Feelings
A lesson from Mom
By Emmanuelle
LET this son tell this story. He is in his early thirties, a theater actor, a vocalist and a canvas artist disguised as a network branch manager and a state college professor.
Hetong sandaan, his mother would say as she hands out a hundred-peso bill each to him and his sister. Try to spend it wisely, she makes habilin at the same time she gives them instructions on where to find her afterwards. I will be over there, she points out with her finger and the three of them would turn their heads to the women’s section of the department store. They nod to her. Then holding on tight to each other’s hands, they run gaily towards their treasure cove: the toy section right across the aisle. Get one that you want and get one that you need, Mom’s pahabol words ring in their ears as they disappear behind the first shelf of Snakes and Ladders, Twisters and Scrabbles. And she is not finished yet! Don’t lose your sister! He hears this one loud and clear as they run pass the shelf of game balls, hoops and Splinky spiraling springs.
Years, decades from your childhood, do you still remember what your mother taught you?
This son shares with us his memories and the lessons these bring – hoping that we pass it on, too, to our children and to our children’s children. Whenever this son and his family travelled to Manila for the holidays or family events, they would always stop by SM to shop and bring something home to the province. There were no SM Baguio City and SM Rosales as of then. He remembers dressing up for it, too! He would wear his newest pair of sneakers, baggy pants and most presko oversized shirt. His sister would wear her prettiest ruffled dress with matching ruffled socks to go with her beribboned pigtails. Hanging across her shoulders would be a small leather bag to match her single-strapped dancing shoes. Mama would always give them a budget to work with. Whatever amount was left from what she gave, she expected them to consider it their personal savings. This tradition went back as far as he can remember and it would continue on until they were too old for toys.
Kuya, dito na ako, his sister lets go of his hand as they pass by the tall shelf of Barbie Dolls dressed for summer, winter, autumn and spring to include the preggy look and styles. Okey, doon lang ako, he leaves her to proceed to the shelf of Matchbox cars, trucks and jeeps. He zeroes in on the most awesome kotse-kotse that would fit his budget. He lets it out of the box and checks it out for factory defects while the saleslady is not yet around to tell him not to do that. Satisfied that he has the wisest buy, the toy sturdy and amounting nearest his budget limit but still with a few coins for savings, he checks on his sister. Then he realizes she is not at the Barbie Dolls section! Searching around and beyond, he fails to find her. His heart races fast and fear grabs him in his guts.
Then, Kuya, alin ang mas maganda? She is suddenly there, crouching half-hidden in front of other life-like dolls away from the shelf of fashionably “gestating” Barbies. He sighs, thank you God! She holds up two Barbie look-alike dolls. He points out his choice, she hugs it, and he helps her carry the other items she had collected: a couple of Rainbow Brite and Care Bear stickers and three sheets of paper dolls. How is she going to pay for all of these, he wonders? As they head for the cashier counter, they pass by the shelf of Barbie Dolls. Why did she not choose to pick one Barbie? Then, knowing his sister, he realized: she stopped at the shelf of Barbies first to find a nice up-to-date-model and then she chose a non-Barbie brand that looks exactly like that of the Barbie. She then has the extra cash to purchase several more fun items. Ah, your sister, the wise!
After paying for their loot, they look for their Mom in the women’s section of katsa dresses. They drop down on all fours and look for signs of her familiar brown bakya with white strap, her neatly pedicured nails peeping out. She smiles at their purchases. Proud of their accomplishments, they play with their loot at the back seat of the red sports car that Mom drives carefully through the traffic along Edsa for dinner at a relative’s place somewhere near or as far as Las Piñas.
As they both grew up, they learned tougher lessons. They made more difficult choices. They created their own innovations and they learned to face the consequences of their actions. Who they are today, the son and the sister who is now a doctor, is an evolution of how they were brought up to be independent individuals.
Happy Birthday, Mom! From your son, holding tight to his sister’s hand.
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