Twelve years ago, I was just a little plump girl who wakes up early with her brother to have breakfast before going to school. We always have a routine, wake up, eat breakfast, take a bath, put our clothes on then go to school blah blah blah. And yes, Pork Beans! We usually eat pork and beans during breakfast or when we don't like the food when its dinner time, its what our "kasambahay" serves us. To be exact it's Hunt's pork and Beans :)). So, Pork & Beans really played a large part in our lives while we were growing up.
Then as time travel by so fast, that little plump girl is still fat but all grown up. She has now decisions of her own that sometimes negated by her mother. She is more bubbly and talkative than before. Unlike the little her, she speaks her mind out. She is still shy at times but more confident to face other people. And like Pork and beans which she hasn't eaten for years (just this morning again that's why she came up with this post) she had get rid of the things on her usual routine.
This morning, I have realized many things. Those happy/sad times will remain as beautiful memories of my childhood. I'm just glad that God gave me the chance to know my mother more.
When she's still in Saudi, I only get to spend time with her during vacation for 45 days while Papa for 30 days. That's the usual routine. They work then they come home for a limited time to relax and bond with us.
That changed when Mama stayed in the Philippines for good (last 2005). We have known each other more. Yes, we have an open communication when she's still working but its different when you get to spend time with her everyday. She is now the one who prepares food every breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tita Edios (she's our guardian since we were brought here in the Phil, she's mama's sister. and credits to her we have grown as disciplined and respectful children of Rey and Ilig! :)) is now free from waking up early, preparing everything and worrying if we're not yet home. Those tasks were suddenly passed on to Mama.
Imagine, Kuya had a dengue and I was hospitalized because of anemia. Mama's there with Tita. (Tita and I always talk about this, she's saying na kung siya lang daw mag isa nun, hindi niya talaga kakayanin)
And because we get to spend more time with Mama, we are prone to fighting. :))
Mama have already seen our mood swings, kuya's baltikin side and my maldita attitude.
We have already seen mama's flaws ( hello noone's perfect right ) and how she's applying the rules of lolo (very old yet disciplined rules) to us. Mama, is not a soft spoken mother (don't kill me ma!) she always talks with a high pitch tone which irritates us especially Kuya! Mama love showbiz so much and she's always affected on what's going on on television. There are times that she'll end up crying with the celebrity while Kuya will tease him "Kaano ano mo yan? Bat nakikiiyak ka?" There are times that we hate the rules that she imposes and be pissed of on how she worries about things that shouldn't be worried about. Yet, we still love her so much. That will never change! I always love her when she's asking me for new books to read (we have a deep fondness for books). One thing that amuses me now is she's waking up early to cook for Kuya's baon for work, akalain mo yun?. (I said she's different, she's not the mom who'll wake up early to prepare breakfast, she'll prepare it during the night and instructs our maid how to cook it so she won't get up early. She also sleeps late because she watches her telenovelas!) Mama is very protective and strict to me but I always see how she defends us to everyone whenever we do something wrong. She defends us but she'll also point out that what we did is wrong. I'm happy that she knows all my friends and also became close to them. She may not be the best mother in the whole world but She is the best for me (kahit na inaaway ko siya). Because of her "masasarap na luto" I have not eaten Pork and Beans for so long. :)
Pork and Beans is Kuya's favorite but now he's all grown up and usually eats hamburger, pizza etc etc. He is now a man who is working for an IT Company. He usually asks me for advice and makes me his style bible. I love it how I can share to him my big dreams without being shy even if its a stupid dream. He wants me to achieve it and I know one day he'll be a proud Kuya. We are close but like any other siblings, we fight. Petty fights, asarans, pikunans blah blah blah. I'm the stone-hearted one and he is the one who would tease me but when I feel pikon na he'll say sorry but I stay mad. He'll throw a punch line then I'll try not to laugh but I can't because he's so corny! Sobra! eew! He's stubborn, me too. He is moody, me too. He loves party music, rock and everything maingay, I appreciate it but I'm more of R&B and Pop. He wants a Blackberry, I want an Iphone and I hope he'll buy me one someday.
I've discovered many things about my brother as we were growing up. We just became close when he is already in high school. Less fights, less wrestlings etc etc. Yes you've read it right! WRESTLING! Kuya is the villain of my life before, I end up with many "pasa" after we fight for no reason. I thought of him as a warlord, bad boy, monster, evil and everything bad. He always punch me with his "grabeng bigat na hands".
When I remember those times, I end up smiling. We are just little monsters who fight about everything but now we're all grown as better individuals. We are not perfect but at least we haven't done things that would make our parents bail us out in jail. haha! We may not have the finances to buy the things that we want. At least God gave us parents and (a bonus) Tita, who would provide the things we dream to have and support our decisions in life. We may not have everything but the love and support from our family is too much.
Someday, I also hope to know Papa more. When everyone's stable and settled down, I would like my father to stay in the Philippines na and enjoy life with Mama. For now, I have to finish my studies to be able to make that dream come true.
Years ago, I never imagined that I would make a blog post like this. All I know is deep inside me I just want to write and be an eic of a newspaper. Then it changed to eic of a magazine. Then it evolved into many dreams and ambitions.
Well, it all started on Pork and Beans then I started to reflect about my life now. To sum it all up, I thank God for everything. You are the one who makes me believe that everything will be okay not in my own time but in yours. In God's time you'll find happiness that you forgot to wish for. He doesn't give me things that I need. He gives me what I deserve. I love you God.
Thank You Pork and Beans for this reflection. :)
