Jona Jen Himalaya, 18, wanted to overcome her illness, finish her studies, and become an inspiration to others.

But for the teenager from Bacolod City suffering from cancer of the blood, that was not to happen.

She passed away Wednesday with happy memories of celebrating Christmas in November and of joining a party with her new found friends from the Suntown Camp 11 days earlier.

Suntown Camp 1 was held in Negros Occidental in November for children from 9-18 years old who are either ill with cancer, or in remission, and children who have a parent that has been diagnosed with cancer.

During the camp, alumnae from Assumption Class '65 organized a surprise Christmas night for the campers.

The night's activity included caroling and gift-giving by the sponsoring class, and ended with dancing among the children and the volunteers.

Jona Jen forgot her illness for a few moments and clowned around with the rest.

During that same evening, however, Jona Jen expressed in a group activity that among her deepest wishes were to “surpass my illness, finish my studies, become an inspiration to other people, and to be a typical teenager...especially to be able to play badminton again”.

At a Christmas party and reunion for the camp participants on December 8, Jona Jen was the first to arrive.

Although she looked paler and a bit thinner, she joined all the games and group singing activities.

However, her medical condition at the time of her death indicates that she was probably already beginning to experience some indications of infection, which she kept to herself.

Jona Jen was admitted to the hospital only on the morning of her death, at which time she told her attending physician that she now wished to rest.

Jona Jen was looking forward to joining Suntown Camp No. 2 but that was not to be.

A top her coffin was a group photo of the camp participants who brought her joy in the last month, and last Christmas of her life.*

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