To My Mother --- Josefina Tortal Inocencio
Happy Mother's Day!
40 years ago you bear a child that almost didn’t make it to the world…you honestly revealed that to me when I was old enough to understand. I learned to appreciate your love to me and my other siblings then; still, that would not have change a thing.
All that I am now was a result of your influenced.
People who’ve come to know me said that I’m a good cook…I told them because of a good cooking instructor; that is You.
They said I can sing well; I told them because I was blessed with a good music teacher; that is You.
They said I’m talented in many ways; I told them I acquired that naturally from a superior gene; that’s from You.
They said I’m generous and kind; a character that was ingrained in my mind and heart since childhood; because of You.
They said that I am hardworking, industrious and business minded; I tell them I was raised by honest and decent hard-working Mom.
Most of all…
I’ve learned to love because you’ve taught me to.
I’ve learned to respect myself and others because you’ve taught me to.
I’ve learned to overcome difficulties in life because you’ve taught me to.
I’ve learned to become tough and competitive because you’ve taught me to.
I remember vividly in my younger years overhearing conversations with your friends about how proud you are of my character and disciplines…you have no idea I took that appreciation in my heart and mind wherever I go.
Those afterschool trips we made to the Ice cream parlor in Merco Aldevinco after my kindergarten class at Methodist Church was a treasure of fond memories that I will forever cherish.
The times when you assigned to us the household chores during weekends despite having a helper in the house, are the kind of disciplines that honed my work ethics.
The trips I made to Agdao public market at the tender age of 12 empowered me with street smart ability to negotiate (hangyo-ay) effectively up to this day…because I wanted to save some spare change from the small budget you’ve allocated. I managed to buy my favorite “bitso-bitso, lug-lug, lumpia and other sweet kakanin” along with the komiks that I use to read in the tricycle ride on my way home without stealing (making kupit) from the money you gave for marketing. It made the tasks seemed like a child’s play to me. The third time I mastered it with enthusiasm. I remember getting excited to do the task every chance I get.
Little did I know that it would make me become a better person I am now, according to my friends and colleagues.
The appreciation I get from you when I was raising my little fish farm (goldfish) in our back yard. The chance you gave us to raised chickens, despite our failures; you’ve taken the time to appreciate our efforts.
I remember you getting upset and petrified by the dangers we face while we catch spiders for gaming and selling. Still you supported the things we did that made our childhood experience exciting and productive.
The first taste of my success was when you allowed me to run my own little store, it was a thriving business where I first felt being so passionate with what I was doing I almost did not want to pursue my education. I was only 12 years old then, remember?
Hard times creep into our family that you have to seek employment as a salesperson with Electrolux. You took me with you on weekend demo trips and taught me the endurance and stamina to sell a product that was not only too expensive, it was a product that not too many people needed. And yet, you manage to put food in our table day after day…those are sad and yet powerful memories that gave me intense appreciation of hard work.
Your musical influence was remarkable to me on Sunday morning when our old stereo was blasting with the songs of Connie Francis competing head on with our neighbors playing their Victor Wood songs.
Your encouragement for me to join the band in high school even those times when we couldn’t afford the instrument and I did not have much interest in developing my skills, yet you saw a different side of me that I would not have known if you did not push for it.
A serendipity that turned me into a musician, a performer on my own rights, it brought tremendous confidence not only on performing skills but confidence to speak in front of a large crowd as well.
The days and nights we spend together preparing for food that we sold at the Casino in Bajada, and the (risky) catering business that almost got you into humiliating and traumatic experienced was something that taught me a lot in terms of survival skills and it took me to different places fearlessly. Those times honed my culinary expertise now recognized by my friends back in the Philippines and even here in United States.
The encouragement and support you gave when I graduated from high school, despite being just the average in my class. Yet you believe that I will not have any trouble completing college. You gave me the freedom to choose what I wanted to pursue even when I’m lacking the sense of direction and motivation because of financial hardships.
Four years later I successfully completed my Bachelors degree in Nursing (though not a top ranking student), I managed to earn respect from many of my schoolmates because of the training I’ve had in my early days under your guidance.
You supported a seemingly silly and dangerous plan to make my trip to Manila in search for more opportunities. The gas stove and some knick knacks you send us with, when I took a bus trip with my friend Bong has made a big difference in our first few weeks in Manila.
And while there, you continued supporting my dreams and aspirations, despite the failures I’ve caused that almost destroyed your business; you welcomed me back in Davao City with open arms and again supported me with whatever directions and endeavors I’ve chosen to do…until you saw me doing things that can potentially do more harm than good, then you taunted me to get married (of course to the right woman), as I did because of your advice---my life started to have a sense of purpose---this is a decision that I will never ever regret, especially now that I have a wonderful wife and a lovely daughter, I now call my own family.
I have seen better days and I have came across extreme challenges --- matter of fact I’m still recuperating from a disaster…but I am very confident…because of what I have gone through, that I can get through any difficulties in life and continue to rise up as a winner…because of the values you’ve taught me.
I don’t have much to offer right now but my unconditional love, admiration and gratitude to you, my Mom.
Each day, I’m getting closer to my dream of being able to lavish you with things that you can only imagine. I am not only confident but rather fully equipped to get there very soon.
Undeniably, our family history is one that can easily become a blockbuster on film that probably won’t have a good ending. The fact that you’ve fought with all the means necessary to get us (your sons) back into your shelter is one true success of your being relentless and intrepid Mother; that could turn a sad ending into a merry one instead.
The most important thing that I’ve learned from you is my faith in God…because you are the first person in my life that introduced God to me…and with that, I’m forever grateful that my disciplines, value, and being able to love selflessly are all rooted from godly influence because you told me that there is God that ought to be obeyed.
On this Mother’s day I celebrate my respect and love to you…I missed you and I love you.
Happy Mother’s day!
Your Son,
Oyet
