In my 28 years of existence, I might have not thanked my nanay enough to let her know how appreciative I am that she's my mother. If someone would ask me right now, who's my hero, I would say without hesitation, that it's my nanay. Not only is she a hero to me, she's also my role model. Now, that I'm married myself and thinking of having my own family I would most likely be like her (my husband won't agree on this note but I guess that's how the ball will roll).
I'm working abroad and away from my husband. I dated him for 12years before tying the knot and my mom has a big influence on my way of handling that relationship. I've seen her how she handled hers and no matter how "kulit" my tatay is, she never let go. I think that's the real meaning of commitment, as Chico and Delamar would put it. They were also apart for more than a decade though my tatay would come home every other two years and mind you he'll stay for just 2 months. So, basically it was my nanay who really brought us up and I hope I made her proud though I have my moments of being a prodigal daughter.
I admire her dedication with work, you can see it in her eyes. She's a teacher and well yes, I've been her student and I'm sorry to say that she wasn't my favorite. She was extra strict with me in class and wanted to show my classmates that I will not be treated differently so in return she would embarrass me in front of my classmates if I wasn't able to answer her questions - which I think was unfair. Anyway, I still look up to her because my friends said that she's one of their favorites. Yes, I'm one proud daughter because of that.
She wasn't afraid to tell others her problems at home. I remember one faculty Christmas party, every family of the faculty members were requested to go up the stage and tell everyone what they were grateful for on that year. When it was our family's turn, my nanay cried while saying that she had difficulty dealing with family problems especially because my tatay was a drunkard and that she's thankful because she was able to surpass those problems. I think I got this from her because I too isn't afraid to tell the world that I also have problems but will surely get by.
I also think that she's a wonder woman with these extra-ordinary powers. Oh my! if you see her at home, it's as if she never sits down. She always has something to do like she never gets tired. I'm actually wondering if I could ever do that. I feel like in this one, I'm her complete opposite. But when we were younger, we would help her clean the house on Saturday mornings. My ate is an expert in cleaning the whole house. Anyway, I'm always tasked to clean the shoe rack. I tell you, that shoe rack has A LOT of her shoes! I think I got that trait (haha!). I hated dusting all of those shoes and the rack is a five-layer-rack. I'm always assigned with the dusting! Though after cleaning time, she would let you accompany her in the market, I'm so excited going to the market because that would mean I could ask her to buy me my favorite cocoa candy bar and other goodies. That's just a treat for me especially if she agrees.
I do think that she's a complete package for a mom. If we get sick, she'll do whatever it takes to care for us. There's this instance, both my sister and I were confined at a hospital and next thing we know while taking care of us she's on IV herself. I still feel a pinch in my heart remembering that incident. Also, when it's flooded in our area and we need to go to school, she would carry us to cross the flooded street with her curlers still on. She goes over the top to make us feel how important we are to her.
There's also this time, I was probably around 5 or 6 years old and it was a weekend. She dragged me out of the house and we went to her favorite salon. She probably thought that I'm her doll because she had my make-up and hair done that day though there wasn't any special occasion. I remember the "parlorista" saying to me,"Ayan, ang ganda-ganda mo na. Magugustuhan ka na ng crush mo!". Wasn't that the cutest gesture? She's just amazing.
But it was never happy all the time. When I had suitors at a very early age of 12, she got really mad at me - who wouldn't? She even found a letter I made for my puppy love in his wallet when we had our class closing party. I wanted to die that time but we kept the relationship going in secret until I broke up with him at age 14 because he cheated on me. Mothers really know best! Then she found my diary and knew about the relationship but good thing it was over when she found out. She was really pissed off at me. But I'm still doing good with my studies... see, as I've said earlier, even at that early age I've followed my nanay's way of handling relationships. Then came my husband when I was 15 years old. We also kept it as a secret until she found out about it. I got the slapping of my life! She tried to break us up but determined that I am and wanted to prove her something, I went ahead with the relationship. After 8 years of being in that relationship and I already have my own job but would still go home to her on weekends, I told her about my secret. She didn't approve at first but I told her that I didn't give her any headache when the relationship was still a secret and that I graduated with good grades, she came around. Now, she loves my husband and would always cook for him sinigang, his favorite, whenever he visits.
I also consider her as my bestfriend though I've kept a lot of secrets from her before. There's this whole 2 years that it was just me and her at home and if we go out for a stroll, we held hands like best buds do. We gossip about other people. She can be moody sometimes but we do get along well. Perhaps because we both love travelling.
Now that I'm away from her and won't be able to visit every weekend, I miss her badly. I miss her cooking and our "chismisan". But sometimes, I feel bad on how she reacts whenever I buy her things from here and she doesn't like them. She will tell it to your face how she dislikes them and one time I couldn't help myself and blurted out, "You could just say thank you.". That's how honest she could get and I think my sister got that trait. Oh and one time, I think I was in 3rd grade, I know she wanted to go up the stage on recognition days to put a medal on her daughters but with no luck. Then on our 3rd periodicals I was announced to be on the top 5 (See, only those in top 5 ranking will be recognized)! I was so proud of myself because finally I have a chance to go up the stage on recognition day. Well, on that day I saw my nanay punching her time card at school and I was almost jumping towards her telling her my good news and so she turned to me with an indifferent expression on her face and told me, "Hindi pa yan final!" and walked away! Imagine my excitement like I won the lottery and turned into a sour experience, my friends saw that and they consoled me. By the way, I didn't make it to the top 5 on the finals. Sad, but I told myself that those recognitions weren't the measurement of how great a person is. But I still didn't stop studying just to make her proud.
See how great my nanay is? Maybe these are the reasons why I'm in a happy disposition and though I don't have the IQ of Einstein, my EQ is overflowing. Thanks to the wonderful and greatest nanay of all! I wouldn't ask for anyone else. She's the perfect mom for me. I love you Nanay!
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