(The only memento I have of my beloved mother)
She was a graduate of a commerce degree from USA. No, not the US of A, but the University of San Agustin in Iloilo. He was a graduate of Mechanical Engineering in the same university. They met, they fall in love, they married, and they live happily...at least for a time.
She was at the prime of her life as a thriving and yes, versatile woman. But the failures on Dad's life, unemployment, vices and inability to accept the responsibility of rearing his sons plus the pressures of Mom's family eventually ends the relationship between them. We were left to her care.
Four years had past, she was able to recover and being the beautiful woman she was, and seemingly successful in life, she was haunted by men and guys. She fall in love again, bore another son, and the father is nowhere to be found. Four years again, she thought she learned from many mistakes, she bore the heartaches and pains brought by the terrible afflictions she been through because she thought she was being punished. But she cannot wallow in self-pity, she doesn't want to be miserable forever. She deserved to be happy. She longed to love and be loved. She fall in love to another guy, had relationship, bore her first and only daughter. But the guy went to Manila and never heard of him since then.
Ito pong mga the stories I heard from her and found out a few hours before she left us, 16 years ago.
Those were the moments I heard the almost audible in ears na mga words I will never ever forget hearing from a dying mother.
"Please take care of your brothers and sister. Never leave them astray."
She was only 39 suffering from a breast cancer.
I was 16 years old then. Too young to live a life on my own.
My siblings are 14, 10 and 6. Not knowing what was going on.
Those moments in the hospital while she was breathing with the help of oxygen and other apparatus, and while she was holding my hands firmly that I instill upon my young mind the promise to be a good husband to my wife and a good father to my kids.
I've seen hardships and tribulations in my life.
I've heard many cries and wails out of pain and broken hearts.
I can't do nothing to alleviate or cease all of this but I can start with my own family.
And hope that legacy will live on with my posterity.
It's not easy, no one says it will be.
But yes, we can.
Today Mom Beth turns 57 years old.
Wherever you are, I have done my part.
I live to the promise I gave you.
I haven't seen you come up to the stage for our medals, or walk with us on our marriages, or dine with us in restaurants, or hold your grandson and granddaughters, but wherever you are, I know you are watching and I know, I can feel it, you are happy.
You're the best mother in this world. You want the best for us.
I always believe that a man can be seen as a caring and loving husband and father by the way he exemplify his love to his mother.
How can a man love a woman if he doesn't learn how to love his mother? There will be exception to this because there are mothers who used or being cruel to their sons or daughters, but generally speaking, any man who love and respect their mothers will simply mean mamahalin nila ang kanilang mga wife kagaya ng pagmamahal or higit pa sa pagmamahal sa magulang. Correct me if I am wrong pero yan po ang naiisip ko, and I've seen it sa ibang tao.
©2009 THOUGHTSKOTO
(The only memento I have of my beloved mother)