THE PROMISE OF JUNE

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The month of June is very significant to me.  First and foremost, my two daughters were born in the month of June.  From then on, they celebrate their birthdays a week apart, the 5th and the 12th. 

This year though, I'll be content just greeting them through FaceTime.  On the 5th, my older daughter's birthday, we won't eat out, I can't even buy her a gift, so I thought I'll just prepare dinner to be sent over to her home a few blocks away. 

On the 12th, there would have been a more elaborate celebration for my younger daughter who lives abroad since she will celebrate a milestone birthday.  This year, greeting her on FaceTime and offering lots of prayers for her well being is the best I could do.

June is also significant to me because for 30 years I've worked in a school.  Up to this time I still feel the excitement of the children on school opening, this feeling has remained with me even though I'm  now retired.

This year when the worldwide pandemic progressed, the Enhanced Community Quarentine was implemented.  Many people suffered, a lot went without food until food packs were distributed, a great majority had no work and many died.  Some complained of discomfort and boredom confined in their homes, many felt deprived of their freedom of movement.  

But did we ever wonder why this is happening?  Are we being given a lesson or some kind of a punishment?  Could this be something similar in purpose like the burning of Sodom and Gomorra?

Then I started to reflect and tried to understand, I asked myself if mankind has become too materialistic and too preoccupied with our own selfish whims and ambitions that we overlooked what really matters?  Did we really pay attention to what is vital for our existence?  Did we show  appreciation for all the best things that this world provides? 

Then I realized what this pandemic also brought us and I thought; could it be that The Almighty wants us to live this way; focusing more of our time to the family, less time for gadgets while giving each one our full attention they deserve?  Eating meals together and enjoying just being together in a well ordered home?  Aren't those the things that we've always wanted, yet couldn't get on to them because we were so preoccupied in acquiring more money and material things? 

These past weeks as I walked 10,000 steps everyday with my friend and my husband in the street where we live, we always anticipated a beautiful sunrise so we could sun gaze.  Oftentimes, we were disappointed that we can't see the brightness of the sun covered by clouds.  But we know that it is there shining brightly on the other parts of the world and that nothing can suppress its brightness.  

So I thought back what my good friend Nina post on Facebook a few days ago that: "like the sun covered by clouds, we couldn't see its brightness; in life our problems may dim the light of our days but they can never stop the promised brightness of tomorrow".  

This year 2020 therefore, on this month of June we now anticipate better days since the community quarantine in our country has been partly eased up. We are now into the onset of another way of life, hopefully this new normal which is much anticipated by all of us will open up a bright new beginning. 

CELEBRATING MAMA ON MOTHER'S DAY

What's a better way to remember my Mama than celebrating her life?  And what perfect time than Mother's Day?

What is not to like about my Mama?  I believe there's none. I wish I was more like her.  She always chose to be happy even when the chips were down.  That's her trademark.  

When things got tougher, she was quiet, you'd think she was hurting, but no, maybe she was trying to solve the problem or just praying, I never asked.  I wish I had, then I would have learned more about this exemplary behavior. 

The older of two daughters, born and raised by a Filipino father, an author and school superintendent and a half Spanish mother.  She was very fluent in Spanish that our  family daily rosary was said in Spanish. 

She went to St Theresa's college, majored in piano, minor in voice.  Before the outbreak of WorldWar II, she got married to  a lawyer from the Ateneo de Manila who wanted a simple life, that he just took care of rice lands bequeath by his Lola who spoiled him to death.

After the war, she found herself married with two kids in the hometown of my Papa.  We lived in his ancestral home with his aunties and cousins and I saw how well they got along. Those were happy times, full of laughter, cooking, eating singing and dancing. 

Being new in the community, she was well accepted by the locals.  She gave piano lessons to children of affluent families.  She was a friend to everybody and no enemies that I know of.  She was very religious and a devout Catholic.  She played the organ for the church choir and was active in church activities.  

She was an avid reader, she loved books and magazines.  She subscribed to several American women's magazines: The Ladies Home Journal, The Redbook, Good Housekeeping as well as the local weeklies.  My Papa had the Saturday  Evening Post and Popular Mechanics.  Before I went to high school she got me a set of hard-bound Emily Loring and my brother got a set of Tom Suayer. 

Books were her first and last love. The then famous Alemar's and Goodwill bookstores were her candy shop and playground.  You would think she'd put her money on clothes and jewelry?   But no, she bought books, plenty of books. 

She would frequent the movies too, after all, just like a novel ,a movie is another form of entertainment to her.  She loved to snack at little soda fountains along Avenida Rizal  and  Carriedo but she was also comfortable in chilling at the more upscale coffee shops in Oceanic Commercial and Botica Boie in Escolta, the place where the elite shopped. 

I admire her values, she was very proper in all ways.  She was always gracious and charming but her strength in character is obvious. She is very optimistic and trusting, she had a good word for everyone, always gave people the benefit of the doubt and was quick to forgive. 

Her clothes were simple but expertly done by a couturier, and her accessories were just right and minimal. She could have bought lots of jewelry since she had her own money from her share of royalties earned by her Papa's books; though my Papa could have bought them for her.  Apparently she was not that interested, I recall she only had two sets of diamond earrings and a longines wrist watch with a delicately thin solid gold strap. 

She was a great hostess, generous in serving sumptuous food whenever she and my Papa entertained friends.  They gave parties very often, with great food and drinks. They often danced the night away, tango being the craze at the time.  I think that was their way of filling the gap from  a former lifestyle in Manila,  after all there was not much to do for entertainment in that small town.  I guess that was also the reason that they read a lot, no tv or telephone then, only radio. 

Merienda were cakes that my Mama baked, doughnuts, banana fritters, golyorya too, native cakes among other pastries.  We never ran out of bananas, boiled peanuts, fruits in season on the dining table.  After the afternoon snack, she would crochet, knit or do crafts with the cousins while they listened to music from the radio until dinner time. 

On summer afternoons, activities took place right after lunch, she played bingo, mahjong, gin rummy, scrabble or other card or board games with us, kids.  Before his formal schooling, my younger brother learned to count from 1 to 75.  I think you can guess why. 

We had a happy childhood because my mama made sure of that.  She made our home a great place where we thrived, she was everything to us, the focal point of our lives.  She kissed away our wounds and never slept when we were sick. 

She introduced us to the wonderful world of novels; taught me how to bake, cook and other good housekeeping  activities.  She taught us everything there is to know, good manners, table manners, everything. 

This May, I celebrate Mother's Day with mixed emotions, that of happiness and sadness.  Sad because I miss her, I feel like  I haven't talked to her enough, there are many things I wanted to know about her, I never thought I'd lose her that soon.  

On the flip side, I'm happy that she was my mother.  I cherish with love all the wonderful moments I've spent with her.  I'll remember the good times and the best times, they are great memories to keep for a lifetime.  Of all the mothers in the whole world, she was the best! And I love her.