IF and when life grants you that heap of blessing, be ready to catch it. That’s how lucky I feel in having met Princesse Lim Fernandez. I can say the friendship we have built between us, among us friends and even within our families, has been so “embracing.” That’s why last Tuesday was truly a difficult moment to say the least. We said farewell to a person who has been there for so many people and, most of all, to a sister-friend who I will truly miss.
Below is the eulogy I read at the day of her inurnment.
“I truly feel unworthy to speak here today. Princesse and I were not childhood friends. We were not classmates. But I consider our kismet introduction in Bacolod almost 20 years ago as one of the best blessings of my life.
“To many, she is the most caring and committed feng shui expert. To her closest friends, she is that true friend and sister with whom we shared our loudest laughter, as well as all of our deepest fears and imperfections. To Chame, her best friend, Princesse is that ultimate go-to person for advice, solace and joy.
“In Chame’s words, ‘I am indeed very lucky and grateful to have found my soul sister in this lifetime. Actually, she was the one who found and chose me…she chose to let me sit on a chair beside her in class, instead of her bag. And that was the beginning of a friendship that blossomed into family as we became sisters for life.
“‘Princesse was a very caring and selfless person. She took the best care of her family, friends and clients. She has always been there for me for anything, except for that one time when I requested her to babysit my three kids, still toddlers then, for a couple of nights. We even threw in Tita Baby in the equation, but to no avail. This was beyond her powers, she claimed. From the trivial to the fun times, and to the most serious of situations, she will always be there for you. She is the most loyal friend you can ask for.
“Martin remembers Prinz’s favorite story of how they became friends for life. They were eating at Kamirori in Katipunan. There was one piece of California Maki left. Prinz asked if anyone wanted the last piece. To her shock, Martin grabbed it. She decided right there and then that Martin and her will be good friends.
“In our younger years, Princesse and I redefined the meaning of tequila shots, while ushering the sunrise in Boracay. We shared many an exciting adventure with friends. Whether it be our spooky Baguio stay in Mikey’s place, our food trip in Shanghai, or our being marathon supporters to Martin and Vinson in Osaka, Princesse has always made each trip full of fun, as well as filled with her occasional ‘bratty’ moments.
“Vinson was so happy that he was able to let Prinz walk 8 kilometers to get to the event site in Osaka, given he is the only one to date who knows Prinz’s real weight. But thanks to Rommel’s empathy, this was short-lived because Prinz rode the taxi all the way back to the hotel.
“But for me, our most priceless moments were our wee-hour conversations about our being. One time I told her I was fascinated by how our friendship has grown over the years. She said it was rare to find a friendship that, when you asked for advice, it was
free of any hidden envy, nothing else but a pure thought for your best interest. Today, Princesse is a sister to Vinson, me and Joan. She is my daughter Meagan’s godmother. She is my confidante who
never ever failed to have my back. We even planned to retire together with Vinson in one house with our own nurses.
“Princesse, in Meagan’s words, is an amazing person who cared so much about the people around her. Growing up, Meagan would always look forward to seeing her. She is so grateful to be her godchild because she has learned so much from simply being around her and talking to her. Tita Baby, I hope you know how much I admire you as a mom, and how much I know Prinz thank you for being her No. 1 supporter in life.
“I know saying goodbye to Princesse today is and will be one of the saddest days of my life. But I also remember one of our recent conversations. Princesse and I were talking about her true purpose. I believe beyond leaving her legacy of strength, influence and loving loyalty, she wanted to help even more people in a wider realm.
“I choose to see that as much as Princesse has touched each one of us in the brightest way possible, she would want all of us to shine this light in our own lives. Let’s pay tribute to Princesse by doing something we truly enjoy and love. Let’s follow her example to live life to the fullest. And like her, may we touch lives as uniquely and selflessly as Princesse has done in this lifetime. I believe this is the abundance Princesse chose to leave us with.
“Prinz, I already miss you so much. Know that in each get-together we will have, we will never fail to raise a glass for our dearest friend. We love you immensely, Prinz.”