The last thing I saw on television last night before I closed my eyes to sleep was Kris Aquino narrating about her Mother, former president Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino. I wanted to watch it but I was too tired I can barely open my eyes. The first thing I saw on the TV too this morning was the replay of the coverage of yesterday’s event, the transfer of Madam Aquino to Manila Cathedral which caused grave traffic since many people went to see the president. It was like looking back at the funeral of her spouse, Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, which was flocked by hundreds of thousands of supporters.
I was not a fan. That is clear to me. I have yet to see a Philippine President who can ‘wow me.’ When ‘Tita Cory’ died though, I was sad and even cried, for the loss of a good person who loves God, her family, and the country. For me, those characterisitics are already good already to admire a woman.
She was a wonderful mother and in her, I see the type of motherhood I always encounter with mother friends who, from time to time, would burst into tears in my front lamenting their woes over the irresponsible actions and decisions of their children (now in their adolescence). Tita Cory, despite her family’s wealth, experienced a lot of disappointments and challenges in the motherhood area. Her favorite child, Kris Aquino, is well known for her ’sensational affairs’ and publicly deplorable antics. Despite all these, Tita Cory has always remained by her side showing compassion and understanding. She was indeed an epitome of a mother who’s unconditional love was overflowing for all her children and grandchildren, especially to those who needed it like her daughter, Kris, and her son, Josh.
(photo from art.com)
I have yet to understand this kind of mothering. My son is still a baby and at this time, my headaches on mothering him are simply trivials. Tita Cory actually reminds me of my mother, physically (because her facial features sort of resemble her) and parenting-wise. She has always been the hands-on type of mom with all four of us. She was a working mother (making and selling baby shoes, called ‘bonita shoes’) but not once she neglected her duty as a wife, and especially, as a nanay.
My memory bank is filled with warm memories of my childhood because of my mother’s love and sufferings. Since I was the youngest in the family, when I reached a certain age, I’m already expected to wash the dishes. Since I was still young, I usually daydream that I was a rich princess being punished for petty misconduct by washing the dishes on our lovely copper kitchen sinks. The daydreaming would usually end with crashing glasses or plates. That was the start of everyone calling me ‘clumsy’ (which pyschologically affected me and my behavior), everyone but my mother.
She was always the ‘wind beneath my wings’ and has protected me from anything that would harm me. When I first experienced a major disappointment, she was there to comfort and understand me even when she was very disappointed with me too. When my father lost her patience with me after doing an explicitly unacceptable action, she shielded me from him and from the rest of the world, all the time crying and offering me motivational words.
Mothers are indeed phenomenal. Their love are daunting, unquestionable, and to others, unreasonable. To me, mothers’ love are flawless. My mother, as I see her, is an exceptional woman, and she is my model for raising my child. I know it would be too hard for me to become like her as I need so much maturity and spiritual understanding before I can even come close. My only consolation is that I have a good woman for a model and I would forever be thankful that I experienced being raised, loved and cared for, by someone like her. A gift not everyone receives. One day, I hope my child will talk about me the way Cory Aquino’s children are talking about her now, or the way I am fondly describing my mother to all of you. At this time, I can say I am doing a rather good job as a mom as my son just told me last night “you’re the best mama in the whole world.” Now, that’s something. 
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#1 by zaldy on August 4th, 2009
yes, your mother is a great one… i have seen that and i adore her for being so good to all of us. thanks to your (may I say, our) Nanay!
#2 by Mhel on August 4th, 2009
that’s sweet kuya zaldy… if nanay would read your words, magbebreakdown yun cgurado.
thank you also for being there for me, just like nanay, during those stormy days. 