I was saddened to learn that she's having loose bowel movement. But she assured me she'll be fine. (I do hope she will because I don't want her to have another intestine infection again).
After she got hospitalized last year I've tried many times to get her a health plan. But I didn't succeed. She retorted she doesn't want to attract sickness. Besides, she's old already.
Somehow, she has a point. I worry too much she will get sick rather than believe in her conviction to remain healthy & strong.
Talking about her conviction, I would say that Nanay has been a very brave, strong & persevering woman. Very loving & responsible parent too. She raised the 5 of us almost by herself because our father was working far away all the time. More than that, before he died, at age 37, he was bedridden for one year. His sickness put us to so much debt and poverty. Slowly Nanay worked hard to put us out of debt & build us again a decent home. She did not re-marry. She dedicated her life to us, her 5 kids.
Also, it was Nanay who first introduced me to being a girlscout (always prepared). Whenever I recall those times when we were residing in a remote place & there was typhoon, I'm amazed with how she managed to keep us safe & our "bahay kubo" intact. With my 2 older siblings who were 10 & 11 years old then, they would climb up the roof & secure our little house by tying it to a nearby sturdy tree. Upon learning a typhoon is approaching she would mobilize us to fetch as much drinking water & firewood as we could. She would protect our cabinets with plastic so our clothes & other important belongings won't get wet. Our little house was situated near the riverbank. When it overflows she would lead us to evacuate to a neighbor. She would instruct us (our youngest sibling wasn't born yet so only 4 of us) to hold tight to the rope tied on her waist while we brave through the whirling winds & rain. Mat, blankets, some clothes & food sealed in plastic were tacked on my older brothers' back, while she carried a gallon of drinking water & night lamp. After the typhoon, she would patiently do basic carpentry to repair damaged walls & roof of our house.
Nanay has been through so much. I'm thankful she remained steadfast. Now, at 61 she's not as brave as she was but remains very loving & caring even though the 4 of us are already married and our youngest is already 26 years old.
To Nanay, happy birthday!
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