accomplished in her lifetime.
-she sent us all to college, in a university. emphasizing that, education is the only legacy she
will leave us. not money it wont last she keeps telling and besides 'i don't have it' ;D. its the truth. and we are all forever grateful, that
made us adore her all the more today.
-she will not allow us to be absent from our classes, save if we are sick. she will not accept lack of money, nor allowance as a reason for she provides to the point that i can actually see after she
has distributed the money for our daily fare and allowance, it will be like Php 50.00 left in her purse, enough to make it to her office, and i would ask--how will you be able to come home? and i will try to give back half of my allowance, i was given everyday Php 30.00
that time, that was in the half part of the 80s. i do not know how much my sisters and brother gets, but all of us were given their share, everyday.and she will refuse to accept, she will just say, 'it's ok God will make a way'.
amazingly, she comes home with our daily food, and well some more money for another day's allowance for everyone.
-she never believed in working while studying(tho' she sees it a virtue), she keeps telling us study if you have to study, and work if you have to work.
-she let us all enrolled in some extra curricular activities when school's out, every summer that is. art, music (piano lessons for all of us), typing, cosmetics, and brought us with her to visit and borrow books in the public library. we didn't have much in our growing years, but she believed in cultivating and developing each one's talent, and skills.
-she equipped us.
-she had a bachelor's degree in education, and a master in public administration. she was a scholar, and was cuddled by nuns in her school.
-she was faithful and loyal to her religion. she is a catholic till the end, but believed too on the seventh-day sabbath. she went to church with my younger sister on sabbaths, and she will run to church again on sunday, the following day.
-she never went to a movie house to see a movie. i asked her one time why, she said, it's a waste of money, it will be for your allowances and fares instead.
(do you see now why, she is the greatest mother in the world for me...)
-she just content herself with tv entertainments by watching: charlie's angels, little house on the prairie,sunday's big event, sunday suspense theater,hawaii five-0,the bionic man,woman ,combat, and the late news; which we all faithfully watch with her enjoying, uh, save for the late night news. i suddenly turn so sleepy. i was highschool then.
-she stayed put even though she had all the chance in the world to leave us, and make mint in the land of milk and honey that time. she was sent
to foreign lands--london, germany, some states in the u.s,italy,china,hk, other asian neighbors, she was a scholar and a government employee, during the Marcos era. she traveled with a diplomat's passport or a blue passport she used to tell me, and the most i can have is,a 10 year multiple entry to u.s and it is about to expire... (sigh)
-she stayed put, even though her better half has turned bitter, annoying, and made things difficult for us, and we became somewhat a dysfunctional family. (but that was a thing of the past now. to forgive is gorgeous. i mean divine. and my dad rests in peace to0.)
-funny, instead of us, giving her money after we have finished our university days, she still gives, and help out whoever is in need.
-she dedicated her retirement money to fixing the family house and helping yet her children who are in forever need.
-and when she felt her days are soon coming to an end, she ironed out everything. her grave site,real state/property taxes,etc. she gave thorough and final directions, instructions. nagged me for my indifference with the instructions because i either believe she is an invincible mom, or i am in denial.
-she never sold the house she built for her family
instead, she made an order in her final days, that the house will be for the shelter for all----who became singles again and with extra baggage or as in baggages (sigh...), those who never made it in the marital bliss.
-she taught us: never be the cause of your co-worker's expulsion from job. and try your best always to work well with your superior(s)
space would never be enough to describe her being a Proverbs 31 woman.
and i have kept this, and held on to this hope and belief, as i see her writhe in pain in her final hours, seeing the death dew lies cold on her brows---(the gripping unexplainable pain witnessing the final grasp for breath of a loved one, and you cannot do anything...)
"ma, we will see each other again in the resurrection morning."
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