Bringing out the best in me

MY PARENTS celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary last September 24 and it was a historical milestone in their married life. For all the years, they have been faithful to each other, and this is quite a record in a married person’s life. My parents met at the University of the Philippines where my dad was taking his bachelor of laws while my mom enrolled in her master’s degree in Psychiatric nursing.

We are three siblings and being the eldest, I was given the best care and the attention. I was a frail child so my parents had to see to it that everything afforded me was prim and prime.

My siblings and I were brought up in a Christian atmosphere. We were given the best things in life any parent could provide their children. We were inspired by my mother’s motivations. I remember when she related to us a story about the man in the moon, one night when my siblings and I were staring at the full moon. With our young minds we learned to be creative and imaginative. I enjoyed most the song of the wise owl that can see the wind and the dreams it carries in its hat. That made me marvel how my mother could make up songs in a jiffy just to entertain us.

Summertime which is April and May every year, my mother would enroll me at the Karilagan Finishing school in Magallanes, Makati where I took lessons in ramp and fashion modeling, Tahitian, Hawaiian and Maori dances. I rubbed elbows with the famous Aldeguer sisters (Laly and Terry), Celeste Onrubia ad- girl of Shell Philippines and some celebrities who were my classmates at the Finishing School.

My sister too, took private lessons in Tahitian dancing under the tutelage of Childe Libertad of the Silahis Dance troupe, as well she took piano lessons under Ms. Martha Fianza.

My mom was active in civic organizations like the Monday afternoon club with Ms. Gisella Woelke, and also was a member of the Camp John Hay ladies circle. My dad played golf killing time with his companeros while he waited for my mother’s civic obligations and responsibilities to finish off. Mother, brought me to the grocers at D & S Fine Foods along Session road, bought my shoes at Greggs, had my hair groomed at Cupid’s beauty parlor or at Dick and Lucy. Lunch would be either at the 19th tee or half-way house at Camp John Hay and dinner at the main club now the Camp John Hay Manor. Thanksgiving Day dinner every last Thursday of November at the main club was sumptuous with the usual menu of Tom turkey with cranberry sauce and a variety of desserts like baked Alaska. These were a few of the experiences my parents wanted us to try and to appreciate.

Sunday was family day where I always looked forward to. My family and I attend Bible studies and church service after which we bond together, relate stories of life experiences of my parents. They also asked me how I was faring in school .This shows their concern in my academic performance.

With parents like mine they bring out the best in a child’s life unmindful of the luxuries they afford their children. One thing sure my mother taught us how to behave in a crowd, how to eat with finesse and how to meet and talk to people. Life is at its best with supportive parents who guide, care and love their children unceasingly. I am lucky to have my parents who brought out the best in me. My father is now 91 years old, while my mom is 88 years old. Both are still strong for their age ad active in their church work. I lost my brother, a medical doctor five years ago, but I’m still lucky to have both parents alive.