A mother so cherished
September 25, 2005 | 12:00am
My friend Dorcie Reyes-Guingona and I had a delightful time catching up on each other’s lives recently over a hearty merienda of churros con chocolate. That laid-back afternoon transported us down memory lane as we exchanged stories about our growing up days and what we learned from our mothers. As we unearthed many a childhood memory, we found ourselves laughing and crying. Dorcie told me about her wonderful relationship with her mother, Imelda Reyes.
When the beautiful Imelda Albano married the dashing Joe Reyes in 1951, the couple vowed to love each other forever. They further sealed their relationship in 1965 when they partnered up to establish The Plaza. This successful tandem saw the fruition of all their dreams. The Plaza Building located in Makati Commercial Center (known today as Ayala Center) housed the very first Plaza restaurant which is today a thriving institution in the business of fine cuisine and quality service. It also housed Tita Meldy’s other passions: a beauty parlor and dress shop. She would make beautiful clothes for women and beautify them to the hilt. She would hold fashion shows at the Plaza where the food, ambience and service were always superb.
The business grew and so did their family. The couple was blessed with five children – Millie, Raymond, Marijo, Jerry and Dorcie. Dorcie said she was only four when the Plaza first opened.
"My mom was so dedicated. I remember as a little girl, we would go home from the Plaza at 10 in the evening waiting for mom and dad. I would fall asleep in the restaurant with two adjoining tables as my bed and the linen as my blanket. My parents always wanted us around them," Dorcie recalled.
Dorcie further said: "My mom would always tuck me into bed and read to me as a child. In fact, she checked on us every night before she went to bed. When I was a teenager and I would go out with my friends, she would wait for me to come home even if it was already dawn. I would see her praying while waiting for me."
The most emulating characteristic of her mom is her being cariñosa. She vividly remembered how her mom would reach for her little hand when she would pick her up in school. They would hold hands all the way home. She was also very thoughtful staying up late into the night reading newspapers and clipping out every article that had to do with the interest of each child. Jewels for Dorcie, food for Millie, fashion for Marijo.
"When I married my husband Benjie and moved out of the house, Mom called me up every single day. She wanted to find out how I was. She continued to check on me constantly," Dorcie said.
Dorcie said her mom could anticipate her children’s needs. The moment she found out Dorcie was pregnant with her first child, she immmediately took pains to find the right yaya without Dorcie knowing it. Her mom went further by taking care of Dorcie and her newborn. Eventually, she would also gather all her grandchildren on the weekends so she could enjoy them. She did this also because she wanted her children to have some quality time alone with their spouses.
"I am gregarious because of her. She has so many friends. Your late Mama Mila was one of them," Dorcie said.
She added: "What her friends loved about her was her generosity. Not only did she share freely of her material blessings, she would also give so generously of her time to everyone. She was "Dear Abby" who wouldn’t hesitate to spend four unhurried hours on the phone with whoever needed her advice, even just a listening ear or a gentle shoulder to cry on."
Now that Dorcie is a wife, a mother of two, and a businesswoman, she often wonders how her mom managed her time during her prime. Dorcie couldn’t begin to imagine what her mother gave up just to do all that she did for them.
On the occasion of her mom’s 76th birthday, Dorcie wrote her a letter. With her permission, I am sharing with you the letter she entitled My Mom the Great Imelda Reyes.
Happy Birthday, my dearest Mom. We have been blessed to have you with us all these years. Wow! How time flies, Mom, to think you’ve been bed-ridden for almost seven years.
You have been like a "Sacred Heart" to us, exposing yourself to all our needs.
Mom, I still remember the times that you nurtured me when I was young. Too much, in fact, that I was overly protected by you. In these seven years that you have not spoken, I seek your help silently and look into your eyes for proper guidance concerning my husband, kids and my own life. You never failed me! Somehow, just by looking into your eyes, you let me know what to do. Oh, how I long to hug you, mom. How I long for your touch.
Remember the time I would come out in school plays? Even if I was just a book or a tree in The Little Prince or when I joined a musical play, Seven Nuns in Las Vegas, you made sure you watched me. Somehow, you always seemed to manage to find the time in between your many business activities at the parlor and dress shop, or City Hall canteen and our restaurant. How did you do all that, mom? How you worked things out and yet turn out to be the greatest mom is quite an achievement!
How did you manage to be so gracious in spite of all the problems that you were enduring with the business or with your five kids?
Now that my daughter, Bea, is growing up, I have so many things I want to ask you.
How did you get to bring us up properly?
How did you find the time to read and play with me when you would come home at the wee hours of the morning after working in Plaza all day?
It’s a pity my son, Benjo, never got to really know you, play with you. But I do know that whenever you hear his voice, you try to move your head to his direction hoping to get a glimpse of him to brighten your day. I’m sure he would have loved to shop in your "little store," that cabinet which was full of goodies.
Remember that time that you would fetch me from school and we would binge out with churros con chocolate at La Cibeles and then would have a nice chat. You would always say I’m your favorite. Well, guess what ma, I found out you said that to all of us.
How did you train dad to be so loving and caring, taking you to therapy, watching you being exercised?
How did you make your marriage work?
How did you do all these, mom?
And yet you were a member of so many organizations (Zonta Club, FCCP, CWC, Bible Class, Cofradia de Immaculada).
I guess I’ll never really hear your answers but will just try to read your mind.
Now that you’re 76 years old, what can I give you?
A nice duster? A soft, nice bedding to ease your discomforts?
Prayers? A whisper in your ear to say "I love you?"
A promise? A promise that I will always try my best to be like you.
You truly are loveable, gracious superwoman.
Happy Birthday, Mommy Dearest!
Love always,
Dorcie
Imelda Reyes is an outstanding woman because she has a whole lot of special gifts and she never hesitates to use them to the fullest. We were taught that one of the greatest ways to glorify God is by using our God-given talents to help and serve others. To this day, in her own special quiet way, Tita Meldy remains a great comfort and guiding light who continues to shine for her family. I believe that the hardest is to give of oneself. Yet this is the kind of life that Tita Meldy, an exeptional mother, chose to live.
(Would love to hear from you. E-mail me at miladayjewels@yahoo.com)
When the beautiful Imelda Albano married the dashing Joe Reyes in 1951, the couple vowed to love each other forever. They further sealed their relationship in 1965 when they partnered up to establish The Plaza. This successful tandem saw the fruition of all their dreams. The Plaza Building located in Makati Commercial Center (known today as Ayala Center) housed the very first Plaza restaurant which is today a thriving institution in the business of fine cuisine and quality service. It also housed Tita Meldy’s other passions: a beauty parlor and dress shop. She would make beautiful clothes for women and beautify them to the hilt. She would hold fashion shows at the Plaza where the food, ambience and service were always superb.
The business grew and so did their family. The couple was blessed with five children – Millie, Raymond, Marijo, Jerry and Dorcie. Dorcie said she was only four when the Plaza first opened.
"My mom was so dedicated. I remember as a little girl, we would go home from the Plaza at 10 in the evening waiting for mom and dad. I would fall asleep in the restaurant with two adjoining tables as my bed and the linen as my blanket. My parents always wanted us around them," Dorcie recalled.
Dorcie further said: "My mom would always tuck me into bed and read to me as a child. In fact, she checked on us every night before she went to bed. When I was a teenager and I would go out with my friends, she would wait for me to come home even if it was already dawn. I would see her praying while waiting for me."
The most emulating characteristic of her mom is her being cariñosa. She vividly remembered how her mom would reach for her little hand when she would pick her up in school. They would hold hands all the way home. She was also very thoughtful staying up late into the night reading newspapers and clipping out every article that had to do with the interest of each child. Jewels for Dorcie, food for Millie, fashion for Marijo.
"When I married my husband Benjie and moved out of the house, Mom called me up every single day. She wanted to find out how I was. She continued to check on me constantly," Dorcie said.
Dorcie said her mom could anticipate her children’s needs. The moment she found out Dorcie was pregnant with her first child, she immmediately took pains to find the right yaya without Dorcie knowing it. Her mom went further by taking care of Dorcie and her newborn. Eventually, she would also gather all her grandchildren on the weekends so she could enjoy them. She did this also because she wanted her children to have some quality time alone with their spouses.
"I am gregarious because of her. She has so many friends. Your late Mama Mila was one of them," Dorcie said.
She added: "What her friends loved about her was her generosity. Not only did she share freely of her material blessings, she would also give so generously of her time to everyone. She was "Dear Abby" who wouldn’t hesitate to spend four unhurried hours on the phone with whoever needed her advice, even just a listening ear or a gentle shoulder to cry on."
Now that Dorcie is a wife, a mother of two, and a businesswoman, she often wonders how her mom managed her time during her prime. Dorcie couldn’t begin to imagine what her mother gave up just to do all that she did for them.
Happy Birthday, my dearest Mom. We have been blessed to have you with us all these years. Wow! How time flies, Mom, to think you’ve been bed-ridden for almost seven years.
You have been like a "Sacred Heart" to us, exposing yourself to all our needs.
Mom, I still remember the times that you nurtured me when I was young. Too much, in fact, that I was overly protected by you. In these seven years that you have not spoken, I seek your help silently and look into your eyes for proper guidance concerning my husband, kids and my own life. You never failed me! Somehow, just by looking into your eyes, you let me know what to do. Oh, how I long to hug you, mom. How I long for your touch.
Remember the time I would come out in school plays? Even if I was just a book or a tree in The Little Prince or when I joined a musical play, Seven Nuns in Las Vegas, you made sure you watched me. Somehow, you always seemed to manage to find the time in between your many business activities at the parlor and dress shop, or City Hall canteen and our restaurant. How did you do all that, mom? How you worked things out and yet turn out to be the greatest mom is quite an achievement!
How did you manage to be so gracious in spite of all the problems that you were enduring with the business or with your five kids?
Now that my daughter, Bea, is growing up, I have so many things I want to ask you.
How did you get to bring us up properly?
How did you find the time to read and play with me when you would come home at the wee hours of the morning after working in Plaza all day?
It’s a pity my son, Benjo, never got to really know you, play with you. But I do know that whenever you hear his voice, you try to move your head to his direction hoping to get a glimpse of him to brighten your day. I’m sure he would have loved to shop in your "little store," that cabinet which was full of goodies.
Remember that time that you would fetch me from school and we would binge out with churros con chocolate at La Cibeles and then would have a nice chat. You would always say I’m your favorite. Well, guess what ma, I found out you said that to all of us.
How did you train dad to be so loving and caring, taking you to therapy, watching you being exercised?
How did you make your marriage work?
How did you do all these, mom?
And yet you were a member of so many organizations (Zonta Club, FCCP, CWC, Bible Class, Cofradia de Immaculada).
I guess I’ll never really hear your answers but will just try to read your mind.
Now that you’re 76 years old, what can I give you?
A nice duster? A soft, nice bedding to ease your discomforts?
Prayers? A whisper in your ear to say "I love you?"
A promise? A promise that I will always try my best to be like you.
You truly are loveable, gracious superwoman.
Happy Birthday, Mommy Dearest!
Love always,
Dorcie
(Would love to hear from you. E-mail me at miladayjewels@yahoo.com)
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