If There’s Any

Scanning hundreds of messages was unimaginable for me but what is a whole day of scanning all these messages with the end objective of compiling all of them in one nice hardbound if only for the love of Nanay ! I am referring to the hundreds and hundreds of messages that were written by relatives and friends for Nanay which they handed to the family during her wake. Outpouring messages at that!

And as I scanned every single page, I also read them line by line and then page by page and my already deep admiration for Nanay became deeper.

The message of Pons on the “munting bilog ng kanin” touched me most as it was a manifestation of how Nanay had lovingly nurtured them through the years. Ivy’s message of “walang hanggang pagmamahal” on the other hand, was full of love and longing. I was deeply touched with her wish for another day to be with Nanay knowing that her wish is not possible anymore. The great grandchildren, Aaron, Nicole, Aubrey, Charles, Allen, Shashing & Wacky also expressed their love through their countless innocent colored drawings. Shasha’s (Apple’s daughter) simple drawing of a flower with her message “This flower is for you Lola.” caught my attention. What an innocent expression of Love!

Jun and Chie’s message of “life will not be life” truly expressed their real feelings. I can attest to that. Ate Zeny’s “magkamukha message” was very thrilling as it did not only show Ate Zeny’s affirmation of her “beauty” but also her strength and her excellent way of accepting the loss. Nakakainggit! She was so composed both physically and “theoretically”!

The writing prowess of the family came out in these messages. Josh joined the group with his short poem message of “hinding-hindi makakalimutan” for Nanay. Cheche’s “coolest Lola” was the closest description of Nanay that I saw! And Kuya Boy’s sentimental message added to the beautiful poems that were dedicated to Nanay. Tita Lydia, Rey and Igi Boy gave their own “good bye and thank you” message to Nanay.

Relatives, friends and neighbors gave their outpouring messages too. And they were all very touching.

After a day and “almost sleepless night” of scanning all the messages and having printed one good compilation ready for Ate Zeny’s trip to Canada, I didn’t feel tired. Instead, I felt happy because I know I have known a person who was not only kind to her relatives and friends but also a mother to everyone. . . and they all come from all walks of life. . . a driver, a yaya, a neighbor, an innocent child and many more. I felt proud that I met a person who was not just an ordinary person in the neighborhood but is being considered as one Very Special Person by everyone.

And to top it all, I can honestly say that if Nanay was proud of having known me as THE EXECUTIVE, I feel equally proud to have known her – - She is very special to me and. . . . .

IT WAS WORTH KNOWING HER! My Love goes to Nanay wherever she is now.

I thought that I have seen enough of Nanay having known her for a number of years but after having weathered the “monotonous” stories of Loochie and Ivy over a plate of “ginataang halo-halo” . . the more that I admired Nanay. Yes, they were monotonous in the sense that there was only one lead character. . . and that was Nanay Paring. But who cares? She is such a very interesting person and that makes her a superstar in the eyes of those who love her truly and I am no exception.

They never stop telling stories one after another about Nanay. . . . enough to complete a library of short story books about Nanay. And they never run out of stories everytime we meet. . .

And when I started inquiring on the background of those people I met in the wake, one short story led to one another. . . . . all about the greatness of Nanay!

Businesswoman With Excellent PR

Ivy said that Nanay knows how to combine business and “pakikisama.” When young men would make “tambay” in her store to drink beer and the like. . . she would go out of her cashier table and talk to the young lady buyers and in a hearing distance of the girls she would advise the boys not to tease the young ladies. . . . that’s her way of getting sales from the young girls aside from not being afraid to go near her store thus generating more sales. . .

VAP – Very Accomodating Person

Chie would remember the times that their house in Dungo had so many rooms in the ground floor so as to accommodate relatives from Bicol who would love to stay with them and how Nanay had lovingly treated all of them with her own brand of kindness. Some of them were there in her wake like Tio Eli, Tio Ping and his family, Tio Naning and his family, Tio Mer and his family and Tia Sinay’s children. According to Chie, Nanay inspired Conching to study dressmaking while Ate Zeny helped her in her cosmetology course. Nanay would go out of her way to get clients for Conching so she can practice her dressmaking and manicure/pedicure skills . Truly admirable!

The Adviser

She was the adviser of a couple who temporarily lived in a jeepney near their house. . . and everytime they quarrel, they would ran to Nanay for advice who readily patched things up for them. She then offered them a simple decent meal. What a wonderful adviser she was! Her advise comes with a set of meal!

“Para Piso Lang”

She was the kind of “lola” to others who generously gave

one peso daily to a young kid in the neighborhood for his daily ice candy. And there’s another kid who expected a glass of mango shake from Nanay everyday for free and that kid would even invite other kids to ask from her and she would readily accommodate all of them for free. She would say “para piso lang, makakatulong ka pa sa mga bata”

The “Kunsintidor”

Inspite of the objections of Chie re Jun’s smoking and drinking, Nanay would always get her way of sending Jun a bottle of emperador or 2 bottles of San Miguel Beer from her sari sari store to their house’s ref. . . . the bottles will go with a message na “para dalawa lang!” She knows how to meet half way with making other people happy and at the same time being responsible for their actions!

A Mother to Everyone

Emma is one story by herself. Emma stayed with Nanay’s family for a while, sent her to school but finally Emma got married and left their place. When Emma decided to come back, Nanay readily accepted her again and treated her like her own daughter. When Emma made “lambing” that she wants a wallet as a birthday gift , she readily offered one of the wallets that is for sale in her store! No questions asked! Emma loved Nanay as if she was her own too!