A mother's story

Have you ever noticed sometimes how we keep on using phrases like Mama always says, Sabi ni Nanay, Ask Mom when we want to emphasize on something we truly believe in? Maybe this is just one proof that mothers really know what’s best and we are forever a child in the eyes of the greatest woman in our life.

Last month, I was able to catch Tom Hanks’ Forrest Gump on free TV and since it is one of my all-time favorite films, I was glued to the boob tube in the next two hours. It was the nth time I’ve seen the film since I first watched it in the mid-‘90’s with my college mates. I thought I have absorbed everything screenwriter Eric Roth (The Insider, Munich) wants to convey, but every time I see the film, I get something new.

For the longest time, I have always seen the movie as the story of a man and his epic journey through life meeting historical figures, influencing popular culture and experiencing first-hand historic events of the late 20th century while being largely unaware of their significance, due to his intellectual disability. But being a brand new father to a two-month old baby, I learned to appreciate the significant role of Sally Field who acted as Forrest’s loving mom.

I believe that she should have won an Oscar for her role. Imagine, she did a marvelous job of being a mother to a former leading man (in the movie Punchline, 1988) younger than her. But at least, the film got six Oscar trophies including Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Director (Robert Zemeckis), and Best Actor (Hanks).        

Mrs. Gump was Forrest’s pillar of strength. She was the only one who believed her son can be as good as other kids. She remained blind to discouragement and raised Forrest with a lot of “mother always says” lessons in life that may sometime sounds funny but had sense. 

Who can ever forget the classic line from the film, “My momma always said: Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Or how about the smart and funny line “Stupid is stupid does?”

One tear-jearking moment in the film came when Forrest sat beside his dying mom. I shed some tears during this scene. But the genius behind the movie created a sequence that is moving but not depressing.   In the said scene, Mrs. Gump tells Forrest she is going to die (of terminal cancer). Even in her deathbed, she still consoles him by saying it was her destiny and that they all had one destiny. Then came the amusing voice over from Forrest Gump: “She subsequently expires, on a Tuesday.”

Just when everyone thought that it was the end of the world for Forrest because of his mom’s loss, things start picking up. With the help of his former war officer Dan Taylor (Gary Sinese), Forrest was able to invest on Apple computers and secure his future. He eventually found out that he has an intelligent son with Jenny, his childhood sweetheart who died because of an incurable disease. The film ends with Forrest and his son waiting at the school for the first day of classes.

As he opens the book his son is taking to school, the white feather from the beginning of the movie falls from within the pages. The last scene is a beautiful image of the unending cycle of life.  

Let’s face it, eventually we will lose our moms. The best thing we can do is preserve her legacy and relive all the lessons she taught us. This might sound ridiculous but one thing we can do is to emulate an imbecile like Forrest or learn a thing or two from him — always love, trust and respect mothers even if they sound crazy sometimes. That way, our mother’s unconditional love will touch us wherever destiny brings us.