A mother through & through

Although she didn’t become a mother until she was 30 years old. Loren Legarda was looked up to by her siblings and cousins (in the Malabon compound where she spent her growing up years) like a mother because she showed maternal instincts early in life.

At the age of 10 or even younger, everyone jestingly called her by two names: Moonie-Moonie (because her face was round as a kid) and "Si Mature." That early, she was already taking life seriously and her family would always say that she was born "na naka-kunot ang noo."

While other children had to be bribed and cajoled by their parents to go over and over their lessons in school, Loren was often scolded by her late mother Bessie Legarda for studying too much. (The mother obviously wanted her to have a social life to balance out things.)

However, there was nothing her family could do about that because Loren — even then — had already taken it upon herself to be responsible and disciplined. As the Ate to two brothers, Gary and AA, she was very protective and always looked after them since their parents were both working. She could be strict and to this day, Gary and AA call her Manang, but with affection.

Loren taught them how to take their studies seriously and, later, to observe proper work ethics. Oh, she was strict with them. But Loren pampered the two brothers and continues to do so up to now.

With her two children, Lanz and Lean, she admits that she cannot be as strict because given her schedule Loren tries to spend quality time with them. Besides, she feels that "they are basically responsible kids."

As if mothering her siblings (especially now that their mother had moved on to the other life) and two sons were not enough, she still has to mother (and she sees to this personally) about 20 or so people by sending them to school and looking after their welfare.

The first among them to experience Loren’s maternal care was Melinda de Vera. Loren found Melinda when she was still doing The Inside Story for ABS-CBN. Melinda was a street child who was born in a carriton and slept on the sidewalks of Gen. Luna in Paco, Manila. Her mother, Liwayway, a single parent, had since passed away, but Loren made sure Melinda was taken care of.

Loren actually saw a lot of potential in Melinda, who had to study under lampposts at night while vending cigarettes and candies to passers-by. Loren at first saw Melinda through high school (at Ramon Avanceña) and paid for the girl’s books, uniform and other miscellaneous expenses. When Melinda was orphaned, she was made to live with the nuns of Martha’s Vineyard as per arrangement with Loren, who continued supporting the girl’s needs. In time, Melinda had to go to college and Loren sent her to ACCESS Computer Technology and later at Trace Computer College where she obtained a degree in BS Computer Secretarial Education.

After college, Melinda initially worked with Loren and eventually moved to the Senate’s archive department. Now married to Lodovico Once, Melinda has stopped working temporarily to take care of their child — as per Loren’s advice. "Lola na ’ko," quips Loren, referring to the child of Melinda, who she considers her daughter.

Even while busy campaigning for the coming senatorial race, Loren still attends to the needs of her other "children" — the 20 or so who rely on her for mothering.

At the moment, she is up to her neck attending to the problem of another one of her "kids" — Joseph Posito. Loren found Joseph in 1999 — in Paracale, Camarines Norte. Joseph then was only 11, but was already doing compression mining — with only a pair of cotton balls stuck into his ears as protection for his hearing.

Taking pity on the child, who — like Melinda — was also orphaned of mother, Loren took a pity on Joseph and sent him to school until he finished secondary education. She was also set to send him to college until, to her frustration, she found out that Joseph had returned to the mines because of financial problems at home. But no, Loren would never allow that because she is determined to take the boy out of his miserable existence. No matter what happens, Joseph will enter college this year — at the AMA Computer College in Daet, Camarines Sur. Loren is shouldering all expenses — including his living allowance.

Actually, it is not just financial assistance that Loren provides her 20 or so "children." More than that, she guides them individually and bombards them with lectures on respect, manners, ethics and how to be responsible people of this world. It’s not easy — oh she swears it is not — but all that comes with mothering and Loren, as always, is a top-notcher at it.