Arling: Her Cup Runneth Over
Some may find this a strange, surely funny, question from a 94-year-old woman, but those who have the privilege of knowing this remarkable matriarch of the Gozon clan would hardly be surprised. That little story is, in fact, “very Arling” – a very typical reaction from a woman who lives her life with generous doses of faith, enthusiasm and acceptance.
Now even those who do not know her can share in the life lessons of Arling through the book, Arling: Her Cup Runneth Over, which her family put together as a tribute to their mother on her 94th birthday recently. Published by the Gozon Development Corporation and edited by STAR columnist Domini Torrevillas, the book does not have a single author. Instead, from the foreword to the epilogue, one gets to know Arling through the eyes of her children, grandchildren, friends, relatives and associates.
To say that the book puts great emphasis on family virtues would be an understatement. The journey through Arling’s life starts with her parents, Ismael
“Maeng” Oreta Lapus and
It is clear in the book how Arling’s parents inculcated the values of education, obedience, hard work, frugality and complete trust in the Lord in her, which Arling made sure will be passed on to her children as well.
For example, Arling constantly reminds her grandchildren about their “bibingka.” Tricia Tarriela Valderama, daughter of Flor, recounts: “Lola would say ‘Huwag ninyong ibibigay ang bibingka ninyo at pag nakuha na ay hindi na maibabalik.’” In modern lingo, it means to never give away your virginity because once lost, it can never be returned.
Although she came from a wealthy family and was used to the comforts of life, Arling did not hesitate to risk such luxuries to marry the man she loved, Benjamin “Amen” Mendoza Gozon.
Amen, who finished law, did not come from a family as prominent as the Lapuses. His father rented fishponds while his mother operated a fruit stall in the public market. According to Flor, their mother fell in love with their father, even if he was not rich, because he was intelligent.
Even when they lived in Tondo, Arling was much respected by the toughies in the area. “She was indeed very thrifty, but she was very generous in helping those who seek her help, especially those spreading the word of God.”
Amen, who worked as a junior legal assistant in the Bureau of Lands during the early years of their marriage, soon rose to become the Secretary of Agriculture and later, Governor of the Land Authority (precursor of the Department of Agrarian Reform). Arling, who holds a degree in pharmacy, was the inspiration and motivation behind her husband’s successful career in government.
Arling, a successful businesswoman with the Midas touch in almost all of her endeavors, continues to wield her uncanny business sense to this day. But more than anything, she considers as her greatest achievement her four children – Benjamin Jr., Kay, Felipe “Henry” and Flor.
Ben Jr., Amen and Arling’s eldest child, is a chemical engineer aside and entrepreneur and he helps his Nanay manage Gozon Development Corporation. Kay, who hold’s a master’s degree in economics from
Arling’s frugality is legendary. Flor relates: “I saw her once writing two lines per bar of yellow paper. I chided her, saying ‘Nay, awat na, kaya natin bilhin yan’(Mother, you don’t need to do that, we can afford to buy paper). But I know that Nanay learned from her mother the gift of giving sacrificially. Nanay related to us how her mother supported many pastors and Christian workers.”
Coupled with her frugality is an innate sense of entrepreneurship. Who else could have started and successfully operated – without any prior business experience – a fish sauce factory in her 40’s, salt works in her 60’s, gravel and sand business in her 80’s and a coffee seedling nursery in her 90’s? The earlier ventures were started because she wanted to augment her husband’s income.
“She not only saved, she went into business as she had the ambition to send all of us abroad for further studies,” Flor tells STARweek. But later, even when money was no longer the motivation, she answered opportunity’s every knock.
The coffee seedling business is the latest of Arling’s enterprises, which she took on at age 91. It came by accident when she ordered 60 kilos of coffee seeds, which had to be planted immediately. Flor found her mother taking care of all these coffee seedlings, so when she met the president of the Figaro coffee chain, who was looking for barako seedlings for their coffee revival initiative, Flor put the two together and they now have a thriving enterprise.
Originally, the book was just meant for family reading. However, Flor says many of those who read it urged them to share the book with others because a lot can be learned from Arling’s life. Hence, the family decided to sell the book, with all proceeds, not just profit, donated to two projects of the Philippine Bible Society – to give Bibles to members of the judiciary and to men and women in uniform.
The Bible for all judges/justices is an initiative of Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno. The PBS will expand fundraising this year so they can provide Bibles to 1,000 judges throughout the country. A total of P3 million is needed for the project, according to the PBS.
The Bible for men and women in uniform (members of the Armed Forces, Coastguard, Police, Fire Protection and their families), meantime, is an expression of gratitude to those who daily put their lives on the line to protect the people, a project which requires some P25 million.
Readers will be touched by the inspiring story of a strong-willed woman whose faith in God and love for her family carried her through the challenges that have come her way and brought her to a life of true fulfillment.
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