"Hindi Kita Malilimutan" (I Will Not Forget You)
Early one morning recently we were awakened by an overseas call from my sister-in-law. She informed us that their first cousin had died of a heart attack. He left three growing children. Another call gave us word that a first cousin had died of Covid.
Later that morning, we attended the funeral Mass for a fellow parishioner. After Communion, my daughter sang “Hindi Kita Malilimutan” (I Will Not Forget You) composed by Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J. This is the meditation song most often requested by the family at funeral Masses for a deceased Filipino at our parish church. The song never fails to touch the family and the other mourners, including the rest of the congregation, as they bid farewell and send off the body of their loved one to his/her resting place. The song, though melancholic, consoles them in their grieving as it is a song that expresses their love for their dear departed one.
“Hindi Kita Malilimutan” is taken from Isaiah 49:15: “Can a mother forget the baby on her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
(The song video with an English translation is at the bottom of this page. Another video on the same theme is there as well.)
Two lovers: one human, the other Divine. They both love, but the latter loves more, infinitely more than the former.
Two professions of not forgetting: The former is a promise, an intention. The latter is an assurance, a certainty.
One thing is also clear: knowing and feeling that we humans can love gives us an idea of how much God must be loving us. Our human love is a faint reflection of Divine Love. We are sure of this because God sent us His Son . . . to give His life for us.
We should never forget this. We should never forget Him!
My Lord and my God, hindi po kita malilimutan! #
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
"For the Lord will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage;
for justice will return to the righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it." (Psalm 94:14-15)
