Jeremy, my dear nephew, I met you once personally but I will meet you again in heaven someday. We may not understand why you live too short here on earth but one thing I know you are now in the best place! Looking forward to the day meeting you again!

Jeremy, Jeremy!
We haven't met face to face. I wasn't in the Phil. when your family had that lone vacation. I had been hoping that after you finished schooling and/or after your medication, maybe, there will then be more chances of another vacay to the Phil. But alas! You're gone...into the next life!
And I just can't contain my grief. I'm sad not only because I won't be able to see/meet you personally. I grieve more because of so young a life cut off way too soon, a very promising life laid to waste.
Nonetheless, I trust in God's ways and purposes. We may not understand the present circumstances but He expects us to have faith in Him and in His promises. I take comfort in the knowledge that you are with the Lord, the best place one could hope for and that you are in the best condition.
And although we didn't had the chance to meet here on earth, I am in great expectancy of a more glorious meeting in God's presence.
Until then, till we meet!

My dear balong Jeremy, I may not have met you personally, but for some reason, as if I have known you,since you started the battle of your sickness😔
I have learned so much from you,through your auntie Nora’s feedbacks and your dad as well.You made me more realize the meaning and importance of my medical knowledge... how to be patient...to be strong and keep going, enjoying and have fun fishing despite what you were going through...as well as to be faithful... that God is in control...
You may not be physically present now, but in your families heart, you will be alive forever❤️
And that includes me balong...
Someday, when our Heavenly Father says come home, I definitely will see you in heaven and will give you a big hug balong and will say”thank you, I finally met you “❤️

Aloha,Auntie Shirley Rasos

Hi Jeremy!
To us your family whom you have left behind, the hole created by your "going home" seems to get deeper every passing day. As was told, grieve but be healed. Easier said than done, my dear Balong. For every time I think of your coming with your Dad last summer to give plums or steelhead which you caught, I can't help but cry. I will always remember how you giggled when you kept coming back to fix your Auntie Emy's headphone because it works when you are around but doesn't when you are gone. So you returned two or three times. Was this God's way of making us see you more often and for your Lola to feel your hug... because time was running short for you? But then...I know you wouldn't want us to grieve forever... and you would like us to remember you with smiles not with tears. I found this poem by Wanda M. Wolfe entitled "Just One Day" and these thoughts might be what you would like to convey to us up there in the Great Beyond....

If I could come back for just one day
I know exactly what I would say
To my family and friends and those who I loved
As a message from God who speaks from above.
I would say it's okay to be sad for awhile
But what I really want most is your smile
And for you to go on and live once again -
Allowing the Lord to comfort your pain.
I know that you loved me with
all your heart
And that none of you wanted for me to depart
I don't quite understand it myself
But I know you'll get by with a little help.
Yes I would say to be sad for a day
And to do what you need to do
And then lift up your eyes to the wonder of the sky
And know that I loved you too.
GOODBYE my/our dearest Balong. Whenever I will look up the sky and see an angel in the clouds...I know you are watching over us. Till we meet again...
With much love, Auntie Nora

Pardon typos, I can't edit!

I have fond memories of yours a small boy, when you came home to the Philippines, you wanted so much a frog for a toy, a live one and I had to buy from a boy passing by the house for 10 pesos, your eyes shined with happiness, I also recall that your Mom n Dad can't make you take in medicine, so I did something that I'm revealing to you now, I had to make everyone drink OJ including you but the liquid Med for fever was in you juice and you just gulp it down, fever gone! I may not see you smile now but I know you'd be giggling. Then she I came over here in Seattle, we'd go for a walk in the afternoon, you were in the first grade, tiny boy, you'd pick wild flowers along the way n give them to me "for you auntie!" Some mornings you'd ask me to see your homework n sign on it, then later we'd wake up early on Saturdays, we both sleep in the living room, you wanted my lazy boy chair n I on the sofa. I'd guide you to read those story books n you learned fast. You were close and comfortable with me Balong because you can ask what you want, you asked for a Leno which I ordered online to be delivered right to your door, you were so delighted with it. I also remember when you n Athena n Kassy went to pet on n Athena bought you a fish to place in your tiny aquarium, such small things to make a boy so happy, then you grew up, busy with school n friends that we seldom see each other. I remember that day your Coach called me to pick you up in school for a dislocated elbow, you look so much in pain and I had to rush you to Virginia Mason ER to fix your elbow. Oh dear, lots of happy n crazy memories, remember, I told you, you stole the cat, and you kept saying you saved it? You were giggling, I can hear your laughter as you hold the tiny cat, that's Nugget! I'll try not to cry but I can't, you left us just like that! You'll always be a part of us wherever you are. If you become one of the Angels, look upon us, Rest In Peace anak ko!

Jeremy, I’m at lost for words because this was so unexpected. I never knew you were going through this sickness my friend, we were great friends at McClure and we lost touch along the way which sucked cause u always knew how to make me laugh and always had the best sense of fashion. Rest In Peace my friend, I know u are in a better place and I hope god gives you the peace he couldn’t give u in life
- With love, Edgar

The God of all comforts is able to comfort the whole family in your time of grief. You may not fully understand why this happened but God knows what's really best for you. He loves you all more than you could ever know and more than you could ever feel.

Hey Jeremy, i had a blast in high school with you. Always try to prank me and joke around, i really enjoy the food you buy after lunch at Albertsons, either sour batch or Hawaiian chip. During track we were rival and always tried to beat each other time. The final race of high school you beat me by 0.02 seconds and PR yourself, a great end for our last race. When i first visited you at the hospital, i almost burst into tear because of how positive you were and always had a smile on you even though you were going through the pain and medicine. Playing Uno with you in the hospital was one of the best moment in my life, i had so much fun that day. You fought bravely and i am really proud of you man, I will cherish those moments we had and someday i will get to see you again buddy.

It is hard for me still to believe you are gone, balong! We were looking forward to a happy reunion this Christmas but God has other plans. Instead, we will be celebrating the life you had with us ! Go, Jeremy, to the kingdom of heaven where you no longer feel pain! We will never forget you and the space you have occupied in our hearts will always be there forever! Rest in peace, balong!

The passing away of a loved one just like Jeremy's "sudden departure" is very painful and cause his parents, families, relatives and friends to grieve and shed tears of sorrow.
On behalf of Bethel Central Churches of the Philippines, Inc., Laoag City where Angie and Jun-jun Corpuz are faithful members, may I just share a Bible verse "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
(‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46:1-3, 7‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
MY PRAYER TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY:
Loving Father, and God of all comfort, look with tender love and compassion on your people who are mourning in the "going home" of Jeremy so that while they are grieving they must not blame you or becomes faithless but they will turn to you and remember your goodness, your promises and your love to them through Christ. Fill their empty hearts with the power of the Holy Spirit, Father God, sustain them to fully trust in you that you are able to lift them up and turn their sorrow into endless joy.
Help each and every members of the family to feel your awesome presence and know that you are nearer than they can ever think. Again, I pray Father that You be to them their Greatest Comforter and console them through this dark valley of death. These things I asked in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Master and Redeemer, AMEN.
OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE WHOLE FAMILY!

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Nathan U. Tuzon
Bethel Central Church, Laoag City
Philippines

Jeremy,

It's hard to believe that Justine and I wont be making our weekly trips to come visit and spend time with you. I am thankful for the time I got to spend with you, whether it was a late night after school, a night off I had on the weekend, or a mellow Sunday afternoon. Although the time we spent together might have been doing something simple, it meant a lot to me and it was always the highlight of my week getting to be with you and your family. When I first met you, you had just started chemotherapy and I came to visit around 7pm at night when Justine was with you. When I was preparing to meet you, Justine had already told me that you can be a bit shy but it was okay to come visit. I remember thinking, "Oh man! I'm shy too...", so to compensate I brought some goodies from 85 degrees bakery so we can bond over food. From that night on the rest was history, a friendship built on good food and laughter. I feel in the past few months our friendship started to grow stronger. I'll never forget the night we brought you some dessert after I had gotten out of class. It was the first night you directly said thank you to me, instead of Justine and I both at the same time, and I was pleasantly shocked. I know its a small gesture but this meant a lot and warmed my heart. In the car ride home I told your sister triumphantly, "I think Jem is starting to get comfortable with me!" I was looking forward to getting better at cracking and eating crab so you wouldn't make fun of me with Justine, but I guess that will have to wait. Jeremy, I am sad that you are gone but for now we'll put our friendship on hold until the next time we meet again. You should know that we will always be thinking of you and keeping you in a very special place in our hearts.

Your Friend,
Tim