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 8th 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.