Members of the OPM band Ben&Ben paid their last respects to fan Monique Gabriel Gadong, the newlywed teacher who died of brain cancer six months after her diagnosis.
Read: Teacher diagnosed with "most aggressive" brain cancer four months after wedding
Frontmen Paolo Benjamin and Miguel Benjamin Guico, along with keyboardist Pat Lasaten and bassist Agnes Reoma, visited Monique’s wake after reaching out to her husband Christopher.
Caption: Ben&Ben band members (L-R) Pat Lasaten, Agnes Reoma, Miguel Benjamin Guico, and Paolo Benjamin Guico play tribute songs for Monique Gabriel Gadong, the brain cancer patient who was their avid fan.
Paolo sent Christopher a private message via Facebook Messenger after learning about the couple's story exclusively published on PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
In a follow-up article, PEP.ph reported that Christopher found a note on Monique’s phone containing the comment she left on the band’s social media post asking for suggestions on future songs.
Monique talked about her pain and the possibility of leaving her husband so soon, barely a year into their marriage.
Read: Newlywed teacher succumbs to brain cancer after valiant fight
BEN&BEN REACHES OUT
While Christopher hoped Monique’s note and request would reach the band, he was still surprised when he saw a message from the Ben&Ben singer on Monday, October 30, 2023.
Paolo sent condolences on the band’s behalf, and sympathized with the recent widower. He then asked for details of the wake and expressed their intention to pay their last respects.
“At first I doubted if it was really Mr. Paolo Benjamin of Ben&Ben,” Christopher told PEP.ph.
“Since the profile he used has no blue verified badge and the profile says he works at ‘Krusty Krab.’ I thought it was a fake account.”
Christopher added that he was able to verify it was indeed Paolo when the latter made a video call.
Four of the band’s nine members visited the wake–held at Christopher’s parents’ house in Taguig City—Thursday night, November 2, and stayed for almost two hours.
He admired the band member’s humility despite their immense popularity.
“Even they are very popular, they don't have police escort. They entertained all their fans in our area. Dinumog po sila ng fans pero they entertained all their fans.”
He continied, “I shared to the band our journey with this battle against the most aggressive brain cancer cells and how my wife Monique rests peacefully."
Monique had Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Grade IV, the most serious type of brain tumor. She had three brain surgeries, two of them to remove the tumor and the other to remove abscess resulting from infection.
She passed away after contracting sepsis due to a blood infection from her third craniotomy.
At the wake, Christopher said, “Miguel Benjamin cried as he remembered his wife, with how genuine and unconditional our love for each other is.
"They can't stop crying as they feel how hard our journey is.”
Read: Ben&Ben draws "65,000"-strong crowd at homecoming concert
ben&ben's MOVING TRIBUTE
Later, the band members played three of their songs: “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay,” “Leaves,” and “Araw-Araw.”
The first song had been Monique’s request when she was still alive.
The four members sat on monoblock chairs facing Monique’s casket, Pat holding a keytar (keyboard shaped like a guitar), Agnes a pair of shakers, and Paolo an acoustic guitar.
Before they played for Monique, Miguel spoke for a bit to introduce themselves and the reason for their visit.
“Umabot po sa amin yung kuwento ni Monique,” Miguel said, addressing the visitors grieving with the Gabriel and Gadong families.
“Nalaman po namin na si Monique at silang mag-asawa, pinapakinggan po nila yung music namin up until the days na papunta na siya sa heaven.
“At siguro, sinasabi ko nga po kanina, kahit na ngayon lang po kami nagkakilala parang gusto lang namin magpasalamat kasi kahit papaano, yung mga buhay namin na-connect dahil sa music.
“At gusto rin naming magbigay, mag-alay ng song ngayong gabi sa paghatid kay Monique kay Lord sa heaven. Bilang pasasalamat na rin. Para sa iyo ito, Monique.”
As Paolo and Pat began playing their instruments, Miguel tried to hold back his emotions.
"Meron po kaming kanta. Title niya ay ‘Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay.’
“Wooh, wala pa nga, e,” Miguel continued while wiping his eyes.
“Noong narinig namin iyong story nila, siguro iyon na iyong nire-represent niya, yung sinasabi ng song na ito.
"Na yung pagmamahal na sobrang pinaglaban mo, kaya niyang umabot sa susunod na habang buhay.
“At pakiramdam namin ganoon iyong pagmamahal niyong dalawa,” Miguel said, addressing Christopher.
Miguel added, "Para sa inyo ito."
As the band played, Christopher can be heard off-camera sniffing and panning his cellphone to Monique’s casket.
He later explained to PEP.ph when asked what he was thinking at that moment, “Yung iniisip ko po that time is yung song itself.
“Na sa susunod na habang buhay ay si Monique pa din ang mamahalin ko at pipiliin.
“I am very much overwhelmed. Mixed emotions actually. I feel so happy that they gave their final respects to my wife. However, I feel a little bit sad as my wife will no longer see and hear them.”
As the first song neared its end, Miguel was visibly overcome by his feelings. His voice cracked and he stopped singing, so Paolo took over the vocals.
Miguel gathered himself and sang the last two lines with his twin brother: “Ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin kong mahalin / Sa susunod na habang buhay.”
While the band played “Araw-Araw,” Christopher can be heard singing along: “Payapa sa yakap ng iyong mahiwaga / Pipiliin ka sa araw-araw.”
PINK AND RED FLOWERS FOR MONIQUE
Christopher, together with his and Monique’s families, arranged for Monique’s wake after she died on October 28, 2023.
Christopher said they found it hard to look for a chapel because most chapels were already occupied as the country celebrated Undas.
“That's why we decided to have Monique's wake at my parents' home,” Christopher said.
Monique’s remains were surrounded by pink and red flowers, a noticeable departure from the usual white flowers seen in most wakes. Even the curtains were light pink and white.
Her beautiful portrait, taken before their December 2022 wedding, was placed on top of her casket.
Christopher explained: “The curtains and flowers are pink and not the usual white since Monique's favorite color is pink and it signifies our unconditional love for each other.”
The flowers were arranged by Gayak PMV, owned by Monique’s former student Paul Marlou Victoria.
Christopher admitted to feeling lost. “It is really painful, I don’t know what would be my life after the interment.”
But he believes Monique helped in making things easier for him. “Monique never let me feel any hardships in [preparing for] her wake up to interment.”
He said she had a burial plan that covered all her funeral services. He also received a 40 percent discount for the cemetery lot.
christopher on LOSING MONIQUE
Christopher said they had been aware of the complications that may arise from the operations needed to fight Monique’s cancer.
“Even in her first surgery, the neurosurgeon revealed to us the possible complications of having brain surgery. Some may be in comatose, some may have nonstop seizure, some may have infections.”
However, Christopher was still caught off-guard when it happened after the third craniotomy, especially since Monique had overcome so much. She had been having seizures which led to confinements, and her second craniotomy was done because of an infection.
Speaking about the effect of her third operation, Christopher said: “Yes, I was shocked when she exhibited symptoms of short-term memory loss.
"At first, I didn't notice this until in a day she repeatedly uttered these questions to me: ‘Mahal, nasaan tayo? Ano nangyari sa akin? Bakit ako naoperahan? Pakipaliwanag. Hindi ko maintindihan.’”
Christopher also said that although he knew the odds were against them with the kind of cancer Monique had, he did not lose hope.
“I know already the life expectancy of a person with GBM. Pero hindi ako nagpaapekto po doon.
“Ang pinanghahawakan ko ay yung sinabi ng surgeon na yes, those are [published] articles but the survival will depend on how the patient's body reacts on the surgery.
"I still hope and pray for a miracle that what we've been experiencing will be a testimony of survival in the future.”
He admitted that he did not think about the worst.
“I did not prepare myself for her death as my hope for miracle to happen is there. Until that night of Friday, October 27, when her vital signs dropped immediately and I saw her sufferings. I thought that Monique may leave me very, very soon.”
discovering monique's notes
After Monique died, Christopher discovered her handwritten notes as well as saved notes in her phone, revealing her own fears and dreams.
These included the note that Monique posted as a comment in one of Ben&Ben’s social media posts.
Monique had answered Ben&Ben’s September 18 Facebook post asking, “Kung may kanta kaming isusulat para sa iyo, tungkol saan yun?”
This note, which PEP.ph published, became an instrument for Ben&Ben to learn about Monique and Christopher’s love story.
Christopher told PEP.ph that he did not know Monique had written the comment. “She didn't even mention or talk about it beforehand... When I read it, I cried. I felt how much she really wanted to live more years with me.”
He also discovered another note that detailed Monique’s “goals before becoming a mommy.”
It was dated August 6, 2023. Christopher said she had been undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy at that time.
Among the goals Monique listed included money for the future, pampering herself, earning her master's degree, getting a promotion at work, traveling, and being healthy and happy.
Caption: Monique’s note written on August 6, 2023, while undergoing radiation therapy and first phase of chemotherapy. It details the goals she wants to achieve before becoming a mother. Monique died just two months before her and Christopher’s first wedding anniversary.
She also made a list of places she wanted to explore: local destinations like Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Palawan, and Vigan. The list had items with check marks on them indicating the places she had already visited, some more than once: a camping site in Rizal, Tagaytay, Batangas, Subic, Baguio, Pangasinan, La Union, and Boracay.
Monique also wanted to visit other countries like Taiwan, Japan, and Korea ten years from now. This indicated her will and hope to win her fight against Stage 4 brain cancer.
She ended her note: “I will live a happy, healthy, and faithful and wonderful life. [smiley face] Thank you, Lord. [smiley face] All glory to you.”
Caption: Four of the nine members of Ben&Ben write and sign on the back of Monique Gadong’s portrait, displayed on top of her casket during her wake. “Monique & Christopher, Salamat sa pagiging patunay ng pagmamahal hanggang sa susunod na habang buhay. Nagmamahal, Ben&Ben”
GRATITUDE AMIDST GRIEF
Christopher carries conflicting emotions as he navigates the first days without his other half, the person he hoped to spend the rest of his life with.
But as he looks back on their—in his words—“short but beautiful love story,” he cannot help but marvel at it.
He told PEP.ph: “I realized that I've done so much sacrifices for my wife. I thought it was just part of my responsibility as husband but it is all because of my unconditional love for her.”
Christopher is grateful that their story resonated with many people, with netizens sharing the PEP.ph article, strangers messaging him expressing their condolences, and people donating for Monique’s hospital and funeral bills.
As of writing, the first story has already been shared more than 3,100 times on Facebook alone.
“When the article was published, there are some unknown people sending me private messages regarding their condolences and sympathy. Some shared the article on Facebook. They salute and admire our story. It also helps us to raise funds for the burial of my wife.”
As of November 2, Thursday morning, donations have reached PHP40,300 and still counting since the story came out about Monique’s valiant fight.
Christopher is thankful for all the help, as he still faces Monique’s hospital bills, the fourth confinement alone amounting to PHP111,958 after discounts and government medical assistance.
As a devout Catholic, it is also not lost on Christopher that Monique’s 40th day of passing falls on December 7, 2023. It is the day of their first wedding anniversary.
Looking at the silver lining of it all, Christopher said: “Our story touched and inspired many couples as our journey may be short but full of love, hope and faith.”
Monique’s interment is scheduled for November 5 at 10:00 a.m.
For those who would like to extend help to Christopher:
- GCash is 09175139826
- Bank account is Bank of the Philippine Islands 3089225018, Christopher Gadong