A Lunch for Tita Cora

Its a small get together, sort of a High School reunion of Cabuyao Institute class of 1958. Tita Cora is in town from Canada, where she had migrated since 1974! Two of her siblings are sick and thus took a flight home, and before she could go back to Winnipeg, or what she jokingly refer as winterpeg - they decided to have a lunch, their treat to Tita Cora. Seniors they are - it was initially set at Isdaan Floating Restaurant at Calauan, Laguna. Then, they said Sta Rosa would be nearer and changed it back to Isdaan being more scenic!

I am 47 years old, a father or even a grandpa to some but with these seniors around I feel like an 8 year old child again. My role was basically to be my Mom's escort and the unofficial photographer / scrapbooker! I grow up being told not to but in at the conversation of elders or seniors - It came in handy! They talk, I eat, or I shoot photos!

As these seniors chatter, I recall my last free meal. That was last month when Janette Toral invited me for the third season launch of Ka-Ching! Ka-Ching! Then, I was the old person as I was with elementary kids, now I am the young person with senior citizens. It reminds me of the open forum wherein the organizers were asked if the financial education program can be extended to adults, HO-HUM! DUHHH! These seniors born in the early 40s - they know the value of money. I listen to them and earning and saving had been a part of their life. Spending is a luxury and a way of life for my mom.

I had grown up working with my mother when she does her purchases for our Sari - sari store and learned counting coins and bills, giving change to store customers. I learned practical mathematics early and that goes with these seniors. Tito Berting now recalls that he was not able to go to college but proud that he was able to sent all of his 4 children.

They do sure like to meet and talk but at times, its the same old stories. I sort of already memorized them. My attention had wandered to the setting of the floating restaurant - bamboo! I started saving on bamboo coin banks. It was my mother who cracked open my bamboo coin banks, I was proud and happy when I would be able to save from my daily school allowances - and the One Peso my Lola Osay always give when she visits.

Kids nowadays have a different view, well, depending still on their social class. The poor kids are ahead in the reality of earning, making, and spending money. Richer kids appear spoiled just simply asking their parents for money for what they like or need - like my nephews! One can read a case study on kids : http://www.cartoonnetworkasia.com/cha-ching/case_study/

I noticed that parenting nowadays seems to be providing a tablet for children to play. For my nephews its a tablet and internet connection to view You Tube videos and amuse theirselves. Well, I have a tablet and simply viewed this video while taking my lunch - and letting these seniors have their own incessant chat.

Finally, lunch is over and its now payment time. Well, I need not dole out - its my Mom's responsibility and the other classmates. My role got extended being a human calculator. Tita Lumen asked me how much the change since they had to share the lunch costs! I could not help but think of Prudential since i had started expanding my financial knowledge http://www.prulifeuk.com.ph/corp/prudential_en_ph/ soon, it would be my time to share blessings.

Cash and Carry NOW!

Sunday. 2013 November 03. Dr. San Ildefonso of San Juan de Dios prescribed vitamin B complex and a pain reliever. She considered my Mom's episode as that of diabetic neuropathy, the slow creeping pain from the arms to her hands, and from her legs to her feet to be that. The blood work showed normal results, no uric acid, no cholesterol, no high blood sugar - basically within the normal range!!

However, the vitamin B complex prescription is only good for 7 days. Marissa and I told my Mom we would just look for the equivalent vitamin supplement at Cash & Carry, and it would even be cheaper on a per piece or unit basis.

My Mom texted me : wake me around 4:30pm. We shall go to Cash & Carry and buy the supplements. Oh oh. I wish I can argue - she is sweet but STUBBORN. She has decided to go and buy, most I can do for support is just to accompany her, nothing more.

My Mom is a compulsive shopper. She needs to buy something occasionally, she loves to shop, she love sto buy - and that goes along the haggling part.

Emergency Room ... on All Soul's Day

2013 November 02, Saturday.  Mom said we would visit today my father's grave after lunch. We would be hitching with Ate Manani and Grace. But I had doubts about these, saw the FB status that Ate Manani and Grace had already went to MMP.

I jolted out of bed - Obet was calling me up! He rarely calls - it was brief. I should rise and get out of bed, Mother wants to be brought to the emergency room. OHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

But after he called, I sobered up. Wait. Wait. My Mother did not call me - it was Obet. Why should I go? I despise hospitals being an emphatic psychic. Then, as intuition let me - I checked my mobile text messages. There : Mother had texted me to bring her to the emergency room!

How should one feels bringing in one's parent to the emergency room?

Worried? But worrying would not ease her and it would only be feeding stress.

Tearful? Good thing that with all the storms in my life - my emotions had been numbed to an immediate meltdown, always a delayed reaction.

Calm and detached? YUP! My mind was focused on playing Plants vs Zombies 2. I took note that my Mom was still able to dress up, placed a head band, and put on lipstick.

Mother asked us to be brought to Makati Medical Center Emergency Room. Oooops. I pointed out San Juan de Dios Hospital citing the exorbitant lab costs and my experience last year - she agreed. Obet brought us and then told us to call or text for updates and that we can take a taxi instead.

San Juan de Dios has an acute section and there were around 7 seniors including my other. The one across my mom would be confined. My mother was discharged by the afternoon. Marissa visited us in the emergency room - by then it was around 2pm and I was taking my own lunch.

Going home was a relief ... and a dread to the reality.. it would not be the last.

Undas 2013

2013 November 01. Friday. All Saint's Day - Undas. Last year and this year - its a new tradition. I accompany my Mom and she chose to go to Cabuyao, Laguna where her parents, a brother and a sister are interred. In my childhood days, it was at Sarhento Mariano, the tomb of Lola Goria. My Lolo Diego died in May 1979 and he was buried at Manila Memorial Park - since then it was an annual event there.

My Mom's foot was a little bloated and she walked a lot, lot slower. I know I can say something, but I do not need to. I just need to breath in more patience as Mother tells everyone how she has to brave a bloated foot and go out, and biting my tongue from saying anything. Beforehand, she said we are to have lunch at her BFF's but she seemed to have forgotten - one has to simply let it go. So, morning she offer we eat and then take a bus. Grumpily, I would rather be at the bus anticipating traffic going there and just reward myself with food.

Good travel time - around 1 hr! Bad decision - food places are closed! We found a street stall selling Paksiw na lechon and adobo, bought an order. Just an order - which we both shared as lunch. The viand was so so, good thing I did not order for two. I had a coke and a pan de coco, thinking of a better meal instead at the cemetery.

My Mom is not senile! But it seems she has lost her sense of direction! Increasingly, it seems she just wanders around - and slowly I get afraid of her being alone outside. I feel that I am slowly being tied to a tether with her. So, there I was - guiding her in the maze that is the Cabuyao Public Cemetery. The family mausoleum had been clean and decorated fresh with flowers, but no candles. Iwas Jervin Gatdula who arrived together with us who placed the candles - both of his parents are there. I am lucky to still have my mother!

Oh... father? Mi padre? He is interred in Manila Memorial Park. Not much priority, and honestly, Mother is still bitteer with their last moments. Again, Mommy expressed her last wishes : she would be interred here. I joked that others couples were interred together, and thus when the time comes, she should be interred likewise at MMP, she frowns... and why should she? Father's last acts was to ask for an annulment and to separate from Mother, despite all the forgiveness she has given his philandering acts. So, Mommy would not want to rest eternally with Tatay!

We left the cemetery around sunset, around 530pm. Mother decided we should get a bus instead at Sta Rosa complex and that perhaps have a snack or dinner there. No arguement, but I should have! I did not know that Sta Rosa have their own cemetery that caused us being caught in a traffic for almost an hour. We were able to eat at Jollibee - my first time to try the Cheesy Bacon Mushroom Champ and a Thor USB! My mom got a grilled pork super value meal - but she was not able to finish it.

Shut up Gilbert! Overlooked the uneaten food. I do not like being bullied to finish food, so i should not bully my Mom to eat.... oh help, can you just bag these? As usual, balot na lang for take home.