ANGEL THOUGHTS
Life doesn’t come with a manual. It comes with a mother.—Anonymous
Motherhood takes…
The strength of Samson; The wisdom of Solomon; The patience of Job; The faith of Abraham; The insight of Daniel; And the courage of David!—Anonymous
Happy Mother’s Day to all the selfless, tireless ina, mama, nona, mamita, nanay, and lola out there! And to our Inang Bayan, our best gift is to vote wisely and pick the best regardless of the survey ratings (which is fast changing, by the way) and not to mind the cyber trolls.
I recall with great love our own mom Paz “Nena” Intengan Munson whose life was a continuous love story for us. She is already in heaven as well as our mommy-friends who passed away this year. They are Letty Jimenez Magsanoc, editor of Inquirer and an EDSA icon, and Milen Sison de Quiros, a respected public relations practitioner. They were real mothers whose lives revolved around their children. I offer giant bouquets to them and my mom.
I remember also with great admiration and nostalgia another fantastic mother who raised a family amid fierce political persecution and anxiety, with a husband in jail for seven years without charges. She had to watch with her children the horrible spectacle of her husband being assassinated in full view of the world. I’m talking about Cory Aquino, Tita Cory to all Filipinos and “mother” to all who worked for her and, embracing even our families. She took in my husband and children whom she showered with her unique brand of friendship and love.
Mother Cory lavished her own children with loving care and they imbibed her discipline, morals, and unwavering faith in God and her devotion to Mama Mary. I am frequently asked: Who would she have endorsed had she been alive today?
I am definite she would endorse Mar Roxas. You see, a few months before she died, she asked me who I was supporting for the coming presidential derby. She surprised me by answering her own question and said, she guessed it was a senator-business mogul and I said, “Yes, ma’am.” She gave me that steely gaze that made her cabinet members weak at the knees whenever it was directed at them and said firmly, “I don’t know about you, but I am supporting Mar Roxas.”
I managed to sit up straight and declare in sincere obedience, “Yes, ma’am. Mar Roxas na din ako!”At the time, her son Senator Noy had no plans to run. He was a “newbie” senator after nine years in Congress. He wasn’t in anybody’s consciousness yet to run for president. But his mother’s death a few months later changed history as a tsunami of calls for Noy to run could not be ignored.
Mar set aside his presidentiable plans and ran for vice president. Unfortunately, he lost to Jojo Binay. Now, President Manuel Roxas’ grandson and Senator Gerry Roxas’ son stands on the threshold of history and we wish him “God speed” tomorrow.
A widowed mother of three girls is also poised to clinch the second highest post in our land. Leni Robredo brings the imagery of the widow Cory Aquino slaying the giant dictator with nothing but prayers. For all his charms (He actually is charming!), Bongbong Marcos could be Leni’s conquered Goliath tomorrow.
My senate slate? It will be a mixed of “returnees” like Frank Drilon, TG Guingona, Kiko Pangilinan, Serge Osmeña, Ralph Recto, Dick Gordon, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto (really!), and “newbies” Leila de Lima, Lorna Kapunan, Roman Romulo, and one more I am praying about. I do not like “balimbings,” by the way.
My best wishes also go to two of my friends in the presidential derby, Grace Poe and Jojo Binay. When the election dust settles, let’s work for national unity.
As a mother (Thank you to my co-producer Sonny), I want my brood to grow up under free skies, with national leaders who will not sell their country to evil men and lustful nations, national leaders who do not pay homage to a cult leader who lavishes expensive gifts to politicos, are respectful to the Pope, to women, and to our laws.
I am a grateful, happy mother of four: Sandee, Junie, David, and AJ. I hope they can say with pride when I leave this world that they were raised with love, humor, and tenderness by a God-fearing mom and dad. And that their mother, even in her weirdest and wackiest moments, was a good mom! (mb)