I don’t know how or when to start this story.
My siblings called her mama, when she was young, her friends called her Julie, Claire when she’s at work, Nanay Clarita to her church family in New life and lastly, lola Julie to her apo’s (grand children).
As a mother
We grow up in a simple and ordinary living. She never tolerate us in buying things which
are not important or rather say “luho”. She is a nurse in a government Hospital
for almost 30 plus years. Would you imagine this was her first and last working
experience on her entire life? What a loyal employee! But the government
doesn’t even recognize her as this.
Anyway, here are some of her characteristics:
Industrious
She is dedicated to her work, I never recall a
thing that she used to be absent for no reason, we came to this world with my
siblings and yet she never gave up her work. The salary she’s getting is not
enough to raise us (also with my father their both raising us together). A lot of
stuff that she used to buy and sell for added income. Anything that can be sell
like mani, candy, chocolate, cabinet, caldero those are just the things that I
recall, I’m sure there’s a lot of it. When she arrives home from work she’ll do
household chores afterwards, she usually gets mad if she got home with a messy
house. She really doesn’t like a dirty/messy house. You will end up hearing a
lot of words coz she’s nagging already.
Nurse
Everyone is looking for her if
they have question about the medicine they will take. When I was sick (and my
siblings), she really takes good care of us, wiping towel on my forehead when I
have a fever, giving a sponge bath to make you feel refresh and giving you the
medicine right on time. She makes sure
that you will be okay soon. These are
one of the things that I will miss with her.
Added to this, when I gave birth
to my daughter last July 24, 2014, she was there at the hospital despite her
condition. She stayed outside the operating room with my husband sitting on her
wheel chair (no available room for me that time – still waiting to some
patients to be discharged) and she uses her walker when walking but with
difficulty, that in any moment she might slip, accident may happen. Same thing
she does with my sister when she also gave birth to Shekinah.
These pictures was taken 2009, mom's last day from work (early retirement)
Generous
When I was in college she started
telling stories on how she grows up and how they survive from everyday living.
I mentioned above that she is selling mani and other stuff just to provide our
needs.
Even when she was young she
started doing this, she also provides the needs of her siblings together with
her mother, my lola. Despite the situations she has, she is generous enough to
lend money to her relatives and officemates.
As you can see; she also needed
the money she just earned from selling and working. She will give it right away,
not a single word, or not even bothering you when to pay your “utang” (debt) even if it took many years already.
With this reason, God blessed her
most! She’s not the one begging: she’s the one who give and provide willingly.
That is why God helped her accomplished the things which is important to her
too. She was able to pay the house full (together with my father) and she got a
2 lot in Everest hill and paid it full too. A lot of accomplishment too many to
mention here.
As
a Christian
Here
is her testimony.
My mom grows up in a catholic church.
Later on, she started attending Christian service in New Life in Christ Church
Muntinlupa, year 2005.
Since then, she attended the
service every Sunday, I mean, every Sunday! If you can’t see her during the
service, that’s the time she’s in deep pain and her feet is swollen. Though with
her condition, she is dedicated and wants to be in the presence of God. Faith
builds and later deepens her relationship with God.
She used to read the bible
everyday especially at night; you can see her also praying before going to
sleep and she dance and sing while listening to her favorite worship CD.
Mama is faithful in giving tithes
and offerings to the church and also to the 700 club Asia. (See how generous
she is? though she needed the money in buying medicine, she still gives freely
and wholeheartedly).
When we’re still together
attending the church, I remember during worship time, while singing, her both
hands up (a sign of surrendering to God), I saw her crying. I know why she’s
crying, it’s her prayer to God to heal her. I will never forget that moment.
Though my mom doesn’t heal
physically, her soul is healed and at rest even she has sickness. She has a
happy disposition; you will never hear from her blaming God why physical
healing never happened. She trusted God completely.
I remember telling us, if she died, during her
wake, no gambling (sakla) and no superstitious belief! Anything that is not
permitted by God is not allowed on her wake. She followed what is written in
the bible. And that happened already during her wake last February 13 to February 18, 2015.
She’s with God already.
A complete healing indeed.
Taken @ New life in Christ, Christmas Party 2009
Surely,
Every day, every hour,
every minute and every second in my life I definitely miss you. To some who
have said, “wala na si mama mo”, for me, she’s not gone, she will always live
in my heart as long as I live.
I salute you, Mama Claire!
