By the time you read this, I am already back from Angeles City, Pampanga, where I spent some time with the family of Pastor Wong Mein Kong, our GCI national leader in Malaysia and assistant to Mission Developer Mr. Rod Matthews in Southeast Asia.
“Blue Skies and Fair Winds”—This is a wish or benediction commonly given to pilots and their crew as they venture into the skies. It means safe and great journey. The weather on Friday afternoon, July 22, 2011 was generally fair, gentle winds, bright afternoon sky and his fellow pilots described it as a perfect day to fly. For Omni Aviation Corporation Flight Instructor Capt. Wong Tian Yu, that flight could just have been among the many flight missions they took. Yet the Cessna 152 plane they were flying malfunctioned and crashed near the Angeles Flying Club in Magalang, Pampanga at around 5:30pm, resulting in the sudden death of Tian Yu and his student, Alfred Christian De Leon.
Wong Tian Yu was born February 1, 1989 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His mother shared with us that while Tian Yu was still in the womb, they met the late Joseph Tkach, Sr., Pastor General of the Worldwide Church of God at that time. He took one look at the pregnant Mrs. Wong and said, “Now you have to name your son Joseph!” She and Mr. Wong agreed that Joseph, which means “He will add”, is a good name indeed. And so they gave the Chinese name to the baby, and added Yu, in order to complete the somewhat prophetic name: Tian Yu, which means “He will add joy.”
Wong Tian Yu, who was nicknamed “Tummy” by his colleagues and co-workers, was a remarkable young man and lived a remarkable life. During the memorial service held last Sunday, 4:00pm, the owner of Omni Aviation, Capt. Ben Gomez, gave a touching message to his parents:
“This day is very significant and sobering for us. You lost a son, and we lost our best employee. Even in his short stay with us of about six months, Tummy left his mark as an ideal employee-one who did his work very well and was loved by everyone. He loved flying. And because he was given more time to do admin work in the office, he requested me: Will you allow me to fly so I can fulfill my dreams? So I did. Even at a young age of 22 years old, he was already a flight instructor. One of his fellow flight instructors describes him as a hopeful, cheerful guy who was full of dreams. He is the kind of guy that everyone would want as a brother, a friend and colleague.”
Another eulogy was given by his mentor and supervisor, Capt. Johann Leong: “My family and friends know me as a strong person, not prone to emotional outbursts. But when I heard the news about Tian Yu, I really broke down and cried a long time… Being Malaysian like me, Tian Yu and I shared many other things in common, including a bond that is more than friendship – in many ways, I was his older brother, and he was like the younger brother I never had. He was a gifted pilot and I had great hopes for him.”
Tian Yu’s dream to fly began at a young age. In 2006, Pastor Wong attended a leader’s conference hosted by the GCI Philippines. He told his fellow ministers about his son who wanted to fly and asked if there was a good flying school they might know about. Pastor George Escara from the Visayas region told him about Aviatours, a company founded by GCI-Philippines National Advisory Council member, Capt. Jessup Bahinting. One thing led to another, and soon Wong Tian Yu came to Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines with his father, to enroll in Aviation Training One International (whose President is Captain Dan Bahinting, son of Capt. Jessup). In a few years, he earned his wings. He has lived mostly in the Philippines since then.
Tian Yu loved flying, and pursued his passion with determination, excellence, and a healthy dose of humour. He was adopted by the church brethren in Negros as one of their own, and he blessed their lives as well with his cheerful countenance and optimism. Joseph Ouano, a fellow GCI member who became one of Tian Yu’s close friends, shared how he will miss Tian Yu’s “happy walk” and demonstrated it during his eulogy, to the delight of Tian Yu’s mom. Tian Yu adapted so well, and learned even to speak a little Bisaya, the native dialect of the region.
Pastor Rex Dela Pena, who conducted the memorial service last Sunday, recalls how Tian Yu was willing to serve and mingle with the local church youth during SEP and youth retreats. Young girls considered Tian Yu a Malaysian “heartthrob,” especially when he would wear his aviator shades. Indeed Tian Yu gave the brethren joy wherever he went.
And Tian Yu continued to pursue his dream. Earlier this year he got accepted to work as the youngest Flight Instructor in Omni Aviation School in Clark Air Field, Pampanga many miles away. Despite his young age, he showed great talent and quickly gained the respect of both his peers and students. Almost all of them came to his memorial service, and together with the brethren from GCI Pampanga Church, the chapel room was filled and even overflowed—a testament to how much Tian Yu was loved and respected. It really blessed his family to see that they were not alone in their grief.
Tian Yu’s elder sister, Wong Xiao Qing, relates how she and her parents truly feel God’s comfort and loving embrace during this difficult time. A week prior to the unfortunate incident, she insisted that her mother join her in coming to Manila. Xiao Qing came from Singapore to conduct trainings, and her mother came to be with her two children. Mrs. Wong, lovingly called Auntie Chew, recalls how the previous Sunday, Tian Yu gave her a treat she will treasure forever—he took her up on a special flight to see Mt. Pinatubo from above. It was a special time for mother and son. While they had no inkling whatsoever of the tragedy that would come a few days later, Auntie Chew says that she is truly grateful to God for His loving grace that gives them peace, and for allowing them to have 22 wonderful years with Tian Yu.
Pastor Wong addressed the crowd gathered for his son’s memorial last Sunday, sharing how he and his wife decided to raise their children with a firm belief that they are but loaned from God—that they are first and foremost God’s children, and they as parents are only stewards. He shared that when he learned of the news, the words of Job were whispered into his heart: “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
Our love and prayers to God for the Wong family will continue, even as the days go by. We also extend our gratefulness to Pastor Audie Santibanez, who has been helping the family with the logistics and more, lightening the load for us all. Since Tian Yu moved to Pampanga in February, the Santibanez’ have become like his second family, and it can be said that he loved being a “big brother” to Pastor Audie’s two sons, Elijah and Luke.
Truly, Capt. Wong Tian Yu will be remembered for his incredible passion for life, for living his faith, his love for the heavenly skies, and for the joy that he brought all of us, which comes from God.
Sincerely,
Eugene Guzon
National Director, GCI Philippines and Northeast Asia Region
With Bituin Aquino
The Wong family with brethren from GCI Philippines, some of them flew in from Negros to attend the memorial Service last Sunday, July 25, 2011.
