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.
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