Exactly one year ago, on 9 May 1998, Part 1 of Reyna's web site was published in the Internet to commemorate her, and to thank those who influenced her life.

This, Part 2 of her web page, was written to memorialise and celebrate her life's achievements, rather than to glorify her.

As her adopted Mum, I have chosen a sequence of chronological events which may seem arbitrary but the details are accurate. Her life that I describe here is a recollection of happier times with her endearing cheerful ways; a declaration of our undying love; and an expression of our and her friends' great loss.

Reyna, with her skills, talents, and never-a-dull-moment funny ways touched so many lives in many amusing ways.

This web site is updated periodically to enable viewers to know more about this beautiful and interesting young lady. Perhaps, to date, she is still the only Filipina in NZ who strongly excelled in arts and music?

Reyna's life had its beginnings in picturesque Pangasinan province and, briefly, in the busy noisy city of Metro Manila, Philippines nearly 5 years before she emigrated to New Zealand . Reyna's biological father is my youngest brother. There were 7 children in his family, two of them died just a few months after they were borne.

Reyna was barely 2 years old when her parents, due to poverty, decided that she live with her grandmother, my mother, who could look after her better in Manila.

Her short period in the ancestral home was a joyful break for Reyna. Her confidence soared being the centre of attention in the household. She became healthy, physically and mentally alert, and she made us happy. A talkative little child who lusted for excitement, it was normal for her to challenge her siblings to yelling and "howling" matches.

It was in the ancestral home where she learnt to talk, walk, draw, count, and scribble. She learnt how to impress and make people laugh. She could win everyone on her side just with her smile and with her naughty, clever ways. She was determined to have fun in life.

My mother asked me to look after Reyna because I was still single and had the time to spare. Reyna and I slept together in my room. Because my bed was too high and not wide enough for us, we both slept on a mat on the floor. At night, I would wake up to ensure that no creeping insects or mosquitoes bit or harmed her. If I wasn't in our room when she woke up, she screamed for me. I was very protective over her, saw to it that no one upset her. I could focus my mind off the stresses of my job whenever I remembered Reyna waiting for me at home. She was a delightful little brat; very impressionable; always full of energy and cheek.

Being brought up apart from her siblings made Reyna different. She had better options and expectations. Perhaps, being my charge may have elated Reyna socially. Students laughed at her antics whenever I took her with me to school. Her siblings became envious. Having been brought up in the big ancestral home in Manila had a critical influence on Reyna's life.

Reyna responded to me better than to her own mother. Her family and friends had to work hard to gain her respect and loyalty. She was regarded like a little queen, and when not treated as one Reyna couldn't be bothered. Certainly, as her name implied, she was the "Queen of the Kings" with them.

Eventually, her potentials and abilities became obvious. She was destined to excel in many areas. I could imagine how terrific she would be if she continued life in a place better than her home town.

Unfortunately, Reyna had to go back to her own family because I had to leave for overseas for a long time on a Fellowship grant. I was sad because she had been a part of me. I missed and worried about her. Finally, it was suggested that I adopt her. At that time, I thought, it was impossible because I wasn't married and it would be unfair for Reyna.

My brief interlude with Reyna stirred the mother instinct in me. I decided to get married and have my own child. However, I didn't want to raise a family in a poverty-stricken country. I decided to marry a foreigner who is a scientist in NZ, and emigrated there.

My husband and I were not destined to have our own child. And so, my thoughts went back to Reyna and decided to take the offer of adopting her legally, and take her to live with us in NZ. Together, my husband and I went to Manila; me to get re-united with Reyna, while my husband got acquainted with her for the first time. Vernon and I, then, initiated the adoption process.

When we went to get Reyna, we waited a long time. Eventually, she appeared looking grotty and dusty but victorious after winning a fight with her playmates! We were a bit shocked. She was grinning with no front teeth!

When we took her away, her playmates and friends were chanting with glee. We never knew at the time whether her playmates were happy to see the back of her or happy for her because she was going overseas!

Reyna was a little toughie, and I liked her for that.

When in Manila, Vern, her future Dad, urgently bought her a gallon of NZ powdered milk.

Initially, it was a struggle to make her drink milk to improve her health. Later she didn't mind because we told her milk will make her front teeth grow back. From then on, she drank milk like water.