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  1. Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    657
    #1
    RIO DIAZ's Testimony (Aug 17,2003)






    Six months ago, my family was preparing for my funeral, but I stand here
    before you today by God's grace because He still has a purpose for my
    life.

    Let me share with you my story.



    In April, l99l, I began to host Eat Bulaga!, a noontime show that brought
    me fame beyond my
    wildest dreams. I earned good money while I made people laugh. What a
    blessing!

    October of l993, I met Charlie. Single and good-looking, this guy has a
    terrific sense of humor, a
    man with a big heart. "Kung sa beauty contestant, beauty and brains." At a
    certain point in our
    relationship, we both knew God brought us to be together...for life.

    In August, l994, we were married. After four wonderful years of marriage,
    God blessed us with two
    children, Claudia and Jaime. Thirteen years
    earlier, I was blessed with a son, Ali, from a previous relationship.

    May of l998, Charlie became Congressman and I became Vice Mayor of
    Pontevedra (Negros Occidental).
    November of the same year, during a routine check-up, they discovered some
    abnormalities in my
    stomach area which, the
    doctors said, could be solved by a minor procedure.

    A few days later, my supposedly one-hour surgery turned out to be a
    six-hour-and-a-half surgery. I
    was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

    Cancer?

    No one had cancer in the family. My life flashed before me. My world
    suddenly caved in. The
    doctors were quite frank. They told us that I had only a couple of months
    to live. Stage 4 cancer
    is like a death sentence.

    As my doctor was speaking, I didn't understand a word he said because all
    I could think of was
    Charlie, my children, my family, my in-laws. would whisper, Lord, help
    me...help them, Lord!

    They're all suffering. I don't know how to comfort them.The day before my
    first chemotherapy, I
    said, Lord, just tell me you're in control. Tell me that no one made a
    mistake and I'll be fine no
    matter what, Lord. Somebody gave me a devotional book entitled Streams in
    the Desert which I read
    at 3 o'clock in the morning. It said, This is my doing.

    Your weakness needs my strength and your safety lies in letting me fight
    for you. You did not come
    to this place by accident. You are exactly where I meant you to be. You
    were so busy that I could
    not get your attention and I wanted to teach you some of my greatest
    truths. The pain will leave
    you as soon as you learn to see me in all things. These words became the
    pillow on which I rested
    my weary head.

    I surrendered to God all my fears, all my burdens and my family as I began
    my journey of trials. I
    focused on His promises as Jesus said, Surely I am with you always.

    By God's gracious mercy and beyond all medical explanation, after six
    months of chemotherapy I
    went on remission. Eight months later, the cancer was back. More surgery,
    more chemo. And then
    again, God allowed healing for me. The best lesson I am learning from this
    is how God allows us to
    enjoy life with His moment by moment of grace. My third bout with cancer
    entailed three different
    chemotherapies infused at the same time. The Lord allowed me to learn to
    NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE
    UP...PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD.

    Three times, I was at the threshold of death. Medicines and
    state-of-the-art treatments were not
    working anymore. Not all the money in the world nor the best doctors on
    earth can make us live if
    God doesn't want us to. During those times, God comforted my heart with
    these verses: Why are you
    downcast o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I
    will yet praise Him my
    Savior and my Lord.

    But let me tell you about my latest brush with death. After spending
    Christmas with my family here
    in Manila, I left for San Francisco in January of 2003 for my check-up. I
    knew there was something
    terribly wrong with my body. I had sleepless nights; I was steadily losing
    weight; I couldn't eat
    anything.

    By the time I had completed all my tests, I was only 96 pounds. My doctor
    said, The cancer has
    spread. You need to be confined in the hospital. Your food passage is
    completely blocked by the
    cancer. I don't know how much time you have. Not much. Maybe a month. But
    I promise you will not
    feel the pain.I hugged Dr. Fisher and thanked him. I told him, Don't be
    sad. I know God is in full
    control of my life.

    I went home that night to make some arrangements and my daughter was fast
    asleep. I knelt down by
    her bedside and I cried, Mama loves you so much
    that it hurts. Lord, you know how much I love my Ali, my Claudia and my
    Jaime. You gave them to
    Charlie and me and I thank you. I know in my heart that Charlie will love
    them and watch over
    them. Lord, take care of my husband because I love him very much. But much
    more than this, it
    comforts me to know that I could never love them as much as you love them.
    I thank you, Father
    God.

    Charlie remained by my bedside day and night, caressing me, talking to me.
    It pains me to think
    how much our husbands or wives suffer the fear oflosing us.How blessed I
    am to know how much my
    family and friends love me.

    The Lord allowed me to experience deep, deep, sleep. I have never ever
    felt that kind of peace, a
    peace that surpasses all understanding. Dr. Fisher explained to Charlie
    that my nourishment would
    come from a bag of liquid attached to me, which has to be administered on
    a daily basis for life.
    I would never be able to eat or drink again.

    Surgery was ruled out, so was radiation. As a last recourse, it was
    suggested that I do the
    mildest chemo but if I so much as cough, he would remove it and just keep
    me comfortable. I was in
    awe when I was told how many people were praying for me.
    By God's sovereign mercy, I never coughed. One month later, my cancer
    level went down by half. I
    am now only a few points away from being on remission.

    And as if this weren't enough, God's incredible bonus is that I am back to
    my full diet. I can eat
    and drink anything now! Once again, the doctors were amazed. Yes, isn't
    our God amazing? God
    spared my life when Stanford doctors had given up on me.

    In my heart, I knew why. God allowed this miracle in my life to show us
    how gracious He is and
    what a powerful weapon prayer can be. And that God can perform miracles in
    our lives, if you let
    Him. I will never fully understand God's ways but I do know that God has a
    purpose for each of us.
    When God calls you to live for Him, He will invite you to be a part of
    something much bigger than
    yourself, something that requires the very best of you, something that may
    outlive you. When God
    calls us to a powerful vision, it may transcend safety and it may
    transcend common sense because
    it is all about Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, we will not make it!

    Do we know, do you know, what God wants you to do with your life? If you
    are uncertain of God's
    will for your life, surrender all your plans to Jesus because God's plans
    for us are perfect.

    The cancer in my body, I did not choose. But in God's sovereignty, He
    allowed this affliction in
    my life. But I ask you, what is the cancer in your life?

    Is it the cancer of unforgiveness, jealousy, lust, anger or bitterness
    that you are holding on to?
    What are the wrong choices you continue to make because they give you
    temporary pleasure but can
    permanently destroy your -your husband or your wife or your children or
    your circle of influence?

    If you are going through a time of terrifying darkness and despair, or are
    plagued by doubts that
    are slowly eroding your hope that things can get better, I urge you to
    surrender it all to God;
    give Him full control of your life. It is the only way to live.

    Lord, forgive me for all my sins. Jesus, come into my heart; be my Lord
    and my Savior. In Jesus'
    name, I pray. Amen.

    Friends,

    Get inspired with Rio's story like me. It just occurred to me that I am
    also too busy with my life
    & work right now. Oftentimes, I forget to pray and thank the Lord for all
    the blessings that I
    receive. I even keep on complaining that what I have is never enough. I
    keep on questioning Him
    with all the unfairness that I observe and demading for a lot more. I dont
    have any idea on the
    plans that he has for me because I am usually blindfolded with my own
    desires - desire for luxury,
    power & control,recognition, & comfort. I think I must also start
    surrendering everything to Him
    and let Him lead me. Didn't you guys notice how exhausting our lives are?
    I always feel like I' m on
    a race and catching the leading car! How about you?

    I wont wait for a cancer to strike before I will recognize God's plans! I
    wont promise anything
    but I'll do my best!

  2. Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    2,377
    #2
    she will surely be missed...

    she was a person who was determined to live her life to the fullest.

    i admire her for being strong for herself and her family...

  3. Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    3,042
    #3
    uuhhhmm depende siguro sa pananaw

    but yeah mamimiss nga talaga siya ng mga tao

  4. Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    2,421
    #4
    i admire her and im sure shes with our Lord Jesus Christ.

  5. Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Posts
    2,244
    #5
    very inspiring...

Rio Diaz-Cojuangco's Last Testimony