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Surabaya Corner
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 MY
DEAR NANANG ROSA
- By Ramon Martillano
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Please allow me to devote this article for my own mother,
Nanang Rosa, who is now 72 years old. I can still vividly
remember when I was 12 years old, after watching a movie, I came home
and was dumbfounded to learn that my mother, due to irreconcilable
differences with my father, has left our home. Together with all my
brothers, she went home to my grandparents. I was left alone with
my father. It was December and you could imagine how lonely I was came
Christmas. My father showered me with lots of gifts, lots of toys.
But there is nothing that can replace the love of a mother.
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For several years, I stayed with my father and visited my
mother on weekends. I really missed my mother during those times that I
was away from her. Every time she calls me “anak” (son), it makes
me feel so loved! I could feel the warmth of her motherly love.
Not that I do not love my father, but it is a common fact (for most
people) that children are much closer to their mothers. I must admit,
even my own children are closer to my wife. I remember our daughter Mary
Anne writing a note to my wife Vi saying, “I love you very much Mama (and also
Daddy.)” In the movies, I am just a supporting actor. No hard
feelings though. I can fully understand my children because I also felt
and still feel the same way for my mother. But why is this so?
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It’s because our earthly mother did and continue to do a
lot of sacrifices for us. For one when I was still in college, despite
her age, Nanang would regularly travel 500 kms from the province
to Manila to bring our monthly supply of rice. I am reminded of a
beautiful song entitled, “Hindi Kita Malilimutan,” excerpts of
which goes this way, “Malilimutan ba ng ina ang anak na galing sa
kanya? … Hindi kita malilimutan, kailan ma’y di pababayaan.”
(Would a mother forget the child that came from her… I will not forget
you. I will never forsake you.)
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- Think
about your own mother. Think about her many sacrifices. She carried you
for nine months in her womb. It is often said that one foot of a mother
is “six feet under the ground” when giving birth. Then after you came
into the world, she would wake up in the middle of the night to change
your diaper and/or to prepare your milk. We have heard of stories
wherein the mother would give up her lunch and instead save the money
for her child’s toy or clothes. And then there’s this anecdote about
Mama Mary wherein Jesus has already closed the doors to heaven but she
would open the window so that some more people could enter heaven
(That’s how much Mama Mary loves us!). And who would take care of you
around the clock when you are sick? Our own earthly mother has done a
lot of sacrifices only a dear mother could do. We could go on and on.
I’ve got a simple message for you. After reading this article, may I ask
you to give her a hug if she is near you or call/SMS her and thank her
for bringing you into this world. Tell her how much you love her. If she
already passed way, say special prayers for her.
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Indeed, just like in the song, our earthly mother will
never forget nor abandon us, no matter what! More so with our
Mama Mary. I believe that Mama Mary is using our earthly mothers to
express her love for all of us.
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Thank you my dear Nanang Rosa! Thank you Mama
Mary!
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- TELL US LIKE IT IS!
- Has something
wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did God answer your
prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like Isaiah, meet God’s
whisper?
- Have you felt His
powerful hand working in your life recently?
- Everyday, people are
experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a pity that very
few know about it. Do you have a story to tell? Some Good News to
share?
- E-mail us (genesis@catholic.org) or fax us
(021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You don’t have to be
a great writer to do this. We can help you write it – just tell us like
it is!
- Don’t forget to write
the subject: “Let Me Tell You A
Story”
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