Mama Norma Stories

If Mama is still alive today, she might have been a fandom club leader. Her intensity to love was so powerful that it just had to overflow.

We’d watch Ana Liza on RPN 9 during weeknights and when Julie Vega passed away at such a young age, Mama went to her interment together with hundreds of fans.

She was one of the millions of Filipinos who lined up and went to Ninoy Aquino’s burial in Santo Domingo Church. I remembered waiting for hours to see his casket parade along Roxas Boulevard together with her. She watched Ninoy Aquino speeches on tv repeatedly during his annual death anniversary that I partially memorized his punch lines about Meldy visiting him in Camp Crame. Since we lived across US Embassy, we showered yellow confetti from the 8^th floor of the building down to the Cory rallyists as a sign of support.

Mama heeded the call of Cardinal Sin and went to EDSA People Power and gave food to Cory supporters. She wasn’t a bystander of history. She was fearless even when Daddy said it could be dangerous.

She was a huge fan of her nephew, Ronnie Magsanoc – one of PBA’s best players of all time. She watched him in the historic UP championship win in 1986. She was there in the amateur league at Rizal Stadium and to ULTRA for the Shell – Ginebra epic finals. Mama would be so mad at Distrito for his dirty tricks and technical fouls against Kuya Ronnie.

One core memory was of a finals game and Mama and I had to line up in ULTRA to buy tickets. We belatedly realized that the queue was for the Ginebra side up until the last moment when Tito Ging gave us complimentary tickets for Shell side just before the game started. She then said to the Barangay Ginebra fans, “sorry but Shell will win”! That was fun.

Mama believed in her children and supported us in all possible ways. When my brothers joined basketball tournaments, she organized fund solicitation for their jerseys and sponsored food for post-game dinners. When Ate went to Baguio for a school activity, she went there to give additional money, and we took the bus for the 10-hour ride (no expressways yet). When I had a recital for Center for Pop, she solicited funds for my clothes and other expenses.

Mama did not impose or force us to take a particular course unlike other parents. She allowed us the freedom to choose our path. She was our biggest supporter, and her love remains strong even from the other side.

Mama had a list of favorite dishes for parties and I wished she wrote down her recipes. I only had one written copy of her chicken macaroni salad. She didn’t teach me how to cook and I wasn’t really interested that time but she allowed me to help prepare garlic, onions (which I hated for making me cry) and veggies that needed to be cut. Paco wet market is her favorite and she would practice her art of haggling. She would haggle and try to walk away slowly until the vendor will be forced to agree with her price. She would buy me garlic peanuts once we completed her purchase.

Mama used basic kitchen tools without the luxury of microwave, pressure cooker or any fancy gadget. Just a trusty pot, pans and gas stove. She was also able to feed a basketball team numerous times plus us on a limited budget. She was the manager of my brothers’ sports team and victory celebrations were always held at home. We were not rich but I never felt lack in food. Mama knew how to feed us in creative and healthy ways. I think Ma prayed for the multiplication of loaves and fishes in that small kitchen counter and God granted it. Mama’s act of love is service and feeding people gave her so much joy.

Party dishes:

Lumpiang shanghai – she would prepare and lovingly hand-wrapped each lumpia with water wash. My task would be to untangle the lumpia wrapper.

Pancit bihon – there was a time when G-Anne didn’t like vegetables as a child so she separated just the pancit for her. She sometimes mixed bihon with canton but for me the classic bihon is the best.

Fried chicken – crunchy, flavorful and one of my best childhood memories.

Pineapple juice – she had the glass container with mugs

Tomato based – spaghetti, menudo

Chicken macaroni salad – Ate Elma makes one exactly like hers. It has pineapples, raisins and shredded chicken strips.

Fruit salad – with buko strips, fruit cocktail mix

Ginataang bilo-bilo – this takes a long time to prepare and my task was to roll the bilo bilo.

Pink Gulaman with Pineapples – it always had to be pink for some reason and placed in a metal llanera.

Everyday menu

Sinigang Ribs – my super comfort food. I remember having my first heartbreak and Mama made sinigang spare ribs. I was completely healed.

Pork liver – fried with onion and best paired with banana catsup. I grew up with UFC banana catsup, I didn’t know catsup was supposed to be tomato in other countries.

Mince meat – with potatoes and leafy veggies soup

Champorado – with tablea or Ricoa powder and tuyo

Monggo – this one she makes a sweet bowl for me before making it savory as a meal.

Seafood – Bangus, dalagang  bukid and galunggong, adobong pusit

Pinakbet – being Ilokana and Pangasinense, her pinakbet is either bagoong alamang or isda.

Adobo – either chicken or pork or both

Fruits – She loved fruits in season – chico, lanzones, atis (she said pinaglihi nya ko dito), bananas, dalandan, caimito, mangoes

Favorite Restaurants

Max’s – this is their wedding reception venue in San Juan so Max’s is a sentimental favorite

Savory – I was old when I realized this restaurant is pronounced as “seiveri” and not “savoree”. Our favorite Kalaw branch where we would eat out when Dad has money.

Chowking – one of the earliest branches is at the ground floor of Bel-Air which meant our go-to place for take-out. Its kitchen is literally behind our house so Mama would order halo-halo at the back kitchen and the staff served it using our own bowl.

Maxim’s – located at the corner of Kalaw and the service road, my parents would order chicken feet and siopao – and I truly thought the secret ingredient is cat meat.

Baker’s Fair – we would go to Binondo and Ma would buy pastries and bread here.

Favorite Food

Snickers – Dad would buy Mama a Snickers bar regularly and she would not eat the peanuts because of her dentures. So all along, I kept thinking she should’ve chosen Mars instead.

Chocnut – nutty goodness

Ham – there’s a ham that her friend gives her during the holidays

Food She Sold

Leche flan – Ma ordered leche flan from a friend

Pampanga’s Best – tocino, cheesedog and longganisa from a supplier friend