My heroine

Long, long ago, during my childhood years of innocence and simplicity, yesterday, December 1 used to be a special occasion celebrated in almost every family as "mother’s day". But whether or not the celebration has already been moved to another date, December 1 is always "mother’s day" for me because it is the birthday of my beloved Mama, Natalia Celestial-Sison. Yesterday was her 104th birth anniversary and even if she died some 34 years ago my memory of her is still as fresh as when she was alive and doting on ten of us, her children of six girls and four boys at our humble family home in Don Quixote Street, Sampaloc, Manila.

Each of us perhaps has so many endearing and unforgettable moments with our mothers. Mine are forever etched in the heart simply for the sheer feeling of warmth and intense love I experienced during those moments. I will never forget the sleepless nights she would spend beside me whenever I had serious attacks of asthma, sometimes lasting up to the wee hours of the morning. She was there all the time empathizing with my difficulties in breathing. Her soft, sweet and caressing voice of care and concern somehow eased my feeling of extreme discomfort as I struggled with my asthmatic fits. In the morning upon waking up, her smiling face calling us for breakfast was the first image that greeted me with nary a trace of her enervating vigil the previous nights. During our time when hiring a yaya was quite expensive or not yet in fashion, she also played the role of yaya to the bunso and the younger siblings preparing our meals and taking care of all our needs for school. I could not remember any incident when she furiously raised her voice in anger even over our mischievous behaviors. She cared for us more than she cared for herself. Hence in moments when I seem unable but would like to fathom the real meaning of love, I just think of my Mama and what she had done for us.

Taking care of ten children is no joke. But my Mama, together with my beloved Papa, were able to do it with such admirable patience and boundless energy borne out of deep faith and un-sagging hope in a loving and merciful God. As the family kept on growing, separation became inevitable when my Papa, a devoted husband, father and the sole breadwinner, had to leave for assignment in far away Zamboanga with my two older brothers. That separation was an ordeal for the entire family because the war broke out before my Papa and my brothers could come back. So in the initial years of the Japanese occupation Mama was alone taking care of the rest of us here in Manila, unsure of whether the family could be reunited once more. Yet during those trying and dangerous times, she acted as father and mother to six young girls and me at age 5 years as the only "man" of the house. Even at that tender age, I already noticed the courage, strength and toughness under pressure displayed by Mama as she almost single handedly coped with the hardships and perils of a devastating war with a large family to protect and support. Later on when the family was reunited and peace reigned once more in the land, I could not help but liken my Mama to a comic book heroine then popularly called "wonder woman". Call it bias but I really thought she was a wonder woman in character and appearance. She was truly a heroine who became one of the family’s sturdy pillars of support in the most difficult of times. I would like to think that she and my Papa were the best proof to rebut the present population control advocates limiting the size of the family allegedly because of poverty and the economic crunch. Life was a lot harder during their times yet they were able to sustain such a large family and survived.

My Mama’s role in building a strong family was more remarkable. In our growing up years she not only took care of the household chores but served as our confidante, adviser and intercessor. With an authoritative and disciplinarian of a father who was absorbed most of the time in earning our daily bread, Mama became the most available and approachable person in the house. Whatever we need, any problem we had or anything we want to convey to Papa, we course them through her. Her role in the family can be likened to the role of our Blessed Mother for the people of God. We asked for and received everything from the Father through our Mother Mary.

Likewise inspiring is the example she showed as a loving, devoted wife to our conscientious, hardworking, loving and compassionate father. When making both ends meet became harder, she did not hesitate to help Papa earn. So, when family and educational expenses increased, she also helped as breadwinner by getting a job as a grade school teacher because like Papa she was also an educator. I could definitely say that I made an excellent choice of Josie as my lifetime partner and wife for 42 years now and still counting because I had my Mama as the model of what an ideal wife should be.

I am writing this piece not only to pay tribute to my mother but to convey a message to all those who still have their mothers around. Love, honor, obey and take good care of them. Every chance you have, don’t forget to hug and embrace them so that you will not regret missing those golden opportunities when they are no longer around.

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