The apron is colored yellow and almost worn out . It looks more like an oversized bib .
My mother started using one when she was in her early nineties . When my stepfather got sick , two matching aprons ( or big bibs ) were given to Nanay and Tatay Cenon . Even in her old age , she was able to stitch their names in each apron in red thread ( so as not to miss their names ) Hers is just Ching , short for Treching .
She used it while taking care of Tatay Cenon . Tatay Cenon used his as his bib while eating . After the death of my stepfather , she felt alone again but my sisters and brothers made sure that she won't be alone . We made sure we were present on her birthday every January 13th , which became our annual reunion in Mangaldan . On her 95th birthday , we had a special birthday treat for her . Before I left for Vancouver , she gave me her apron for my use . She told me she would just use Tatay Cenon's apron . I was happy to have hers .
Two years and eight months ago , she passed away at age 100 and eight months . My two nun sisters and my eldest brother were present when she breathed her last . I was not ... I could not go back to the Philippines for more than two years after we said goodbye to her at her funeral . I could not bring myself to go back to the family house in Mangaldan because I could not bear the thought that she won't be able to meet me and hug me anymore .
During my sad moments , I would bring out my mother's apron and used it in cooking and doing household chores . Every time I wore it , I felt so comforted and at peace . I could feel her love and motherly presence saying to me " I am okay " . I have a lot of pictures of her which I review every now and then , but her former apron made a difference in my acceptance of her being physically gone forever . God's love and grace ( and the presence of Nanay's apron ) helped me a lot in my emotional healing and grieving .
On February , 2008 , I went home and joined Thomasians in celebrating Santo Tomas Catholic School's Diamond Jubilee Celebration . My siblings and I managed to get together for the occasion except for Sister Andrea who is presently based in Thailand . It was definitely different at home without my mother's presence and I missed her terribly but I was able to accept that she is gone .
Today , May 11th , is Mother's Day and I am going to wear my mother's apron again to honor her . You see , when I came back recently from my trip to Mangaldan , I decided to "retire" the apron . I washed it and tucked it away , but today , it will be "out of hibernation " . There is nothing more important to me than wear my mother's apron and say again " I love you and I thank you , Nanay , for being my mother ".
This is my mother's apron , which is more than an old apron to me ..
I am printing a poem my mother wrote when my sister , Sr. Severina ( Imelda ) decided to enter the Little Flower Novitiate to become a postulant of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception . When Nanay experienced the intense pain of separation from one of her children and the fear that she may not see her again , she wrote a poem which she turned into a song . My other sister , Sr. Andrea ( Josefina ) , joined the same congregation the following year which intensified more the pain my mother felt . Ironically however , my two nun sisters were the ones who were constantly with her in her old age until her last breath ....
MY ROSE .... by Mrs. Severina David Aquino- Cabrera
There is a song that fills my heart .
A song of joy and grief.
It clings as vine , it holds there fast .
I fear my heart would break ..........
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Just as the sun begins to peep .
Over the green dewy meadows ,
It's notes beg me the tears I keep .
That cease to fall when day is closed ..........
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To teach you the song, I'll open my heart ,
And let the notes fall , slowly thus:
In my garden once bloomed a white little flower,
T'was fragrant and and sweet to delight me all the years ..........
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With sweat that hope, and smiles with prayers,
I laboured so well so t'will bloom forever .
But Our Lord wished to probe , my wit this to hold ,
"Whom would you love more , the Gift or the Giver ? " ..........
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At last at my door , a pleading message fell ,
To take my rose away , it so bade my will .,
I gave then for Him , with a tearful smile ,
I kissed it for last -" My love , fare ye well "............
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Oh my sweet , little rose that was once my delight ,
My eyes glow with tears to behold no more your sight .
Could I but have wings , I' ll fly to your side .
To sing you the song of my pitiful plight ............
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I know that sometimes your petals are wet .
And droop as ailing at some weather's hard test .
But I shall cry no more for He careth best.
You will fresh up again and look forever blest ... ....
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There are countless stories about Mother's Day , about motherhood . Father Pal Domagas sent these two great stories or shall I say anecdotes ?
LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE
My mom had only one eye . I hated her . She was such an embarrassment . She cooked for students and teachers to support the family . There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me . I was so embarrassed . How could she do this to me ? I ignored her , threw her a hateful look and ran out . The next day at school one of my classmates said " EEEE , your mom has only one eye !" I wanted to bury myself . I also wanted my mom to disappear . I confronted her that day and said , " If you're gonna make me a laughing stock , why don't you just die ?' My mom did not respond . I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I said , because I was full of anger . I was oblivious of her feelings .
I wanted out of that house , and have nothing to do with her . So , I studied real hard and got a chance to go abroad to study . Then I got married . I bought a house of my own . I had kids of my own . I was happy with my life , my kids and the comforts . Then , one day , my mother came to visit me . She had not seen me in years and she did not even meet her grandchildren . When she stood by the door , my children laughed at her , and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited . I screamed at her , " How dare you come to my house and scare my children ! GET OUT OF HERE ! NOW ! ! ! " And to this , my mother quietly answered , Oh , I'm so sorry . I may have gotten the wrong address ." And she disappeared out of sight .
One day , a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house . I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip . After the reunion , I went to the old shack just out of curiousity . My neighbors said that she died . I did not shed a single tear . They handed me a letter that she wanted me to have .
" My dearest son , I think of you all the time . I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children . I am so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion . But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you . I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up . You see ....when you were very little , you got into an accident and lost your eye . As a mother , I could not stand watching you having to grow up with one eye . So I gave you mine . I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me , in my place , with that eye ..."
With all my love to you ,
Your Mother
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A man was sick and tired of going to work everyday while his wife stayed home . He wanted her to see what he went through , so he prayed :
" Dear Lord : I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home . I want her to know what I go through . So, please allow her body to switch with mine for a day . Amen ! "
God , in His infinite wisdom , granted the man's wish . The next morning , sure enough , the man awoke as a woman . He arose , cooked breakfast for his mate , awakened the kids , set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast , packed their lunches , drove them to school , came home and picked up the dry cleaning , took it to the cleaners and stopped at the bank to make a deposit , went grocery shopping , then drove home to put away the groceries , paid the bills and balanced the check book . He cleaned the cat's litter and bathed the dog . Then it was already 1 P.M.. He hurried to make the beds , do the laundry , vacuum, dust , and , swept and mopped the kitchen floor , ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home , set milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homewortk . He, then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing . At 4:30 , he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad , breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper .
After supper , he cleaned the kitchen , ran the dishwasher , folded laundry , bathed the kids and put them to bed . At 9:30, he was exhausted and though his dailu chores weren't finished , he went to bed where he was expected to make love , which he managed to get through without complaint . The next morning , he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said : " Lord , I don't know what I was thinking . I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day . Please , oh , oh , please , let us trade back . Amen ! "
The Lord , in His infinite wisdom , replied :
"My son , I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were . You'll just have to wait nine months , though . You got pregnant last night . "
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Let us remember the Greatest Mother of all times , Our Blessed Mother Mary who is the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ ...
HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY TO ALL WOMEN !!!! ! ! ! !
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