On Mothers' Day

Cheers to the wonderful and amazing mothers of the world! And a special toast to my beloved sisters: Violet, Dona, Bembem, and Rita. I thought that this is a day to have an “inventory” of the children we have raised and lovingly dedicated our lives in caring for them. The children we nurtured and treasured for all time – “even unto the end of the world”. Here are the children of our generation under  each of us:

Me first: Dodi, Minkie, Corky, Marco, Toddy, Spanky, and Ember.

Violet: Donnie, Hector, and Deana.

Dona: (our most beloved sister): Richie, Web, Gerber, Tala, Patty, Lisa, Oliver, Entoy, Day and Aloe.

Bembem: Barbie, Penny, Ivory, May and Mong.

Rita: (also our beloved youngest sister): Breezy, Aster, Stryke, Niko, Keaton, and Dondon.

And to our children who are now mothers themselves we greet you with pride in our hearts for carrying on the medal of honor of being mothers of the 3^rd generation. 

Love, TUTU.

EMBER, this is for you- a beautiful and heart rending message you sent me in 2008.

…. When I was a child, I didn’t understand how hard you work to provide everything you wanted me to have. Some might say that’s a parents job. But looking back, I know you did so much more than you needed to. With so much love, you put your needs aside to care for me… Now that I’m an adult I understand how you sacrificed, and I know how lucky I am to have been blessed with such a wonderful mother. I may not always say the words, but I want you to  know that I love you and I appreciate all you’ve done – and all you continue to do. (you quote this from “For a wonderful Mother”)

I remember you saying that I didn’t have time to communicate with you when you were growing up- it is one of the many reasons why I can’t even say goodnight to you my children because I was home late after attending night school to earn my baccalaureate to maintain my job. Most of the time I was sent to the regions which would take weeks to test a new program. I suppose I didn’t fit the mold of a super, super mom. But I really tried my best to fill in the shoes of a loving mother.

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!

My Thoughts at 79!

What an agonizing ambition to write and publish a book—a real book!

I get jealous of those who have their writings published without so much rigidity and in orderly sequence I suppose. Look at what I learned from the lecture on “how to write and publish a book:”
Parts of a book— flyleaf;
half-title page;
verso or half title page;
title page;
copy write page;
dedication;
forward;
preface;
acknowledgments;
 table of contents;
list of illustrations;
introduction [optional].

Can you imagine how distressful it is for me having to get a foreword by a  professional critic? Why was I not able to befriend the editor of the New York Times or Ian Critchley of The Times or Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph who had a good review of President Obama’s autobiography entitled, Dreams From My Father? Our lecturer lectured hard on us that an autobiography is not marketable unless you are a movie star or a celebrity.

Would you believe that my intended book for publication is sort of bordering on this category with a title “Romancing The Lighthouse” prefacing it with “A Little Girl Who Once Lived By The Lighthouse”? Read on later as I describe to you some teasers of this beautiful story of the youngest ever lighthouse keeper of our time. I, of course, am not a movie star, or a celebrity of some sort and got warned that attempts to do so will not lead to a “super” marketability of the book or gain a comfortable profit to allow me even fulfill what I have listed in my bucket list. I get cold feet every time I think of these warnings, however, as a consolation, I remember the lecturer quoting big time authors who have tasted rejections like Auntie Mamie – 17 times; Jonathan Livingston Seagull – 18; Kon-Tiki – 20 ; Peyton Place – 24 …. And imagine “Gone With The Wind” almost never got published.

Going back to my anguished state as a “pretend book author” (liken to pretender to the throne saying) I hope that this book “Romancing The Lighthouse” my first book will be followed by my second book “Romancing Donsol.” …. You know that Donsol is the world’s capital of the gentle whale sharks. How I admire those who were taken under the wings of the Blue Mountain,Inc. publication. I wish to tell you that your books are quite popular in this side of the earth and that I’v e been gifted by my grandchildren, children, friends, on many occasions—birthdays, anniversaries, or just saying hellos. These books will I treasure along with my favorite collections at my age of  79! and beyond the limits of man’s existence like Methuselah.  Now some teasers of  “Romancing The Lighthouse”….

come enter the world of this little girl who lived by the lighthouse – the youngest lighthouse keeper ever in the country’s history …. be shocked about the terror of the war  years(WWII) in this tiny unknown town vividly told in shocking colors: the river turning into crimson red when dozens and  dozens of heads roll in cruel death; be absorbed in the magic of the landmarks that sometimes seem a blown up cinematic production; be enthralled by the 18th century church enshrouded in mystery that can only be revealed by its townfolks ;  be  curious and wonder about  unknown pieces of history in untold historical value; let your interest be spiced with these three lovable persons: Tuna, Niado and Mino who are normally challenged and unknowingly break the monotony of  a drab life of  townfolks around by their colorful being;  be the first to unlock  why the little girl is “semi-obsessed” with the lighthouse or “parola”.


Note:
To my children:  say something about my literary  madness which I intend as a passage to earn my “bragging right” as a writer of note. This bragging right thing is Miggy’s term.

A story about Reconnection

"The sleeping Beauty" of Laguna de Bay

Slumbering in it's serene pose amid the buzz of towns surrounding historic Laguna de Bay is the island of Talim Island. It is amazing that the Island is unabashedly called "Susong Dalaga" by the locals. My husband, Ted, told me that on a clear and sunny day the shape and contour of the Island seen from a distance is truly a picture of a lady in repose with her exposed virginal and untouched breast. With such a scenic supernatural beauty to behold, the unique Island is there waiting patiently to be touched and explored and included in the pie Philippine of tourism. Ted dreamt of seeing Talim Island, a tourism center of this grand lake.

Talim Island is just 3o minutes away from Metro Manila by car to the port of Cardona, Rizal afforded by good roads and another 30 minutes or so boat ride to Boor (bo-or) situated at the middle of the Island. Boor is the birth place of Ted. He was an Islander. How he loved his birthplace. For a last glimpsed of the Island, we made a sentimental journey years before he passed away. That must have been ten years ago.

Coming from brgy. Looc (lo-oc) the "daungan" of the barangays of Cardona side we boarded a motor boat to reach the Island. The boat crossed the channel of brgy. Navotas (so-called because is created a gap where the "split' was made from the main land). This part of the break away from the main land is the deepest point of the lake according to folks. As we coasted by the different barangays of the Island under the Cardona side we made stops now and then to unload passengers in thier respected barangays bringing with them heavy bags of grocery supplies. Most of them shopped at Binangonan on the other side of Cardona where it leveled up to be a bustling commercial center here abouts. I hope to see Cardona reinvent itself into a progressive, business center as the "other side". There is a "ruin" which looks like a "Spanish fort". Two or three barangays from Navotas as we passed this part of the Island. Unmindful disposition of the inhabitants and the local government (perhaps?) have passed up this treasure of a “find” lying untouched and unnoticed by the folks here. This “find” can be tapped as a resort by erecting a lighthouse within as an emblem with tourism in the Island. The lighthouse will stand as a beacon for fishermen in the lake and tourist coming over far from and wide to behold the Sleeping Beauty of Laguna de Bay.

Our Destination is Boor of course, one of the smallest barangays on "earth" (pun). As the boat eased up to anchor at the pier, a giant basketball covered court greet first time visitors. It is a land mark, so huge that I thought the whole barangay in habitants can live within it comfortably. Surprisingly, the small barangay gets it's charm from  the riots of colors of hanging gardens from every window and more flowers hedging every nook and lane. Amazingly still was total cleanliness. And also admirable is the fact that every lane and even the bed of the dried stream and unused waterways are cemented, an achievements of the great Frisco San Juan a beloved son of Cardona, Rizal who was a former Congressman. We enjoyed the halo-halo sold merrily in every corner of the main Thoroughfare. As we made the rounds of this last visit. Ted was so happy recalling his childhood memories. We also recounted yesterday’s memories when we were still raising our young children. Always, we reconnect these memories with the Island. Therefore, we happily recalled how we spent our summer vacations there with our seven growing up kids to join his beloved family. Swimming, mountain climbing, picking naughtily green mangoes from the neighbor’s farm, catching fish by hand that abound near the sea walls of the pier where the order of the summer vacations. The boys, all five of them; Dods, Corky, Marco, Todi and Spanky tried time and again to scale the tip of the "susong dalaga" but always came down frustrated because of its height and rugged terrain. The two girls; Minkie and Ember tried perfecting their swimming prowess, but always  Minkie tried hard to no avail. Ember on the other hand came to be a good swimmer.

The best part of this summer vacation was the special offering of Nanay Dora. She always treated us to her family's favorite dishes of ayungin, bia, Kandule, Imelda (a big fish) tilapia, bangus. How my husband savored the dishes. No silver spoon and fork needed. It was always a Kamayan feast.

Lent is a much awaited part of the vacation. It is a colorful scenario of hulihan ni Kristo on Good Friday. Ted is a favorite Kristo to huli and be hanged on the cross. The male population make a mock commotion to run after the Kristo. This Holy week play was acted line. It was fun to watch this event.

As I write this reconnection with The Sleeping Beauty of Laguna de Bay. I can still remember the sparkling emerald waters of the Bay of long ago highlighting the splendour of the Island but now shadowed and veiled by ugly fish pens distorting the scenery

But here’s good news:

I heard that Boor has now become a little Italy bringing the beauty and architecture of that country to this beloved place of Ted. They say that the first batch of OFWS who went to Italy were from Boor. Isn’t this a tourism come on.

To define the Term the other side here’s a clearer geographical definition of facts:

The Island is divided into two political divisions-the eastern side belongs to Cardona with 7 or 10 barangays while Binangonan carries with it 15 or 17 barangays. (This is according to the hand written list provided by a staff of the Planning and Development Coordinator of the Rizal Provincial Government in Pasig City. The fellow was not so sure about the figures.)

At last a promise fulfilled! My beloved Ted made bilin to me that I should write about the Island he loved. Goodbye my Love. See you in the Morning!

To God be the Glory!