A young woman from Davao who lost her fight with bone cancer has had her final wish granted — to die beautiful.
Racine Pregunta, aged 20, gave detailed instructions about clothes and makeup before passing away after a battle with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.
Now her family say they have fulfilled her request after sharing heartbreaking pictures of Racine in an open casket looking stunning at her funeral.
According to her sister Rolyn Pregunta, Racine, who had done modelling photoshoots, made the request after being “inspired” by the Filipino comedy movie Die Beautiful.
In the film released last year, a transgender woman dies while being crowned in a beauty pageant. The lead character’s wish was to be presented as a different celebrity on each night of her wake.
Rolyn has described on Facebook how her sister made a similar but simpler request as she knew her last days had begun on April 12. She died just five days later.
Racine requested a “personal make-up artist” to do her make-up. She also wanted to wear a white off-the-shoulder dress and a white flower headband.
And she also wanted something violet, blue and mint green – and that ended being represented in her funeral flowers.
“Today, request fulfilled and there all I see is you, smiling,” Rolyn wrote on Facebook.
“On the way to the sunset, friends and family gathered and bid their last farewell to Racine who now sleeps beautifully forever. You will always remain in our hearts.”
Rolyn also revealed how she discovered a heartwarming message from Paolo Ballesteros, the actor who had inspired her with the movie.
“At our home, last day of her wake.. beautiful flowers was sent tagged as Anonymous but we we’re told that the sender is from Manila with a special note,” she said.
The message said: “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL – Pao”.
Rolyn added: “It became a guessing game of who could it be and later on, it was confirmed to us who sent it — Paolo Ballesteros.”
“I was overwhelmed of how Racine touched his heart and made its way to Davao.”
The death came after Rolyn first posted about her sister’s diagnosis in an emotional appeal for help on Facebook last October.
She requested financial donations to help with medical support and a specific blood type to help Racine battle the disease.
“Hi everyone,” Rolyn wrote. “This is to inform everyone my sister Racine is battling Osteosarcoma. It’s a rare disease.
“Right now she badly needs B+ blood type to stabilise her haemoglobin.
“The soonest possible she will undergo surgery on her right knee. I am humbly asking for your support, if any of you can donate B+ blood type tomorrow we will greatly appreciate.”
In another post last October, Rolyn wrote: “Her illness is like a theft in the night. She’s still battling for her life right now. Please include her in your prayers.
“Thank you all for the support and financial assistance. We are still raising more funds to sustain her medical needs.
“God bless everyone. Thank you to those who have visited her. Your presence will give her more strength to fight!”
Rolyn’s more recent post about her sister’s preparations went viral on social media attracting 27,000 reactions and 7,000 comments.
Follow our Facebook page for daily news updates
…
Comments are closed.