heart, aba, madaming paalaala ito- hmm, time to fill the balikbayan boxes with presents for loved ones back in the Pinas- makeup and beauty products for the relatives mahilig magpabeauty, branded sports shoes for the mapormang nephew/ niece, food items- spam, nutella, velveeta, etc (naku, may maidi display na naman si sister sa china cabinet for neighbors and guests entering the salas na kaparte na rin ang komedor to see- take note, sa Pasko pa matitikman ng pamilya yan!). Relatives also appreciate accepting gifts maski used items na wag naman sanang yung gula- gulanit at butas na. Aba, kapag sinambit sa kausap na galing Canada, wow agad, ibang level ang tingin sa suot na damit o footwear, or karay- karay na shoulder bag. So, kailangang punuin to the hilt ang box na ito and ipapick- up kaagad sa suking padala company para makaabot before Christmas. Bilis at talagang hectic ang sked ng mga tagakarga nito from your house to the barko which will sail from 5 weeks to 2 months to bring these these gifts home in the Philippines and to your loved ones.
Ber in the Philippines will also remind Fil- Cans that malapit nang matapos ang first semester sa school so, for those of you na may tinutulungan/ tinutustusang student, time to send the pangtuition for the second semester na. Sana naman ay nagsisikap ang kamag- anak na pa- aral na ito, hindi nagbubulakbol, nilulustay ang baon sa malls, cellphone load or dates with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Basically, I am aware of the intention of all of you in helping educate young relatives whose parents can not afford to send their kids to school- makatulong lang, di ba? Pero, I know from a recent sad experience how some young folks can have the gall to squander hard- earned pantulong sa pag- aaral that you send. Of course, mas marami naman yatang ang very appreciative of the help they receive from overseas relatives so that they really strive to study to prove that di nasayang ang itinulong na pantustos. Here’s hoping you won’t be disappointed with the lucky kid you are sending to school.
Ber months pa rin ang birthday ni Mama Mary, the Catholic population’s intermediary/ intercessor sa paghingi ng favor kay Hesus- syempre, she is the mother of Christ, yan ang sabi ng maternal grandma ko noong araw, at kapag sinabi nya na ‘Anak, itong si Victorina Minudin Delena (that’s my lola from Bacnotan La Union, long gone from this earth) ay humihiling na…’ aba, pinakikinggan agad ng kanyang only son. Noon pa man when I was very young, ‘humanized na sa aming pamilya si Mama Mary.That’s how most Pinoy adults regard their mother- special talaga at kapag humiling ay pagbibigyan at pagbibigyan. Tingnan nyo nga ang relationship ni Mommy Dionisia with Manny Pacquiao- hindi natitinag even by Jinky, hehe.
The first two days of November naman are the 2 dedicated days for our loved ones who have gone ahead of us to the Great Beyond. Di pa rin tuluyang nililimot ng Pinoy and kahanga- hangang tradisyong ito, hamo na ang ilan ilang maybe baka walang silang mga mahal na namayapa will trek to the beaches, resorts, disco houses or some bars. For many of us, to remember our dead is a sign of tribute and honor to him or her- bakit ba tribute pa? Well, baka sya ay isang magulang na nagpunyagi at nagsikap para lang maipatapos sa pag- aaral ang mga anak; isang lolo or lola kaya na naging magandang ehemplo sa kanyang mga apo at naging mapagbigay di lang ng pagmamahal kundi ng mga simple at maliliit na bagay- bagay na kinalugdan ng mga apo sa panahon ng kanilang kabataan at ang mga iyon ay di nila nalilimot hanggang ngayon; isang simpleng yaya o tagapag- alaga na kahit di naging tunay na kadugo o kamag- anak ay gumabay sa iyong paglaki, nagturo ng wastong pagkilos at pag- uugali katuwang ng iyong mga magulang na malimit ay naging busy because of work; isang malapit at mahal na bosom friend; isang boss who was just and fair and gave you a lot of opportunity to rise as a professional; marami pa sila na nagbigay ng magagandang ala- ala sa buhay mo ngayon and they are given these two special days of November as their days of honor although they are remembered most fondly throughout the year.
For me, a Ber month has always been special because it is my birthmonth. It’s doubly significant for me this year as I will officialy become a senior member of society, to enjoy the privileges of people in this cluster (senior citizens na kami!). I am thankful that mayron na ring ilan- ilang government- bestowed privileges sa mga olds nation- dati wala, di ba? I hope to get the discounts given to us (supermarket, drug stores, local transpo, etc), and take part in the socials and entertainment provided especially for us. I however, also intend to be as active as I have been before- at home, in the community, no, no, I will not allow the joints- aches and some shortness of breath take the fun out of living. I however, fervently hope that people around me will extend their understanding- I am now slower when I move and I hope they will be patient with me; I am also a bit forgetful, sana ay maintindihan din nila. Sana, they, especially the young ones will take time out to converse with me because I am sure that we have a lot of topics that we can talk about- gusto ko to share my experiences with them especially the lessons that I have learned from life the past 60 years. Naku, ang dami siguro nilang mapupulot mula dun! And finally, gusto ko pang mabuhay nang matagal- I will also strive to keep healthy for another 20 years, enough time to see our youngest son, Christian Joseph graduate from University. He is now three years old.
THANK YOU, TORONTO!
