Special day

It has been almost 40 years since she died but up to now I still miss her. I am already a lolo, yet I cannot help but still shed some tears whenever special occasions are observed to honor and remember special people like her. Thus yesterday, which was mothers’ day, I terribly missed my “mama” once more as I recalled the days when she was still with us, tenderly caring for us her ten children, like an overly protective mother hen.

Most memorable were my childhood years when I was growing up as the seventh child and third son. Vivid and still unforgettable up to now were those times before going to sleep when she would see me in my bedroom up in the third floor of our house worried about my condition as an asthmatic child. She seemed to feel the hardship of my breathing because of the asthma attack I was having almost every night. As the bunso at that time, such kind of attention was not really unusual since she gave the same kind of attention to my other sisters and brothers as she tucked them to bed one by one. What was unusual here, which I cannot forget, was that she would stay with me until she knew my asthma attack was over or until she was sure I was already asleep.

During mealtime our family would eat together and partake of the food she usually prepared. Most unforgettable here was that she would see to it there were enough food on the table or there were no leftovers. So she would usually take her time until we all had finished eating before she herself would eat whatever had been left if any. This kind of care in feeding us really looks so similar to the kind of care and concern pregnant mothers give to the unborn children in their wombs.

Another amazing and remarkable feature in my mother’s life was that she was also a career woman helping my father in earning a living and providing for the needs of our family. Aside from being a housewife she was also an elementary school teacher who guided and taught so many school children and looked after them like their substitute parent in school. How she was able to balance her chore at home and her task in school is something I really cannot forget up to now.

My mama really became the ideal mother and the personification of the woman I would choose if I decided to get married. And so using her as the model, I fortunately found and rightfully chose Josie my present wife and only partner in life who became the ideal mother of our six children.

Like my mama, Josie is also a career woman who successfully balanced her chore as mother to our children and her task as a physical education teacher who became the dance directress of their school’s famous dance troupe. Later on, as the children were growing up especially the five boys, she even sacrificed her most cherished career to devote her full time in taking care of our children, as a real “hands on” mother.

Undoubtedly, her motherly love, care and concern has also engendered in our five boys, the same lasting impression I had about my mother. Obviously Josie also became the ideal and model of our sons in the choice of their partners in life. And true enough, five graceful, sweet and loving and caring ladies have also become the partners in life of our sons and mothers to our sixteen grandchildren. So, “Happy Mothers’ Day” again to my wife, Josie, and to our daughters-in-law, Cef, Ruby, Mireille, Jane and Susan. And to all the mothers in the world, belated “Happy Mothers’ Day also.

Mothers really play a vital role in protecting the marriage bond, strengthening family solidarity and in preserving the sanctity of family life. Their sacrifice and hard work are sometimes taken for granted and completely overlooked. Indeed the love of a mother is the best example of a true, pure and unconditional love that keeps the family together. And I am sure that in our country we have an overwhelming number of this kind of mothers. So it is but fitting that a special day be set aside each year when we can remember them, appreciate everything they have done for us, and openly manifest our love for them even if it has become highly commercialized.

To end, let me just share with you this very nostalgic song that always moves me to tears as it brings back the years when my mother was still with us.  This is the song entitled “Mama,” with the following lyrics as far as I can recall.

Mama, I miss the days when you were beside me

Mama, I miss the days when you used to guide me

Safe in the glow of your love, sent from heaven above

No one can replace the warmth of your gentle embrace

Oh mama, until the days when we are together once more

I live in this memory, until the days when we are together

Once more….once more

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