loved ones about how, despite the indescribable pain, she was basking in God's presence and peace.

Evelyn's light on earth flashed, and will continue to sparkle on many more readers, inspiring them to embrace life, and when the time comes, to enjoy the sunset.

Evelyn, thank you.