SELDOM do I allow myself to write about my family. Call it quirkiness, but it simply isn’t my cup of tea. But today is an exception as I write about a special woman in my life, Corazon Bartolome-Rivera and her special kind of love.
Being the eldest in a brood of 7, Mamang is the epitome of a good wife and a good mother. I saw how she struggled to provide us with a good education and a comfortable life. When Tatang was working abroad, Mamang had to be both a mother and father to us at the same time. It wasn’t easy, yet Mamang, the superwoman that she is, was able to do both and quite successful at that.
Mamang treasures the family the most. More than anything in this world, it is the family that always comes first. Tatang is Mamang’s priority; she always treated Tatang like a “king” and made a kingdom of the house for him. Growing up with that kind of love and support made such a difference in our lives. It made us who we are today.
Mamang has a big heart. When Mamang opened her maternity clinic along Muzon St. in the late 60s, Mamang opened the doors to the need, as well. She didn’t earn much from the clinic, but earned a lot of friends along the way. She was generous and kind hearted, always ready to help and not expecting anything in return. She is a listener, ready with her sound advices. Long before I entered politics and became a public servant, Mamang was already serving the community.
A few days ago, Mamang and Tatang were tested Covid-19 positive. I never expected and never wished for Covid to hit home. Despite the health and safety precautions that were in place, Mamang and Tatang joined the increasing numbers of Covid-19 patients. Even in sickness, Mamang and Tatang were together. I guess that is what love really is. In fact, Tatang would always joke that “Zon and I will always be together, in sickness and in health.” I guess, they meant every word of their marital vows.
Reading the news about Covid-19 and the increasing numbers of patients and deaths brought by this dreaded virus, gave me the scare of my life. In Angeles City alone, the double-digit numbers continue despite the efforts of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin and the city government to mitigate its spread. In fact, more hotels are now being used as quarantine facilities to completely isolate Covid-19 patients. Now that it hit home, I knew Covid-19 is no joke.
My first reaction is for me and my family to undergo testing. While we do not have direct contact with Mamang and Tatang days prior, I had to make sure that we were not infected. Thankfully, all of us in house were tested negative. It was a sigh of relief indeed.
Fortunately, Mamang and Tatang, despite their pre-existing conditions, were in the best of health and the virus could not trample my parents’ health conditions. Mamang and Tatang’s immune system fought back Covid-19 and as I write, Mamang is on her way to be discharged from the hospital. Soon, Tatang would follow suit.
I could not imagine life without Mamang by my side. I may not often say how much I appreciate and love her. In fact, it is Mamang’s constant “nagging” that kept my feet on the ground. I never acknowledged it before, but now I must. Mamang is the wind that made me soar to become who I am today. Indeed, the “wind beneath my wings.”
Today I salute the woman who gave life to me, 55 years ago. For all that you have done, for all that you do, and for all that you will continue to do for me and my family, my big thank you. As my favorite childhood author Agatha Christie wrote, “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.“ Agatha must have been thinking of Mamang when she wrote that.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we pay homage to the woman who risked her life to give us life. We owe her that much. Happy Mothers Day!
