Our
precious, strong and lovable mother, Mrs. Teresita L. Palermo has joined our
creator last February 9, 2021. She
battled cancer that was so aggressive. She
has survived from mild stroke years earlier.
Even that time, she never stopped loving and caring for everyone.
On the eve
before Mama left us, I cried heavily reminiscing all the times that I have with
her. She has done so much for Hazel and
me, through joy and pain, success and failures, appreciations and disappointments,
to make sure that we will be able to lead better lives on our own. I had cried nights before, but that night it was
really heavy. It may be because I talked
to her much that night, even though I cannot hear her respond. And I told her that Hazel and I are
successful enough that we can stand on our own, that she has nothing to
worry. I was still lucky I still heard
her say “I Love You” days before.
I have not
expected that the crying I had that night was a sign that she was to leave
us. As my sister Hazel told me, she
left us at around 4:40 am. I wasn’t able
to answer my sister’s call. I even woke
up with our Dog heavily around 630 am, like there was someone inside the house. I only knew later. The words my sister told me, in exact words,
“Kuya, wala na si mama.”
Upon
hearing those words, I felt so much pain.
I wasn’t able to come home when she was struggling. I wasn’t able to assist Hazel in those
times. I wasn’t around in her last few days. I wasn’t able to say sorry to all the pain
that I have caused her. I wasn’t able to
come home for her burial. And even today
on her 40th day, I am still miles away from her.
These Covid
pandemic times has brought much difficulty.
It has even brought misunderstanding.
I have so much desire to come home.
The health protocols have been a barrier. Even more, I risk of possibly be a carrier of
the virus to be with family. In the end,
I have to endure the pain of not being able to say my goodbyes to mama in her
grave, and endure the longingness that I should have been with her at her last
moments.
I am very
much thankful to Hazel for taking care of Mama.
My bad that I wasn’t able to support her physically. Every time we talked on the phone, I can feel
her struggles. I salute my sister so
much, that I cannot fathom her sacrifices for Mama.
I will
always remember Mama’s legacy, as a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend
and co-worker. Those who supported us from
her hospitalization and her funeral shows that she has touched a lot of lives.
While she
has left of beautiful memories to everyone, I will always remember her teachings
to me that I will always forever carry in my life.
First, in
her teaching career, she has devoted much to being a teacher to her students,
that she would say always that it is her way of serving the Lord. She is not interested in joining religious
groups, though a lot of invitations have come, even the time she has
retired. For her teaching the subject,
and sharing moral values while teaching is her service. While Hazel and I have gone into teaching, I
am the one still in teaching. Maybe this
is her continuing legacy in me, and I do hope I can follow her footsteps to be
an inspiration to her students.
Second, she
always tell me not to talk too much to prove your worth. Make your work do the talking, while
maintaining foot aground. People may not
appreciate you, or even look down on you, but always maintain focus and do
everything with integrity. You may or
may not reap rewards, but what is important is what you did this morally
upright. Thank you so much for this
influence Mama.
Third, she
was the first to introduce to me the saying “do not do tomorrow what you can do
today.” I followed this saying and up to
now, I still practice it.
Fourth, supporting me what degree to take in College and where. Even also supporting my first two months of unemployment while pursuing a career in Cebu.
Fifth, and I could say it’s true in my case, she told me that you don’t need to go abroad to earn much to have a house, a car and other things. Enjoy abroad as vacation plans, not as work plans.
Sixth, her
love for classical music. As she always put
to play her favorite collections, I ended up listening and appreciating it too. I can remember how happy she was that she was
able to finally have a copy of a selection that she coveted so much, only to
see her cry at the side because I lost it.
That was my first pain I felt from her that I saw her crying.
Seventh, she
loves musical movies, theater plays, and even produce her own adaptation in
school programs. For most part, I was
her scriptwriter, music arranger and recording specialist. My sister and cousins were even actors and
actresses in some of her plays.
Eighth, her
love for short stories with moral values.
She always let me read these stories and let me explain the moral values
that I have learned. One such story
that is forever with me is the story of two messengers, where one was asking
why the other has a higher salary than his.
It was a story that she stressed that working hard is not enough, but
working smart leads you to better fortunes.
I even use this story in one of my classes and seminars.
Ninth, she
loves cross stitching. She always stitches
every time she wants to relax from making lesson plan, or just want to have a
breather. She has a lot of finished
work. Some were put on sale, some are
still on display at our old house. I
have one of her finished work, and I personally requested that I shall bring it
with me in Cebu.
Tenth, I
love her cakes and pastries. She loves
to cook. She has used this as her extra
income while Hazel and I were in college.
Mama has given her recipe to Hazel.
Lastly, I
will forever be grateful that Mama was with me when I got married. She dreamed of someday that I will be married
and that it would be a Church wedding.
There are some dreams she wants us to achieve, and this is one of those
that I have fulfilled. I will always
forever be grateful that she was with me at that time, and accepting Rhea to be
part of our family. I pray mama that you
will help us pray that our family will be extended further.
I will
always love my mother. I miss her. As what I told her that night before she left
us, I said to her that I will continue her legacy. And I will take care of this family in any
way I can.
“I Truly
Never Learned what the Words “I Miss You” were until I reached out for Mama’s hand and
it wasn’t there.”
See you in
Heaven Ma. Please wait for us!
