Silawan family celebrates Christine Lee’s 17th birthday with visit to her grave

Lourdes, the mother of slain 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan, sobs uncontrollably as she views for the last time the remains of her daughter during the teen’s burial Mass on Saturday, March 23, 2019. |CDND Photo/Futch Anthony Inso

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Christine Lee Silawan should have turned 17 today, March 26.

But instead of celebrating her birthday with the usual treat of fried chicken and ice cream, the teen’s family spent the afternoon visiting her grave at the Cattleya Cemetery in Cordova town.

Lourdes Silawan, Christine’s mother, said they still could not get through the pain of losing the child who was full of dreams.

Read more: Christine Lee Silawan’s shattered dreams: ‘She wanted to become a flight stewardess’

Lourdes said that in the 16 years that Christine was given to them, she has left a deep mark in their hearts that they would always remember despite her passing at an early age.

Christine,  who was found dead with half of her face skinned to the bone in a vacant lot in Barangay Bankal in Lapu-Lapu City, was the second of four siblings. She was a grade 9 student at the Maribago National High School.

Read more: Crime Lab: Lapu teen’s body is missing some internal organs

“Akong upat ka anak, pwerte nakong paningkamot aron mapadako og tarong unya kalit lang nga ingon ato nga grabi na man gyud nga pagpatay,” Lourdes said.

(I have worked hard to raise my four children properly and then suddenly this gruesome killing happened.)

“Tinud-anay usahay makapangutana ko kung unsa kaha akong sala nga ang kinabuhi man sa akong anak ang gibaylo,” she added.

(Sometimes, I ask myself what big sin had I done to cost the life of my child in exchange.)

Read more: Murdered 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan is laid to rest

After Christine was laid to rest last Saturday, Lourdes said she could only wish that her daughter’s soul would guide the investigators of her case to getting the right perpetrators.

“Sa pagkakaron kay di na man namo siya ikauban, ang ako lang i-ampo niya nga kung asa man siya, unta, motabang siya o iyang hatagan og giya ang mga nag-imbistigar kung kinsa ang nagbuhat ani niya,” Lourdes said.

(Since she could no longer be with us, I only have one thing to pray and say to her that wherever she is she will help and guide the investigators so that the perpetrators in her killing will be identified and arrested.)

Read more: Christine Lee Silawan’s family ‘shocked’ and ‘confused’ over suspect’s release

Despite her grief, Lourdes added that she was beyond grateful to the help and sympathy extended by personalities and institutions.

At present, the Silawans’ home in Barangay Mactan is being renovated through the help of a national media personality who visited them after Christine’s burial last Saturday, March 23.

“Magpasalamat lang ko sa tanang tawo nga nibati sa among kaguol ug nisimpatya,” Lourdes said.

(I am grateful for all those who felt our pain and sadness and had sympathized with us.)/dbs