iced lemon tea

Often times we define the love and care of moms through the eyes of other people or at least from their kids themselves.

A while ago, I was hooked with this drama episode on TV on how an adopted son exhibited the importance of a mother - when all his siblings pursued academic degrees and left for greener pastures, he stayed and take good care of their parents.

This continued even the adopted son succumb into brain cancer and eventually died without failing to show care towards the light of the family, to the last breath.

It is rare for me to drop tears on movies knowing that it’s not real… and that they are just acting on screen.  However, the scenes teach me a lot the importance of appreciating mothers.  

The mom on the story was busy with work and has less time with kids.  At one point, the elder brother accused this same mom of missing his childhood days.

But the adopted son, never ever looked on his mom’s shortcomings. It was this characteristic that the mother saw the vivid picture of her relationship towards her kids.

She’s afraid to grow old alone, and at one time she considered the kids as her life insurance - someone to look after her when she grow old.

From the very point of view of this mother, flowed the affection she have for this adopted son.  You can feel her loss. It wasn’t long enough when I’ve blurred my vision with tears.  I can feel her pain.

Her questions were the following:

Isn’t the children are suppose to bury their parents?

If you call a child who lost his parents an orphan; and the wife who lost his husband a widow; what would you call a mother who lost a son?

Indeed, they are the most uncomforted victim of death. There is just no way to describe their loss.

I’ve seen this situation when my sister lost his son a month after she gave birth to him. Four years after, and she’s still hurt and afraid.

The love of a mother never wanes, even in death. They are an example of an ultimate love, knowable and visible to man.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? ” Isaiah 49:15

What a solemn reminder when at times we take for granted our mother’s care for us.  This could possibly explain why thirty years after and away for fifteen years, my mother still celebrates my birthday at home. 

Now I know, I will always be her baby boy no matter how I feel about it.

There’s is the kind of love a level less than divine.

May 14

BREAKFAST

I woke up with a nice fried noodles that my mom-in-law prepared that morning.   One thing I admire about her is that she put her soul on every thing she does in the kitchen.  You can be sure she knew the minute detail of all ingredients she includes - not missing the importance of serving its purpose from preparation until its consumption. She just know what to do. ^^

I asked permission to stroll around Manila that morning. I know I have to update myself and get familiar of the surrounding markers again.

After the breakfast chat with Papa, I quickly prepare myself for a quick tour around the metropolis.

CITY TOUR

Everything thing was so funny. I feel like i knew all the people around me.  I lost count the number of times I take a good focus on one person for a few second to make sure that they are not the people I knew.

Was it because I’m surrounded by Filipinos again?

As much as I would like to hide my oblivion to the “new” surrounding, I feel stupid asking my seatmate how much is the minimum fare at the jeepney(local common transport).  The girl in uniform looked at me and probably tried to measure up my sincerity, informed me of the fare.

In between seconds and awe, I tend to forget switching on my street smart consciousness.  Luckily, I haven’t experienced something unusual and nasty hehehe.

While Singapore is only as big as Metro Manila, the population in Manila is more than double. There’s just a lot of people everywhere.  The security check five years ago, is still the same routine I have to endure at the entrance of MRT and Malls.

At the purple line, there are gates thar are closed, and elevators are either off or not working. There’s a lot of ways that the management/government could make it easier and convenient to the riding public, but they tend to feel more convenient by making it hard to the riding public.

The MRT stations were designed for convenience, yet some entrance are closed or some lines and off limits section were placed inconveniently. I literally have to make a round to enter when there are supposed to be available gates on either side of the station.

While on queue to buy my train ticket, an old man approached me for help. He told me its his first time to use the machine and he will appreciate if I could help him. I told him it’s my first time too, and everybody who heard showed me that blank stare again. I can sense like they’re asking me, “From which tribe you came and when did you arrive here?”

Anyways, I don’t have pics, but I took the purple line to Cubao and take the train again to Mega mall. After a quick lunch at Shangrila Mall, I bought a sandal in anticipation for my planned beach hopping on the next two weeks.

I hurriedly went back to Sampaloc for my trip to Binan that afternoon.

It’s a week past Mother’s Day and so I bought a nice cake for my mom-in-law. Better late than never hehehe…

I wasn’t able to catch them at home, and so i decided to pack my things for Binan.

BINAN TRIP

The Binan trip wasn’t that smooth. I have to look for the right bus under the scorching heat of the sun. I arrived late for my sched of 5pm, but was able to catch up the young people at the church for dinner.

I spend the next 5hours with six pastors  on the church lawn discussing various, interesting topic.

EPILOGUE

The whole day was tiresome but filled with good activity — a good jump start for the next strenuous days of mountain hiking, beach hopping and road trip sun bathing.