It was Saturday morning and our family was just having our usual morning conversations when papa mockingly read out loud the title of a featured article from the newspaper - "Learnings from your Mother." What learnings have you had from your mom? asked he jokingly. Mama would always nag and talk and throw comments on everything but this time, she was quiet. I knew she wanted to hear what we have to say but that part of the conversation went swift and was answered with another joke.
I couldn't let that question pass. I couldn't let her keep wondering what learnings really have we gained from her nor could I let her doubt even the simple fact that yes, mama, we've been learning a lot from you even during the times when you're not trying.
We gave this question a thought and came up with some learnings we had from you, mama.
MARTY (What is your eldest has to say about you?)
"I learned what is genuine motherly love. I learned from her how to cook igado. I learned from her that when you put your best effort in everything that you do, you'll never go wrong. I learned from her the expression 'ay grabeh!'"
CHINKOY (What is the father of your lovable grandchildren has to say?)
"Ang natutunan ko kay mama ay huwag mangupit ng pera. Tumatak kasi ito sa akin noong bata pa ako. Natatandaan ko noon, inutusan ako ni mama na kunin ang wallet niya sa kwarto nila ni papa, nadatnan kong nakabukas ang wallet ni mama at nakita ko madaming 20 peso bill at kumuha ako ng isa. Lingid sa kaalaman ko ay alam ni mama ang bilang ng pera niya sa wallet. Noong inabot ko na kay mama ang wallet niya ay tinanong niya ako, bakit kulang pera niya. Sabi ko, hndi ko alam. Lumapit si mama sa akin at kinuha niya ang 20 peso bill sa aking bulsa at pagkatapos ay hinampas niya ang aking kamay ng malakas at sabi niya, huwag kang mangungupit ng pera. Tumakbo ako sa taas at doon ay umiyak ako ng patahimik. Simula noon, hindi na ako nangupit ng pera. Yun nga lang, after noon ay nagnakaw naman ako ng "sandya" sa bukid. Si papa naman ang nagalit sa akin noon. Ikukuwento ko na lang sa father's day ito para kay papa naman. 😊"
JR (What is the comment of your strictest son?)
"Yung pagiging selfless ni Mama. Small things like pag may request tayong merienda siya mismo pupunta sa market at bibili, or kung kelangan natin ng pera ay sya mismo magdedeposit sa bangko, or maghahanap sya ng katulong sa remote places.
Ginive up nga nya ang profession at career nya para maging full time mother. Di na nga rin sya bumibili ng mga gamit nya para maprovide nya mga needs at wants natin.
Yan ang natutunan ko kay Mama at gusto kong gayahin yan pag ako naging magulang.
Selfless, hands-on Mother. Yan ang true love. Amen!"
BOLET (How about your emotional and loving son?)
"Yung pagiging maaalahanin nya. Yung tipong text ng text, tawag ng tawag kahit sinasabi nating nakakairita na pero deep down gusto din natin yun. 😢"
OGIE (What have I, your unica hija, got to say?)
"I'm learning from mama how to be strong. You've been into hard situations, I could name all the problems you've been through and make people cry, but I've seen you fight all them unbelievably. You stood strong, you confronted the pain and I rarely saw you cry. The next day you're fine like nothing hurtful happened. I know you've been mastering this kind of strength through all the years you've been living and l am trying to do what you do best. I draw my strength from you."
POPOP (Let's hear from your quiet bunso)
"My mom taught me how to face the real world. I learned from her that I need to be serious in everything I do in my life and make me become a successful man."
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You know what is so amazing about you ma? Is that you give us genuine motherly love. You are the mother of six children and also like a mother to your husband; you are old and tired, you are stressed but you never forget to love us first before yourself. All the simple things you do for us which we criticize and make fun of first are things we are truly thankful for and greatly appreciate.
We hate ourselves for causing you stress and sadness; we regret the bad things we do; we share the pain with you even when it doesn't show; we even cry when we hurt you. We are hard on you ma but please do not ever forget that we love you very much for whatever you do and whatever you are. You are our family's source of happiness, love and strength.
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BUT WAIT MAMA, there's more!
A message from papa:
"Her loving concern for me is what I admire the most. Not only is she my wife but she is my servant and my nurse. She takes care of me the best way she can. I got sickness, rayuma, skin disease, and through her unselfish love for me, I gained relief whenever she does the things she has to do. Only she can do these things and she can do it best for me. She loves me, I have no doubt about that and I have loved her, I still love her, and I will always love her." (FYI: Mama is like papa's second mom. She puts on lotion to papa and mama ties papa's shoe lace when he has rayuma.)
(I got teary eyes and I saw papa secretly wept. Oh love!)
WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH, MAMA! Thank you for everything and thank you for your great love. We want you to be happy always. Have a very happy mother's day! ❤️
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