Definitely not ordinary.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 11, 1964 but only after a, get this, 10 month gestation period. That was a sign of what her life would be like. A sticktoitivenss that will be profound in her life.
Who is Gigi???
Gigi is many things to many people.
A loving daughter to Dr. Benedicto Longalong and Amparo Longalong.
She grew up in the States living in places like Baltimore, NY, New Orleans, and LA before heading to the Philippines where her father was stationed. All her studies where done in the Phils. Grade School and High School at Collegio De Santa Rosa and College with a BS in Architecture at University of Santo Tomas
A wonderful sister to Linda Longalong Coz, Lissa Longalong, and Father Patrick Longalong.
She is the middle daughter and was observed to always want to be by her parent's side, especially her Dad. Remember, 10-month gestation. Her family is always in her heart, no matter what and no matter how, she will always try and strive and look for an opportunity for a family get together, even though, we practically all lived under one roof. Again, 10-month gestation. Kapit talaga.
A faithful wife and fellow servant to her husband Pastor Joey Mercado. ME!!!
She was a pillar of faith as they helped pioneer 5 FilAm churches from 1987-1996. She was the bulwark of 24 hours Worship, developing a grassroots design wherein a church can make this a lifestyle among their people. Pastor Jaren would cast the vision, and she will start planning all the details, big and small to make it happen. She was a giant when it comes to moving in faith and seeing what others could not see. Making each believer a worshipper, each worshipper a soul winner. Ps. 40:3 says "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him." And indeed, many many believers started experiencing God in a new way, and many souls became children of God and Disciples of Christ.
A doting auntie to Jason and Julian Coz.
She would call them often and visit them as much as she could when the Coz family moved to Florida. When social media started to bloom, she would find ways to connect with them and help them get to know the rest of the family tree. Sharing their past and moving forward to help bond a familiar relationship to the rest of the family tree. Gigi also had an adopted niece, Sammy. Daughter of her best friend Carriza Dimayuga. To her, Gigi bequeaths her cooking recipes and love for life. Sammy grew up with Gigi loving her as her own daughter, and a strict mother was Gigi, stricter than her own Mom Carizza.
To her in-laws, cousins, and friends, she is a wonderful person.
They know her as the in-law with a loving distinctive smile and laughter. Generous to a fault and always willing to take the initiative to bridge the gap, any gap, even if there was no gap. To them, she was full of life and energy. Now to understand it better. To many of my in-laws, I am an outlaw, but to her in-laws, she was "In", not out.
To her co-workers.
Gigi was an Architect who took pride in the buildings she built, some are visible in the sky-line of NYC, but many can be found across the Hudson River, near the Holland tunnel, where most of the new buildings that rose up she personally called, "my babies". Now, I kept telling her that there is no friendship in business, but she would always prove me wrong. Yes, there was fierce competition in her work environment, but she never let it happen with those she worked with, try as others might to compete with her.
As for friends and relatives.
The Bible says that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. This, of course, refers to Gigi's greatest friend, Jesus Christ. But, there is also one friend that Gigi loves. She loves Gigi and Gigi loves her. They love each other so much that they became inseparable. Her name is Carriza Dimayuga. She is a friend to Gigi who sticks closer than a sister. They practically lived together and are inseparable. Gigi was there for Carriza when she gave birth to Samantha Dimayuga. When tough times came and good times are gone, others would walk out of their lives, Carriza will come in while others walk out.
Anyone who would come and visit her would clearly see her love for the city and its people. She'll take them out, tour them around, and have a taste test of the different food and culture of the city. She'd share unending stories about this particular neighborhood, Burrough, and buildings. She'd share a history lesson about the city and pretty soon, they will realize she's speaking not just from memory, but from her heart, because of her love for the city and the people. They often refer to her as "the best tour guide ever".
Yes, she is many things to many people.
But...
If there is one thing in her life she would like to be remembered. It is that she is... a Child of God, first and foremost. And her inclination to hold, and hold fast and not let go no matter what, will drive her for the rest of her life.
At 17 years old, while in College for a Bachelor of Science at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), a prestigious university that is older than Harvard, she discovered the love of God thru Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her Lord and Saviour.
This was her new birth, and like her 10-month gestation would prove to be an indicative characteristic of her life, so would her faith and relationship with Jesus with a vigorous hold that will be witnessed by many and matched by few. She will not let go, no matter what. Jesus describes it as "abiding" and that is what she did. That is why at an early stage in her Christian walk, she became a believer, a worshipper, a soul winner, a disciple, and a disciple-maker.
Upon her graduation as an Architect, she had to come back from the Philippines to NYC where she met and married a young handsome Pastor, Joey Mercado. A lot of people thought she was blessed to marry me, the reality is I am the one so blessed to be her husband and partner in life and in mission.
We got married on May 16, 1993. 27 years altogether. We were like salt and pepper, She was the right amount of salt, adding flavor to our lives, I was the pepper, adding spice, but unfortunately, I tend to put too much spice.
At the beginning of our marriage, I took issue with her squeezing the toothpaste in the middle of the tube. It got so bad, she started buying "pump" toothpaste so we could live in peace.
She also loved pasta, she could eat pasta every day. And she did, she'd cook it every day. Pasta for lunch, pasta for dinner. But who doesn't like pasta? (POINT TO SELF). Finally, after 10 years, the pepper in me got enough heat to tell her, "I don't like pasta, I never did"... Big, big mistake. If there's one thing Gigi is when she gets to working on something, it is that she is... "RELENTLESS". Gigi made sure, I will get... what... SHE WANTS. For the next 2 years, it was pasta for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and pasta for dinner. And since she knows I eat 5 times a day, she included pasta for snacks and pasta for late evening meals. So, if someone asks me how long I was happily married to Gigi, I'd say "Gi and I were happily married 25 out of 27 years..." That's not so bad now, isn't it?
Moving on to ministry, with God's help Gigi and I pioneered 5 churches in 12 years. They were the first Filipino American Pentecostal Churches in New York City and gave birth to more churches later on. They were the Lord of the Harvest Tabernacle in Brooklyn, Jesus Saves Fellowship in Queens, Epworth UMC FIl Fellowship in Queens, Salvation Island Christian Fellowship in Staten Island and the Jesus Saves Fellowship in Brooklyn, before settling down and ministering to one church, Jesus The Messiah Fellowship (merged with Salvation Island Christian Fellowship in 2001 at Staten Island) for 21 years. All in all, Gigi served Jesus Christ in the city of NY for 33 years, before she was discovered to have 5 Stage 4 cancers at LIJ hospital on Feb. 28, 2019.
The next year and a half was an agonizing painful life for her, pain so strong it would make anyone of us wish for death, and yes, she did. But, Gigi held on. She would sing the songs that I played and she would worship amidst the pain. She'd smile as much as she can, till her brain tumor would rob her of her sight, her speech, and her smile. But she would still worship as she'd hum the song. She'd still smile as somehow her spirit of joy is seen in the slight lift of her lips and see her joy as she would bob her head and shoulders in a gesture of silent laughter. The joy of the Lord was her strength in her final hours.
July 1, 2020, 10:55 AM, she was promoted into the presence of our Lord. This is her greatest healing, filled with the greatest joy at the presence of her greatest love. Our Lord Jesus.
Yes, if there was anything she would like to be remembered, it is not that she is a wife, a daughter, a sister, one that built the buildings at the NY Skyline, or across the Hudson River, neither the many accomplishments she has made.
If she is to be remembered and honored it is for this...
That she... She Obeyed God, Loved God, and Loved God's People.
That her goal in life was to Win The World To WORSHIP JESUS!
Today she is at the feet of Her Master, Lover, Saviour and Friend. Free from pain, sorrow, and grief. Full of joy worshipping at the presence of her Lord.
I learned a lot from Gigi, in life, and even in her death.
When Gigi got sick I always said and said it out loud to Gigi...
"WHILE THERE'S LIFE, THERE'S HOPE."
I believed that... as Gigi and I struggled for more than a year with 5 Stage 4 cancers in her body.
Today, as Gigi dances and rejoices at the eternal presence of our Lord... I am discovering in a new way that...
EVEN IN DEATH, THERE'S HOPE!!!
Yes, in JESUS, there is HOPE... in life, and in death.
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
1 Cor. 15:55
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Rev. 21:6
Jesus was Gigi's Hope.
For JESUS IS OUR HOPE!!!
Jesus was Gigi's Life.
For JESUS IS OUR LIFE!!!
and...
"WHERE THERE'S HOPE, THERE'S LIFE"
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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