My mother (who is in the Philippines) turned 71 last June 25. Sa tuwing sumasapit ang birthday niya, nagkaka-mixed emotions ako. I am happy and grateful kasi binigyan na naman siya ng panibagong taon, pero nandun din yung fear. Syempre mas tumatanda ang isang tao, mas nagiging 'fragile' ang buhay niya. Mas humihina ang katawan. Sa edad kong ito, hindi pa rin ako handa na mawalan ng nanay. Siguro nga never akong magiging handa.
Aside from fear, I am also feel guilty. I left her in the Philippines. And she's there alone. Siguro isa na ito sa pinaka-pagsisisihan ko sa buhay ko, ang iwan siya sa mga huling taon ng buhay niya.
But my mother never demanded anything from me. Ang bait niya, pinabayaan niya akong bumuo ng sarili kong buhay sa malayong lugar. She let me be. She's selfless, ni minsan hindi ko naramdamang nagtampo siya sa akin kasi umalis ako kahit ako na lang ang meron siya.
Kaya nga gustung-gusto kong bumawi sa kanya. I am lucky because my husband is very understanding and selfless din. Pinapayagan niya kami ni Nathan na umuwi sa Pinas nang madalas at matagal. Nagpapasalamat talaga ako. I promised myself na haggang nandyan ang nanay ko, pipilitin kong umuwi sa Pinas as often as I can.
Pero dahil wala ako ngayon doon to be with her, I had to do something for her naman kahit papano.
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My mother is the simplest person I know. Her birthday is just an ordinary day for her, hindi big deal.
But I couldn't let her birthday pass nga nang wala lang. I wanted her to have a bit of celebration kahit wala ako / kami ni TanTan. So I sent money to Joanne (our trusted secretary) so she could buy a simple handa lunch for Mamoosh. June 25 fell on a Sunday kaya super thankful ako kay Joanne kasi kahit wala siyang pasok that day, willing na willing siya na magpunta kay Mamoosh. Parang sila na kasi ang mag-ina ngayong wala ako doon. Parang younger sister ko na rin siya.
I specifically instructed Joanne to buy a cake syempre. My mother never celebrated her birthday noong bata ako. Kelan lang siya nakapag-cake, nitong matanda na ako at binibilhan ko siya.
Her cake was bought over the counter lang but it was beautiful. Ang gaganda talaga ng cake sa Pinas. Masarap pa. Even the greeting was well-written.
Mamoosh didn't know about Joanne and I's arrangement so she was surprised. Medyo tahimik pa nga when we were talking sa Facetime. Haha, she's not really into parties, no matter how simple it is. Dun kami opposites. Hindi rin naman ako mahilig sa parties talaga, but I want all occasions to be celebrated kahit simple lang.
Tita Oya, Mamoosh's only surviving sibling, was of course present. Nathan was so excited to see her again after 2 1/2 months. Super close kasi sila sa Pinas. I don't know what I'll do without my Tita Oya, siya na lang kasi talaga ang tumitingin kay Mamoosh eh.
So there, kahit papano may nakasama naman ang nanay ko sa birthday niya -- Tita Oya, Charry (our househelp), Joanne (and her husband and daughter), and Nante (one of our bus drivers). I could have made her birthday "big" by inviting all our employees and some of my cousins but I knew she wouldn't like it. Ayaw niya talaga ng ganun eh.
By the way, I also bought a cake for her here in Canada. Sa Goldilocks din. Pero reserve ko na lang ang kuwentong-cake in a separate post.
Nathan was so excited to sing "happy birthday" for his Lola Lucy. First time nya rin kasing magbo-blow talaga ng cake.
Oh, and I cooked spaghetti rin pala for my nanay's long life.
Wala naman talaga akong wish kundi humaba pa ang buhay niya. Alam ko marami pa siyang gustong gawin, marami pa siyang gustong maabutan.
I love you, Mamoosh ko! Alam kong wala po akong pwedeng gawin para matapatan ang lahat ng pag-aalaga at pagmamahal mo sa amin. Basta, maraming salamat po. Miss na miss ka na namin ni TanTan. See you po again in January.
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A birthday won't be complete nga pala without a gift...
So presenting... our very "expensive" present for Mamoosh! Lol!
When I learned a couple of months ago that Nokia is relaunching 3310, I got so happy. Si Mamoosh talaga ang naisip ko kasi ito yung pinaka-unang cellphone niya ever (although hindi na raw niya maalala). My 71-year old mother is of course non-techie and she's using an old and unreliable Nokia-something din. Kaya I asked Joanne to buy a 3310. Sakto naman na last week ng June din naging available sa Pinas ang phone na ito. Parang Php2,470 lang yata ang price kaya very affordable.
My mother could afford even the most expensive phone in the market pero di nga siya mahilig bumili (saka di niya nga rin alam gamitin). She wouldn't even replace the one she's using hanggang gumagana pa. I am glad I was able to give her something that she could really use. =)
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