to send Mila's balikbayan boxes to the Philippines

Hello, I am Wivina(Bang) Ayson Chmura. I am a very close friend to Tita Mila. She was my adopted aunt in Pittsburgh since most of my real aunts are all over the country. Tita Mila took great care of my family of four boys and my husband, Charley. She meant so much to me personally. (I was trying to think how many egg rolls and barbque sticks she made for our graduation parties through the years...thousands of each!) Her children, Earline and Jeremy, asked me to help set up this fundraiser.

Tita (Aunt) Mila was a one-of-a-kind angel on earth. Her family, here and in the Philippines, were her world! Her mission in life was to help and serve others through her generosity! She lived her Catholic faith in everything she did. Tita Mila gave much of her time to her children and grandchildren, cooking for others, sharing her garden...especially her beloved dahlias, and HEALING others through the art of massage. In the Philippines, people would refer to a person with the gift of massage as a 'healot' or 'healer'. She discovered that she had this gift later in her life and recalled what her grandmother had taught her.

We will truly miss her bright light and energy that she so willingly shared with her family, friends, and clients. She was a great friend to her clients and became a part of their families as well!

Tita Mila told everyone that when she died, she would like ALL of her earthly belongings that could fit into a box, sent to the Philippines. Throughout her life, Tita Mila was always looking for a bargain or sale so she could purchase and collect food, clothes, shoes, cosmetics, books, chocolate and other candies, toys, etc. A few times a year, she sent what she had accumulated to her family in the Philippines. She sent them in 'balikbayan' boxes. Balikbayan means 'a person returning to the homeland'. Each balikbayan box costs about $100 to ship.

Her massage clients knew about her mission to help those not as fortunate as her. Please help us fulfill her wish. Any overage funds will go to an orphanage near her hometown. In June, her children and their families plan to bring Tita Mila's remains back to the Philippines. At her family's request, she will be laid to rest with her mom and grandmother.

ALL donations will benefit the people in the Philippines. Thank you, in advance, for your help in fulfilling Tita Mila's wishes. Any amount you can give will help.