An outpouring of love & concern for Matet

For all of the tragedies in Nora Aunor’s life – deaths (father, mother, eldest brother and now, grandson), failed relationships and career ups and downs – she can at least be thankful for the fact that she has wonderful children in Lotlot, Ian, Matet, Kiko and Kenneth.

During the wake of Matet’s second child, Juan Miguel Gerald de Leon Estrada (who died after having been born prematurely at eight months and two weeks), the siblings rallied behind each other in the face of tragedy.

For sure, it would have been more comforting had their mother been with them, but they all perfectly understand that there are circumstances in this life that are beyond our control. In fact, they worried endlessly for Nora because they know that she is alone in the US (save for manager Nori Sayo), without family.

During the time Juan Miguel was fighting for his life in the hospital (he was in the incubator for five days), Nora would call four or five times a day – worried sick – but, sadly, couldn’t do anything but sob and wail on the phone especially when told that Matet’s little angel had returned so soon to our Creator.

During the vigil at Loyola Guadalupe for Juan Miguel’s cremated remains, Nora was also periodically checking on Matet, her husband Mickey, Lotlot and the other kids.

But Nora didn’t really have to worry. Of course, Matet was emotionally crushed – still is – but she was bravely carrying on.

During the last day of the vigil, I went to Loyola myself to personally extend my condolences to Mickey and Matet. She gave me a warm smile as soon as she saw me enter the chapel, but even from a distance, I could sense her pain, which particularly showed in her eyes. She wanted to get up to welcome me, but I told her to just stay where she was – knowing fully well that she had just undergone a caesarian operation.

Earlier, family and friends attended Mass arranged by the Oasis of Love. Nora would have been pleased to find out how everyone had given Matet moral support – especially Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong, who stood by Matet from the time she was rushed the other week to St. Luke’s Medical Center where she gave birth prematurely to Juan Miguel. During the vigil, Christopher’s mother, veteran actress Lilia Dizon, and his sisters Pinky and Melissa de Leon also went to pay their final respects to Juan Miguel and to generally see how Matet was doing. Even close family friend Nadia Montenegro never left her side – from the hospital and even up to the two-day wake (and even probably now that Matet is still recovering from such tragedy).

Actually, everyone’s concern is really Matet because while she seems to be putting up a brave front, you can tell that she is really devastated deep inside. Aside from the emotional anguish, she also has to contend with the physical discomfort because the wounds from the caesarian operation still bother her incessantly and at one point during the last day of vigil, in fact, I understand that she had to be brought to the Makati Medical Center because she couldn’t stand the pain any longer. It’s really just a relief to know that a lot of people care for her. Among them, of course, are her in-laws, Mike and Gigi Estrada, two of the nicest people I’ve met in my life.

The Estradas are such a decent family – honorable I have to say. Okay, they have a family coat of arms, but that’s not the reason why I’m saying they’re such good people. They really are and I saw that for myself.

Mike Estrada is from Laguna (Bai and Los Baños) – although his mother, the former Erlinda David hails from Davao. Gigi (Garcia) is from Gapan, Nueva Ecija. Together with their three children (Mickey is the youngest) – all married – they live in the family compound in Lagro. To give Mickey and Matet their own space, the older Estradas gifted them with a little house within the compound.

Observing the young couple from a comfortable distance, Gigi Estrada so far is happy to report that Mickey and Matet take good care of each other. Mickey likes to eat and is no stranger in the kitchen. He bakes and even makes sushi.

But Matet – Gigi says so proudly – is also making progress as a homemaker. Oh, she makes terrific spaghetti – the proud mother-in-law beams.

In those darkest moments in the hospital, Mike and Gigi Estrada were also there – worrying constantly for Matet and hoping and praying for a miracle for so that their grandson may live.

The agony, they say, was indescribable – especially seeing how Matet, still feeling weak from the caesarian operation, dragged herself from her private room to the intensive care unit to be with her newborn. Mike claims that he had to keep watch over Matet because for a while there, he thought his daughter-in-law was going to violate hospital rules and sleep in the ICU just so she wouldn’t be away from her new baby.

Even during the wake, I noticed how Mike and Gigi Estrada would keep an eye on Matet – constantly checking how their daughter-in-law was doing.

Sure, they’re aware of Matet’s rebellious past (actually blown out of proportion – she being from showbiz), but hardly detect a trace of this in their beloved daughter-in-law anymore. What they see is a loving wife to Mickey, a doting mother to first-born Mica and, yes, a kind, respectful and thoughtful daughter-in-law to them. In return, they’ve learned to love her as their own daughter. Oh, they insist that’s not much of an effort on their part because – in the words of Lola Erlinda – "si Matet, hindi siya mahirap mahalin."

Yes, you can say a lot of things about Nora Aunor, but you have to admit that she raised such loving and lovable children.