OFW Couple- Wedding Vows Turned to Eulogy

 

Ralph Waldo G. Landicho, 32, and Raquel F. Panganiban, 26, decided to get married last July 31, 2021. Both of them are OFWs, Ralph as a seaman, while Raquel worked in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The two spent four years in a relationship and both are from the province of Tiaong, Quezon Province.

Ralph went back to the Philippines on June 4, 2021, while Raquel came home on June 12, 2021. Amidst the pandemic, the two engrossed their attention to their planned wedding. 

In an interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, Raquel confessed that because of too much wedding excitement, they procrastinated their COVID-19 vaccination.

“Bumaba siya ng barko at hindi agad kami nakapagpa-vaccine kasi super excited siya sa pag-aayos ng kasal namin.”

On Raquel’s birthday, June 24, 2021, Ralph was on his knees and proposed to Raquel.  Two days after, June 26, 2021, Ralph formally asked Raquel’s hand from her parents to permit them from getting married. A month after, July 19, Ralph is having body pain and even wanting to have a massage, according to Raquel. Five days after, July 24, 2021, Ralph is having chills and a burning fever. With this, they decided to have Ralph be medically checked. It turned out that all his laboratory results were fine, however, he tested positive after his swab test. 

By July 30, 2021, a day before the wedding, Ralph was admitted to the hospital and hence, the wedding was canceled. The couple remained strong and supported each other to get over the hump.

“We encouraged one another. Ayaw pa mamatay ni hubby kasi dami pa niyang gusting mangyari sa buhay naming bilang mag-asawa, ganun din sa pamilya niya,” said Raquel.

“Sinasabi nya palagi na, ‘Bebe, hinde pa ako mamamatay. Magiging official pa ako,” she added.

On August 3, 2021, Ralph expired and now is in God’s paradise. His oxygen level flunked in which he can consume twenty tanks a day. On the same day, his body was cremated.

August 4, 2021, Raquel delivered her eulogy for her former fiancée via Facebook.

“TOTOO ANG COVID-19”

“Alam ko na mahal na mahak mi ako, at alam mo din na mahal na mahal kita [crying emojis]. Di ko alam papaano ako. Hanggang dulo ng hininga ko mamahalin pa din kita. Walang papantay sayo! [heart emoji]. Samahan mo pa din ako sa lahat ng Pangarap natin [heart and crying emojis]. Nagpapakatatag ako para sa pamilya natin both sides. Isa kang mabuting Anak, Manugang, kuya, Pamangkin, Pinsan, Kaibigan, Katrabaho. Alam ko na mahal na mahal mo sila.”