Mom celebrated her 65th yesterday without any plan of celebration. All I had in mind was to treat her to dinner after work but she ended up treating me instead. That's how Mom always is.
What was thought of as a simple birthday turned to be the best and most fun for her. She was surprised the day before with an entry to Showtime, where she rocked the House yesterday with her Pilita-esque acting in one of her portions. She was given P5K for that and a phone. Part of the money she treated me with, she gave balato to Nanay Lol, her sister who was with her, and the rest to treat her apos. She would be sending the phone to her oldest sister because she said, "Wala siyang sariling cellphone." That's how Mom is --- nauuna ang iba, bago ang sarili.
So when you ask me what Heroism is for me, I will not even look far nor look back at the past and refer to Philippine History. Heroism is about giving one's self so others do and feel better about themselves. My Mom is like that.
When I was younger, I felt that she was an introvert relative to my extrovert Dad. Now, in hindsight, I realized she was as strong as he was or could even be stronger. She submitted to him and allowed him to lead our Household and when things went awry, she took the helm and saved our family from complete destruction.
She never attributed her strength to herself. She always tells me that it is with God's Grace that she became bold and yes, brave. Come to think of it, she grew in an environment where education was for the rich yet she had the chance to finish school because she was a working student like her sisters. Like them, she was industrious and humble. She never had any awareness of self-entitlement. It must be that Generation, when people were grounded yet aspirational, thoughtful and giving.
Ever since, I felt I would only be ready to marry and have children was when I could be like Mom. No wonder, I'm no longer married and am without a kid. I cannot imagine to be as selfless, masipag and generous as she. Her wants always came second (even third), our needs were always first. She knew Service and Forbearance and lived it.
I guess, Moms are blessed with really big hearts so they can give so much love and then God replenishes their supply automatically. I don't remember Mom telling me there was nothing or the cupboard was empty. She assures that we have more than enough or that it was Time to Wait.
I am thankful that Mom never judged me for the many mistakes I've had. I never felt kinahiya niya ako because my marriage failed. In fact, she was my stronghold because all I did was cry and keep silent, and she was the steady Presence, God's representative probably to assure me that I wasn't alone then. When I knew she was crying inside and her heart was breaking into pieces, she never showed me those tears because she knew I needed her to be strong.
She was always the supportive role in the family, always there, always ready with the things we need, always filling us and making us (even our friends) busog. [Always will really be gasgas in this entry.]
And if you ask me know how to define Love, it is Mom and all that she has been for me.
This is the first time I think that I wrote about her. The many times I tried to before, I failed miserably. I felt that words cannot capture how great a Mom she is (or my vocabulary and writing skills would not even be enough to capture Her Essence).
And if Words still fail me, my Heart is bursting with Love and Gratitude for Mom. God must have loved me (and Topet) for giving her to us.
Indeed, God is good. All the time.
What was thought of as a simple birthday turned to be the best and most fun for her. She was surprised the day before with an entry to Showtime, where she rocked the House yesterday with her Pilita-esque acting in one of her portions. She was given P5K for that and a phone. Part of the money she treated me with, she gave balato to Nanay Lol, her sister who was with her, and the rest to treat her apos. She would be sending the phone to her oldest sister because she said, "Wala siyang sariling cellphone." That's how Mom is --- nauuna ang iba, bago ang sarili.
So when you ask me what Heroism is for me, I will not even look far nor look back at the past and refer to Philippine History. Heroism is about giving one's self so others do and feel better about themselves. My Mom is like that.
When I was younger, I felt that she was an introvert relative to my extrovert Dad. Now, in hindsight, I realized she was as strong as he was or could even be stronger. She submitted to him and allowed him to lead our Household and when things went awry, she took the helm and saved our family from complete destruction.
She never attributed her strength to herself. She always tells me that it is with God's Grace that she became bold and yes, brave. Come to think of it, she grew in an environment where education was for the rich yet she had the chance to finish school because she was a working student like her sisters. Like them, she was industrious and humble. She never had any awareness of self-entitlement. It must be that Generation, when people were grounded yet aspirational, thoughtful and giving.
Ever since, I felt I would only be ready to marry and have children was when I could be like Mom. No wonder, I'm no longer married and am without a kid. I cannot imagine to be as selfless, masipag and generous as she. Her wants always came second (even third), our needs were always first. She knew Service and Forbearance and lived it.
I guess, Moms are blessed with really big hearts so they can give so much love and then God replenishes their supply automatically. I don't remember Mom telling me there was nothing or the cupboard was empty. She assures that we have more than enough or that it was Time to Wait.
I am thankful that Mom never judged me for the many mistakes I've had. I never felt kinahiya niya ako because my marriage failed. In fact, she was my stronghold because all I did was cry and keep silent, and she was the steady Presence, God's representative probably to assure me that I wasn't alone then. When I knew she was crying inside and her heart was breaking into pieces, she never showed me those tears because she knew I needed her to be strong.
She was always the supportive role in the family, always there, always ready with the things we need, always filling us and making us (even our friends) busog. [Always will really be gasgas in this entry.]
And if you ask me know how to define Love, it is Mom and all that she has been for me.
This is the first time I think that I wrote about her. The many times I tried to before, I failed miserably. I felt that words cannot capture how great a Mom she is (or my vocabulary and writing skills would not even be enough to capture Her Essence).
And if Words still fail me, my Heart is bursting with Love and Gratitude for Mom. God must have loved me (and Topet) for giving her to us.
Indeed, God is good. All the time.
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