Happy 81st Birthday, Lola Mana!

Lola Mana, one of the most important women in my life, is celebrating her 81st birthday. She's born on a leap year, Feb 29, so this year it's either Feb 28 or Mar 1.

I'm thankful she reached her 81st years of life without any serious health baggage. She's relatively healthy, except for the usual old-age discomfort of joint pains, light sleep, and hearing problem. She remains beautiful as she is. She still manifests deep sense of frugality, practicality & conservativeness. But more tolerant now with the 'odd' things that she sees around unlike when she was younger. She hated tagalog telenovelas, but now I learned that she avidly follows 'Kapamilya' shows & soaps (which surprised me)!

She used to ban us from watching tagalog shows, that's why. She would push English shows only! According to her, we (me & my siblings) must love English shows so we could learn the international language right away. When she would see us watching tagalog soap operas, she would nag us. The only Tagalog show we watched then was John & Marsha & only when Lolo Manuel (her late husband) was watching. All throughout the week were English - KnightRider, Mcgyver, Airwolf, The E. Team, Miami Vice, Mission Impossible, et. al. Likewise, our t.v viewing was filled with snap quizzes. Whenever she hears an English word she thought was worth memorizing she would quickly ask for its tagalog translation! When we don't know, she would patiently reiterate the word & its tagalog translation.

It's really refreshing & heartwarming to reminisce my experiences with Lola Mana. Bitter experiences (as I treat them when I was younger) that now are sweet and truly valuable (after realizing their worth)! She's not my real grandma. We are not related by blood at all. She was simply my parents employer. But since my family lived in her house, she & Lolo Manuel took the responsibility to teach and impart to us these great lessons & values.

I didn't understand her then. But now I know. She's so correct! Exposure to English language through watching English shows/soaps/movies is truly one of the easiest & fun way to slowly learn the English craft!

Thanks.Thanks. Thanks, Lola! My birthday prayer for you is that you continue to have peace of mind & healthy body. No more joint pains & hearing difficulty! Your sleep this whole year should all be sound!