Happy Heavenly Birthday, Atet

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Overlook • November 22, 2007. A heavenly birthday remembrance for Maria Theresa "Atet" Garcia Perseveranda — Marites to her mommy, Tess to many — with recovered Thanksgiving 2007 family photographs and a birthday greeting to Mommy Helen in Bukidnon. Photos and storytelling by J.F.R. Perseveranda.
In Loving Memory

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Atet

MARITES  •  MARIA THERESA  •  TESS

J.F. and Marites Perseveranda with their children Nica, Jian, and Chesca on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2007.
Us, with the kids — Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2007.

Happy heavenly birthday to my late, beautiful wife.

In an ideal world, we would have celebrated with your mommy, and your kids, and your siblings, and their families at the Double M Hotel celebration they held on August 16 in the Philippines. We love and miss you more than ever.

Elenita "Mommy Helen" Garcia Ronquillo with her daughter Marites Perseveranda, Thanksgiving 2007.
Mommy Helen and Marites, same day — Thanksgiving 2007.

For Mommy Helen

Happy birthday po ulit, Mommy Helen! Wish I could’ve been in Bukidnon for your 85th.

Maria Theresa "Atet" Garcia Perseveranda, photographed Thanksgiving 2007.
Atet, Thanksgiving 2007. One of my favorite photographs of her — and one I thought was gone for good.

About These Photographs

I lost this set of 2007 photos years ago. A misplaced DVD — the kind of thing you burn when you are clearing space off a laptop and you tell yourself you will put it somewhere safe. Having these frames back on the screen, at full size, on her birthday, is its own small mercy.

Atet to her family. Marites to her mommy. Tess to so many others. Loved under every name.

The whole family at Thanksgiving dinner in our old house in Overlook, November 22, 2007.
Everyone at Thanksgiving dinner, our old house in Overlook — November 22, 2007. Thankful for family.

Happy heavenly birthday, Atet.
We love you. We miss you. Always.

J.F.R. Perseveranda is the architect and lens behind PinoyBuilt. From IT Product Manager to Fil-Am storyteller, J.F. bridges the diaspora through photography and culture.

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