Nanay

Mothers are special people. Almost all people would say that. They are the light of the home, ensuring that everyone in the family is healthy, safe, provided and happy. My mother was one of them.

My mother finished 2 years of college only and was a simple housewife but she mustered all her strength and wisdom to raise 11 children for 65 years up until disease cut her earthly existence. On June 23, 2015, after more than a year of coping with leukemia, my mother passed away. She was 84 years old.

During a quiet moment at her wake, a brother-in-law of mine wanted to ease the pain the entire Guzman family. He asked each one of us this question: What are the common qualities that you and Nanay (Filipino term for \"Mother\") shares? When my turn came, I replied:

Nanay was a visionary. Fifty-one years ago, she named her 9th child after her. She might have felt that the child would be the reflection of her personality. That baby was me.

I was indeed my mother's reflection. Aside from the same name, we are both tall at5'3\", have high cheek bones and broad shoulders. I stand like a model and so did she..

Many people say that LYDIA SANTOS GUZMAN and myself are of a good mind - intelligent, critical thinker and open-minded. We spoke what we felt. We both love to read, search for the truth and defend what is just and fair. We both have a penchant for history, culture and gardening. We enjoy watching cooking and police story shows. Both of us have good voice and we sing melodies of the 50's or earlier.

My Nanay and I may be quick to anger but we also forgive easily. The only difference is that my Nanay had an elephant's memory. She could pardon but never forget.

Independence, resourcefulness and social skills are the other commonailities. My Nanay would take any moral and legal steps to solve her problems. If possible, she would not disturb anyone for solutions. She woke up at 4 AM to sell dried fish at the market. On weekends, she established friendships to sell jewelries and real properties. When my older siblings were too small to let her go out of the house, she made a huge crib for her tiny tots, allowing her to sell rice and vegetables to neighbors in between her house chores. Because my father was often on offical travel, it was my mother who attended meetings in three different schools. She sewed our clothes and borrowed costumes for school programs. She just knew how to make ends meet because my father was only earning P300 per month (equivalent to $6 today).

If the daily life of my Nanaywas captured on film, the world would see that she was a super woman. She had little formal training, came from a poor family of a Methodist pastor, and was raised by 11 older borthers because her mother died when she was only 2 years old. But looking back, it appears that my mother survived on pure instinct. Her elementary and high school teachers gave her basic education but the rest she taught herself. She received little maternal love but was able to culture and give it to us. She grew up with a father who was always on the go and when her own husband was the same, it was easy for her to cope.

My Nanay was strong. She was not only a mother but a father as well. She was a an effective leader and a great example for me and my siblings. Her sacrifices and hard work produced two nurses, a judge, medical doctor, engineer, chemist, economist, entreprenuer, expert mechanic, and myself. For that, I thank her. Praise Jesus for LYDIA SANTOS GUZMAN.