“"Kiss today goodbye,
the sweetness and the sorrow.
Wish me luck, the same to you.
But I can't regret
what I did for love, what I did for love.
Look my eyes are dry.
The gift was ours to borrow.
It's as if we always knew,
and I won't forget what I did for love,
what I did for love.
Gone,
love is never gone.
as we travel on,
love's what we'll remember.
Kiss today goodbye,
and point me t'ward tomorrow.
We did what we had to do.
Won't forget, can't regret
what I did for
love."
A Chorus Line- What I Did for Love
Life story
Devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Kimi passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026, in Las Vegas, NV.
Kimi was the daughter of Tomas and Juliet Diaz. She was born on January 5, 1954, in Manila, Philippines. Kimi grew up in Pampanga. She attended school at St. Scholastica's Academy for both elementary and high school. Kimi graduated with a degree in Psychology from St. Joseph's College Quezon City.
Kimi met her husband, Cliff, at the Philippine Military Academy. They were married at San Agustin Church, Manila, on May 2, 1981. During that time, Kimi was working at the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, Austria. In 1982, after the birth of her eldest child, Kimi decided to move back home to the Philippines to be with her family. Cliff and Kimi built a home in Pampanga, where they raised four children Misha, Macky, Maiko, Angel, and their nephew, Chris.
In the eighties, Kimi was employed as a teacher at O.B. Montessori Center in Angeles City. She loved children and she had so much pride in her role as shaper of young minds. Kimi also met many of her lifelong friends at OB and they kept in touch through the years.
Kimi's life was not without its challenges. Cliff, who was in the military, joined the coup d'etat in 1987 and was imprisoned for 3 years. Kimi and her children spent numerous weekends and vacations visiting Cliff on a ship in the middle of Manila Bay, at Sangley Point, and even at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. Kimi never wavered despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. She was resilient and kept going for her family.
In 1990, Cliff was finally allowed to go home. The time that followed were the best years of Kimi and Cliff's family. Their children will hold on to all the happy memories forever.
In 2000, Cliff suffered from a massive heart attack, which changed Kimi and her family's lives. Kimi had to once again prove that she was strong enough to support her husband and children on her own. She moved mountains to make sure that her children finished school, had a roof over their heads, food on the table, and clothes on their backs. Life was difficult, but because Kimi shielded everyone with her love, the family made it through the darkest of days. Cliff passed away in 2016.
Kimi immigrated to the US in 2009 in the hopes of being able to provide a better life for her family. She eventually moved to Las Vegas where she was later joined by her children and their families. Kimi had 4 beautiful grandchildren before she passed, Santiago, Sophia, Selena, and Miguel. She was lovingly called "Mimi" by her favorite people.
Kimi was selfless, always thinking of others. She gave even when it hurt. She showered all her loved ones with gifts even if there was no special occasion to celebrate. She spoiled her grandchildren and would never say no to any request they had. She laughed with her children, cried with them, drank with them, danced with them, and loved them with all that she was. Kimi was love.
In January of this year, 2026, Kimi was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She and her children rallied yet again to overcome another hurdle, but sadly, after a short battle, Kimi joined her Creator on March 26, 2026.
Kimi is survived by her children, Misha and Ryan, Macky and Estella, Maiko and Bea, Angel and Shai, grandchildren, Santiago, Sophia, Selena, and Miguel, nephew, Chris, sisters Jenny, Maria, and Mawi, brother, Gerry, and Rose, her sidekick, friend, and sister who never left her side.
Preceded in death by her parents, Tomas and Juliet, husband, Cliff, sister, Cynthia, and her brother, Sonny.
Nagla-lunch tayo tuwing Miyerkules simula noong kalagitnaan ng nakaraang taon. Pinag-uusapan natin lahat ng nangyari sa buong linggo at kung ano pa ang mga kailangan nating gawin. “Saan tayo magkikita?” ang lagi mong tanong, pero alam naman nating dalawa na pareho pa rin ang pupuntahan natin tuwing Wednesday — Tina’s. “Tina’s!” sasabihin mo, at ang lagi kong sagot, “Nanaman?!” tapos tatawa tayong dalawa. Pati yung mga ulam natin, paulit-ulit lang tuwing magkasama tayong kakain, pero okay lang sa’kin kasi alam kong paborito mo ‘yon.
Naalala ko nung tinawagan mo ako isang Wednesday. Sasabihin ko sana sa’yo na masyado pang maaga para mag-lunch. Yun pala, nabali ang braso mo, at dali-dali akong pumunta sa bahay para madala ka sa urgent care. Hindi ko akalain na iyon na pala ang simula ng hangganan. Minsan naiisip ko na sana iba ang naging mga desisyon ko noong araw na iyon. Siguro iba ang naging kinalabasan kung sa ibang ospital kita dinala. Pasensya ka na, Mama.
Matagal kong pinag-isipan bago kita sulatan. Marami lang siguro akong iniisip, o baka pinipilit ko lang na maraming isipin para hindi ko maisip ang nangyari.
Salamat sa lahat, Mama. Alam kong marami kang isinakripisyo para sa amin. Sana kahit papaano ay nasuklian ko kahit kaunti ang lahat ng ibinigay mo sa akin.
Mahal na mahal kita, Mama.
Sa susunod nating pagkikita, kung kailan man iyon, okay pa rin ako sa Miyerkules, okay pa rin ako sa Tina’s, at okay pa rin ako sa pareho nating ulam.
Paalam, Mama.
Alone with my thoughts of you
in your room, now empty.
I can still smell you on your sheets,
your clothes hanging in the closet.
I breathe it all in to feel you near.
I hear your voice in my head,
the last conversation,
the last fight,
the last apology,
the last I love you,
the last goodbye.
I replay every moment afraid that I might forget…
What is it like to lose you, Mama?
Never did I imagine it would be like this.
Alone, alone, alone in this empty room,
alone with my thoughts of you.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. And I will give you rest” Mars, I’m still having a hard time putting this tribute together. I want to believe that you would at least have 20 healthy more years ahead. But God has other plans. We accept and trust in Him. Mars, our friendship/sisterhood started when we were both teaching at OBMCI. We instantly clicked as both being married to military officers. Bonding times and memories were created through parties outside of school. Irma and Myra became part of our circle. We all love to spend time together enjoying great stories, laughter and great food. As years went by, our friendship became deeper as we chose each other to be godmothers for our children. Cliff, was always welcoming to us. This sealed our sisterhood. There were no secrets amongst us. We shared good and not so good times. We had so many good memories campaigning for Danding Coquangco for President and short out of town trips just to eat out. Now, came a time, my family moved to US, Myra followed hubby Gil to Japan and Irma joined hubby Boyong in Italy. And eventually you moved to the US too. I really didn’t lost contact with you since Macky would communicate with me here in the States. Macky became really close to my children. The world has always been very small with us, never losing touch. And for this, I am grateful. You have always been close to my heart. In almost 4 decades of sisterhood, there was never a time when we got offended by each other. All was good. We always chose to understand, love and respect each other. Mars, I thank God that Jun and I got to visit and spend some time with you, Misha and family, Macky and daughters, Jenny and Beng. Yes, it was short but it meant so much to us. And to complete our circle, I was happy that we got to call Myra in New Jersey, Irma and Boyong in Milan. And best of all were the beautiful prayers and testimonies shared to you. Mars, our hearts are broken but we know that God opened the gates of heaven so you can rest in eternal peace and love with Cliff, Big Daddy , Big Mommy and all your loved ones who have gone before you. Mars, pray for us . Mars, we love you and you’ll be sorely missed. To dear Misha and family, Macky and family, Maiko and family and Angel “ Blessed are they who mourn for they will be comforted”.
Much Love,
Mina & Family
I write this to you as much as I write it for Tita Kimi—whose life, though marked by trials, was ultimately defined by love. A love she gave freely, fiercely, and without reservation.
We often say that grief is the price we pay for love. It sounds almost too simple for something this heavy. Now you know what it truly means. Because there is no preparing for this. In the days ahead, when everything begins to quiet down and the world slowly returns to its rhythm, you will feel it more. Not in the big moments, but in the small, ordinary ones. The spaces she used to fill without effort. The routines that now feel unfamiliar. The silence that lingers a little longer than it should. You will find yourself reaching for your phone, almost instinctively. You will think of calling “Ma” or “Mama,” the way you always have—because for most of your life, that call meant someone was coming to make things better.
And then, there will be silence.
I know this not as someone looking in, but as someone who has lived it. When I lost my Mama and Papa just 44 days apart, it felt like losing the center of everything I stood on. Like the world did not end—but shifted in a way that made it unfamiliar. Because no one will ever love you the way your parents do. Their love is not earned—it is given. It is your first home, your refuge, your constant defender. And when they are gone, life continues—but it carries a different weight. Your joys are still there, but they are quieter, because the people you most want to share them with are no longer there. And your burdens feel heavier, because the ones who would have helped carry them are gone.
In time, something shifts—not the pain, not the missing—but your understanding. You begin to see them not just as your parents, but as people. Imperfect, trying, carrying more than you may have realized. You begin to see how much of themselves they gave, even when they themselves were tired, afraid, or uncertain. And in that, there is a quiet kind of gratitude. And a deeper kind of love.
Tita Kimi lived this way. She was generous to a fault. She gave so much of herself and fought for the people she loved. She loved my Papa—her brother, her ride or die—and through him, she loved us too. Because of Tita Kimi and Tita Cliff, I got to experience the beauty of our country, joining your family on trips at the back of your red Nissan Vanette on a mini tour of Luzon (Pampanga-La Union-Baguio-Pagudpud) that I would otherwise never have seen. Growing up, I looked forward to the clothes, toys, bags, books and shoes you shared with me and my siblings—often with Tita Kimi’s (and Tito Cliff’s) gentle prodding and quiet insistence.
Sunday Masses at Camp Olivas were always something to look forward to, especially when Tita Kimi and Tito Cliff would treat the entire family to McDonald’s after. When Misha and I were in college and roommates at Lolo’s house in Hope Street, we would often tag along to Tita Kimi’s business meetings in Manila—which almost always ended at TGI Friday’s. For broke students like us back then, an “order-all-you-can” moment at TGI Friday’s was something we never, ever passed up.
Tita Kimi was always present in her family’s life. No matter the odds, she took it upon herself to protect, defend, and care for her own. I know she will be missed—by everyone whose lives she touched. Just like mine.
I hopd you take comfort in this: she did not leave this world alone or in prolonged suffering. She left knowing she was loved—deeply, fully—by the very people she gave her life to. There is peace in that.
And while her absence will always be felt, her love does not disappear. It changes form. It lives now in you—in how you care for one another, in how you stay close, in how you choose each other, especially in the moments when it is hardest to do so. Because the love that raised you did not end with them. It now lives in how you show up for each other.
In the days when it feels unbearable—especially then—you become what they once were for you.
We hold on to faith quietly—that this is not the end. That those who have gone before us are not lost, only ahead. That one day, when our time is through, we will find them again—whole, at peace, and free from pain.
Until then, we carry them with us.
And we honor them not only in remembrance, but in how we live. So hold on to each other. Protect one another. Love each other deeply, without hesitation. Because in doing so, you are carrying forward everything they lived for.
And when you miss her most—love each other a little more.
With you always,
Lucky
In a family of many,
she could have looked past me.
Instead she looked for me.
Second born. I came fifth.
Enough siblings between us
to make distance easy —
but she never let it be.
She had a gift for stories,
and an even greater gift
for placing herself
at the center of every one.
I used to smile at that.
Now I hold those stories
like something precious,
because they were her voice,
and her voice was home.
On the left side of our chins,
we carried the same small mark —
the vampire bite, we called it.
A secret written in skin.
Proof that in all the randomness
of who gets born into what family,
something quietly said:
these two belong to each other.
Atchi.
Not the sister just ahead of me,
but the one who reached back
across the rest of them
and found me anyway.
I carry her in the stories I now tell,
in the laughter she taught me,
and in the mark on my chin
that says:
we were here. together.
Tita Kim
Nais kong humingi ng paumanhin dahil hindi ko nasagot ang iyong mga tawag at hindi ako nakadalo sa iyong paanyaya noon. Noong mga panahong iyon, pilit kong ginagawang abala ang aking sarili upang kahit papaano ay makalimot sa sakit at lungkot na dulot ng pagkawala ng aking Papa at Mama—na ngayon ay kasama mo na rin.
Nais kong malaman mo na ikaw ay malaking bahagi ng aking kabataan. Sa iyo nagmula ang pinakamagaganda kong laruan, tulad ng aking mga Barbie at ang paborito kong Care Bear na stufftoy. Bilang bata, manghang-mangha ako sa inyo dahil sa inyong husay mag-Ingles. Inidolo ko ang inyong pananalita at dahil kayo lang ang may telepono, ginawa ko din telepono ang remote control dahil nga idol kita.. Sa tuwing naaalala ko ang mga batang alaala na ito, hindi ko mapigilang tumawa.
Puno ng saya ang aking alaala kasama ka. Tandang-tanda ko pa na lagi akong isinasama ni Papa sa tuwing ihahatid o ipagmamaneho ka niya, para lamang may kalaro si Angel.
Nagpupugay at nagpapasalamat ako sa iyo. Lalo na noong nawala ang aking mga magulang, hindi ka nagkulang sa pagpapaalala sa akin at sa pakikiramay. Ang iyong mga salita tungkol sa kung gaano ako kamahal ng aking Papa ay nagsilbing lakas ko—para bang sa iyo ko mismo naririnig ang boses niya.
Ngayon, kampante ang aking loob dahil alam kong magkakasama na kayo riyan. Wala nang sakit, wala nang lungkot. Maraming salamat muli, Ta Kim.
Napakalaki po ng utang na loob ko sa inyo ni Uncle. Hindi man po naging madali ang buhay, hindi rin natin ito sinukuan. Malayo layo narin ang naabot natin mula nuon. Hinding hindi ko po makakalimutan na lagi nyo pagpapatahan sa akin pag naaabutan nyo po ako umiiyak. “Hindi ka naman pangit ah, may cleft chin ka nga” isa sa mga sinabi nyo na hanggang ngayon ay tawang tawa parin po ako. Tinanggap nyo po ako bago ko tinanggap ang aking sarili. Isa po kayo sa nagbigay sakin ng lakas ng loob at tapang na harapin anuman ang makaharap. Sa aking patuloy na pagtahak ng aking landas, lagi ko po lilingunin ang pugad kung saan nyo ako inakay. Patuloy nyo po sana kami gabayan at bantayan. Mahal na mahal po namin kayo.
Isang lapad at isang kahang lights,
Tisto
Dear Kimi,
We only met a couple of times, but those moments left a lasting impression on me. I remember the first time so clearly—it was during the company’s Christmas party in 2022. You stood out right away. You were so jolly, so naturally warm and friendly, the kind of person who made others feel at ease without even trying. I also remember thinking how youthful you looked—there was a brightness about you that seemed untouched by time.
When I visited you during your final days, seeing you bedridden was difficult, but even then, your presence carried a quiet strength. I’m grateful I had that chance to see you, to be near you, even briefly.
I made a promise to you that I would visit you again. I truly intended to. But when the time came, I chose to step back. I knew your children were with you, surrounding you with love in those most precious moments. I didn’t want to take even a second away from that sacred time they had with their Mom. It felt right to honor that space, even if it meant not seeing you again.
One thing that comforts me deeply is the legacy you’ve left behind. Your children are kind, good-natured, and remarkable in their own ways—true high achievers. It’s clear they carry your values, your spirit, and your love. They will continue to carry the torch for you, and through them, your light will keep shining brightly.
Still, I want you to know you are remembered. In just those few encounters, you left kindness behind you, and that kind of presence doesn’t fade easily. Thank you for the warmth you shared so freely. You may have only been part of my life for a short while, but your spirit made it meaningful.
I commit you to God’s care, trusting that you are at peace. And when my time comes, I hold onto the hope that we will meet again in His perfect presence.
Until then, you remain in my heart.
Jude
Thank you for loving me and Maiko so deeply and so generously. From the very beginning, you were always there for us- steady, warm, and full of care. You welcomed me not just into your family, but into your heart, treating me as your own. That is something I will forever be grateful for.
You were the kind of person who gave without hesitation, even to a fault. Your love was selfless, your presence comforting, and your heart always open. I will always remember how you listened to me- to my stories, my worries, and the things I kept inside. You made me feel seen, heard, and understood in a way that only you could. And that is something that I will forever keep in my heart.
Thank you for always being there for Maiko and me, from day one. Your love shaped us, supported us, and will continue to guide us even now.
We will miss you more than words can express. But we carry you with us in our hearts, in our memories, and in the love you so freely gave.
Love,
Bea
My beloved my ma’am kimi. Marami pong salamat sa lahat dahil sa inyo po ako napunta bilang kayo po ang aking naging boss ko. Hindi lng po kayo boss para sakin kayo rin po ang aking kaibigan at tinuring niyo rin po akong kapatid. Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat lahat mam kim mahal na mahal kopo kayo, and i miss you so much
Tita Kimi,
I will always remember how you would treat us after our exams in med school. You always have smile on your face, very warm and always feed us with good food. Those moments meant more than just a meal—they were reminders that we were cared for, that we had someone rooting for us no matter how hard things got in med school. You embraced Ivan, Vani, and me as if we were your own. You were our extra Mom.
You were a strong woman with a golden heart—steady, generous, and full of love. The kind of person whose love doesn’t fade, even in absence, because it lives on in the people you touched.
Thank you, Tita Kimi, for loving us as your own. Thank you for raising Misha into the person she is—someone who carries your kindness, your strength, and your heart. I am so grateful that our paths crossed.
You will be forever loved, and never forgotten.
Color of Love
I know the color of love
And it lives inside of you
I know the color of truth
(It's in the image of you)
If it comes from the heart
Then you know that it's true
It will color your soul like a rainbow (Like a rainbow)
And the color of love is in you.
Liezzy
When you were at Sunrise and TLC you always told me that you’d take me shopping once you get out. You’d offer me your snacks or anything. I remember watching your face light up when me and Selena walked into the room. I miss everything that we used to do together. All of our memories together just replay in my head. Whenever I play with Tiago and Selena, at Tita’s Misha’s house I run past your room thinking of all the memories we had in that room.
-Pia
If only the time we spent together was because of better circumstances, that’s the thought that has stayed in my mind for the longest time. We might not always have met up then, but you’ve never failed to give me a call every now and then to ask how I was. We always say we want more time to spend with people who matter, and I would have loved to spend a little more time with you, especially with all your kwento and your constant reminders of what’s really important. In a way, it was I who needed you too. Beyond the feelings that I still have to process, there is the overwhelming feeling of gratitude for sharing your life with me, and for caring even when you should’ve have only been thinking of yourself. I will never forget how wide your smile was when I told you Grace was able to pass all her exams, because I remember you talked to her then and reminded her that she will do good, she will be okay, even when you didn’t really know her at all. That your words back then provided comfort not just to her, but also to me, so much so that she thought of telling you first before me. Haha. She made the right decision, because I have that memory of you in my mind forever, smiling. We are all made up of the memories of people we love, and now, I carry you with me as well, always.
You will be missed in ways words can’t fully hold.
You are forever loved beyond what was ever spoken.
You will always be remembered with love and admiration for a life well lived.
The person I once played and spent time with
Now bound to a bed
My heart started to ache
Thinking of when we looked at a nest
Happy, yellow, and ungray
Now as empty as that room I cry in everyday
But fear not, for I will be okay
You no longer have to worry about my dismay.
Dear Mama,
Every morning I would wait for you to turn on your exhaust fan in the bathroom. Only then would I start my day. I always felt relieved to hear that fan whir because I knew He had given you another day. I never knocked on your door to say hello or good morning. The fan was all I needed to know you were okay.
When I would arrive home from work you would always yell from inside your room, “Sha, nandiyan ka na?” I would in turn answer, “Ma, wala ako dito.” That was our way of saying hello after a long day. It was not sweet, thoughtful, or even loving, but I looked forward to it every day.
That was how we were, Ma, sometimes afraid to show each other we cared, always keeping our emotions bottled up, and rarely saying how we felt. But we were always each other’s constant… together through every trial, every joy, and every heartache.
I thought you would be around longer, Ma. Remember when I told you I’d keep you alive forever? I said I would sew your body parts back on should they fall off. Tahiin ko yung ilong at tainga mo kung mahulog sila. You would laugh at the thought. I told you that you weren’t allowed to die, though I never told you why.
It wasn’t until we found out that you were sick that I told you. I told you that it was because I didn’t know what I would do without you. I told you that it was because I needed you and that I would rather have our petty quarrels than to not have you around at all. I told you that it was because I love you, Ma, I always have… quietly, from afar, my whole life. I have always wanted to please you, to make you proud, to be the daughter that you wanted… and I hope that you felt that during our last few months together, Ma, with every subo and pillow change… I love you, Ma, so so so much…
I miss you every day, Mama. Tiago does too. He cries as often as I do. Every night he prays that he sees you in his dreams. He said he just wants to hug you one more time. Yesterday, he told me about the bird’s nest in the satellite dish next to your window. He said you would both sit and watch the eggs, waiting for them to hatch. Tiago said he was so happy to see the little birds but he can’t really remember when they flew away. He ended his story by saying, “The nest is empty now.” It’s just as empty as the house I come home to every day after work.
Wala ako dito, Ma,
Misha
Mimi
