Mama had amazing public relations. She made friends easily, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I joined a community group that was far from our place. Mama met Mimi who volunteered to take us home in her van twice a week from Quezon City to Ermita after the church service. She also knew each tenant in the building where we lived and where they worked. She had connections and they would help her in a heartbeat. Mama could even go to a funeral on her own and befriend people there. People seemed to navigate towards her because she radiated this kindness, positive energy and her laugh was infectious. She loved listening to her tribe. I remembered how relatives and friends would stay the whole day in the house, just eating and having lively conversations. I thought weekend parties were a normal
Family Celebration at Home
occurrence in every household.
Mama believed in the goodness of people even when their behavior is the opposite. Her inherent nature was to help although she was not rich. She would give even the small amount she had, like that poor widow in the Gospel and never ran out of flour. She loved her family even when she had childhood trauma and unfortunate incidents. The sad stories didn’t dull her shine.