Life’s Lessons

This is for Inang (an Ilocano word for mother), my mother’s mother. She is celebrating her 85th birthday today and we were not able to go home to celebrate with the whole family. Anyway, here’s to the world’s BEST GRANDMA.

Inang is a wife to Tatang, a Filipino Veteran who served the country during World War II. She is a mother to 11 kids (what a great number!) on which my Mamang is the 5th. I could imagine how her life went with all those roles she has to do but she managed to be a good wife and mother. 

During my childhood, I and my younger sister were left with Inang and Tatang during weekdays for we don’t have a nanny. Every morning, either Tatang fetch us at our house using his bicycle or Mamang brings us to Saranay (our Grandparents’ place). Both my parents are working so we are left with my other cousins at our grandparents’ place. Everyday, between 9-10 AM, Inang goes to the market which is 3 blocks away from their house bringing with her her woven basket. There’s never did a time that she did not bring her woven basket. What excites us, her grandchildren is her “pasalubong” from the market. She never failed to bring us “bibingka”. As a typical Ilocano, the ”bibingka” is equally divided between us…no more, no less. Thus, if we want to have another “bibingka”, we have to ask for her or Tatang’s share. After eating our merienda for the morning, Inang has to prepare for our lunch. All kids should take a nap in the afternoon and a merienda awaits us upon waking up. By the way, Inang’s “paksiw” is Ace’ favorite. I don’t usually cook “paksiw” for Ace compares it with Inang’s and hers is far better than mine. Also, Inang’s “pinakbet” and ”dinengdeng” tastes so good….like Mamang’s and mine (?). 

With Inang, there’s no idle time. She makes every hour productive. One thing that keeps her busy is her hobby…sewing. She makes her grandchildren pyjamas, shorts, or anything that we could use. Actually, I have a pair of shorts and blouse out of my youngest aunt’s school uniform during her college. I used to dig in her boxes of used clothes and asked her to sew a short pants for me. I do have so many memories with Inang but it would take me long to write all those for it will take me until tomorrow and I’ll not be able to meet my target (meet my target? hahaha…sounds like I am on technical and not on creative writing) of posting it today.    

Though Inang has turned 85, she still does some light house chores such as cooking. She has been patiently attending to Tatang’s needs as he is sick for many years already.

To Inang, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thank you for your unconditional love to us.

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Tags: bibingka, birthday, dinengdeng, Filipino Veteran, Grandmother, Inang, paksiw, pinakbet, Tatang, world War II

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